COPO Chevelle trim tag data - Page 4

copo9566aa · #31 10-22-2002, 01:07 AM

Very interesting.
and the 408235 have the last Body# 289492 of this list, and the last shiping date August 4 1969 [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Chevy454 · #32 10-22-2002, 01:37 AM

So, is the build date (example: 7E) a "projected" build date?

copo9566aa · #33 10-22-2002, 02:23 AM

7E=Thursday 31 july 1969.And this is the same shipping date of the 412687 (Built and shipped same day) [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

**Kurt S** · #34 10-22-2002, 07:09 AM

In 69, body #'s were the order #'s. VIN's are (mostly) in sequence, orders can be delayed waiting for components / scheduling.
VIN's didn't come down the line sequentially, they were mixed up a little by the queue going into the assembly side of the plant.

**COPO** · #35 10-22-2002, 11:21 AM

"7E" would be the fifth week of July for the body build date. So the body could have likely been built July 28-31 (assumming they didn't work on Sunday July 27). The shipping date would help to narrow down the exact build date.

Ed Cunneen · #36 10-22-2002, 11:25 AM

Rob,
My build date is 07B not 07D. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

sYc · #37 10-22-2002, 03:36 PM

According to a retired foreman from Fisher Body, the VIN was assigned by Chevrolet when the order was received. The Fisher Body tag/# was introduced when FB actually began building the car. The tag was attached once the sheetmetal had been welded together and primered, but before going to the FB paint shop, FB trim shop and then on to Chevrolet for final assembly. Thus, VINs would not go down the line in order, as Chevrolet might need to hold a certain car(s) due to the lack of a certain part. On the other hand, FB numbers would go down the line in order. So, the Fisher Body number would determine the order in which the cars were actually built. Tom

Chevy454 · #38 10-22-2002, 04:26 PM

Try this on for size...

In my mind, I've always been thinking that part of the numbers on the trim tags above were a more specific build date, like the actual day of the plant's yearly build cycle. Well, I noticed something interesting last night on the list posted above, which fell into place once Ed corrected my error on his car's build date. There is an 07B car and an 07C car, with the first 3 digits of there Mxxx number just 1 digit off. Different weeks, but just one number, or ONE DAY off. Remember, A69COPO mentioned that the last 3 digits of the Mxxxx code were listed in box 24 of the build sheet, so the other 3 digits have to be there for something. Luckily, Jeff had just posted a link to a 1969 calendar, so I sat down with it this morning, and put a pencil to it.

Starting with the 07B car, since it is theoretically 1 day off from the 07C car, but different build weeks, then they must be Friday/Monday cars, respectively. So, I placed the 07B car on Friday, July 11, 1969, and place the 07C car on Monday, July 14, 1969. I then used these cars as "place holders" to figure the build dates for the other cars. Another interesting find was my car, the 06A car. It had an 06A build date, but wasn't shipped until the next Tuesday, June 10, 1969. So, I assume it was built on a Friday, too late to get shipped. Using the place holder cars above, it works out, if it was built on Friday, June 6, 1969, and that the factory took July 3 and July 4 off for the holiday.

I then took a look at the 07D and the 07E cars. Again, using the place holder cars, I get a build date of Monday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 23 for the 07D cars, and Wednesday, July 30 for the 07E cars.

Now, I tried figuring the exact build date for the 11A car, but this one is a little more difficult, due to the amount of holidays. But, if my math was right, then the very first day the Baltimore plant started up should be around the 3rd week of August or so.

So, is this close? [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

**COPO** · #39 10-22-2002, 04:42 PM

Tom,

Your post conflicts some with the information provided by John Z on the Camaro site. I believe he stated that the VIN was not assigned until the body went to the Chevrolet side of the plant. This also seems consistent with many of the COPO Camaros that typically have a lower body # than a non-copo car with the same VIN sequence. I think the body # was the order # until the VIN was assigned as was posted earlier by Ed C. The cars would be generally built in sequence to VIN and not the body #.

copo9566aa · #40 10-22-2002, 05:13 PM

For 11A 1968 Calendar [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

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