COPO Chevelle trim tag data

[JoeC]

The larger font of the vin serial number appears to have been done in a second printer because some are not inline with the other numbers. Some are lined up fairly close others not close and are out of the box where they were intended to appear.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

JoeC;
Is it possible the larger portion of the VIN # was rubber stamped by one of those multi-numbered ink stampers?

[Jeff H]

That's a good thought. The VIN was larger and it almost looks like it could be from a stamp instead of a printer. Was the VIN on the original window stickers a stamp also? It was a larger font than the rest of the window sticker.

I stand corrected, the VIN on the chassis broadcast sheet is the same size font as the other boxes. Wish my broadcast sheet was as clean as the one in the link below.

[JoeC]

Not sure if it was stamped or printed but one 69 Chevelle had two build sheets and the larger number is positioned the same on both. Did they make copies of the build sheets or run them off a printer for each assembly station?

[moparts]

Instead of a stamp, what about something like a time card machine?? That way the location could be predetermined.

[Nova Research Project]

Joe,

There were MANY copies of the sheets floating around. The article said that as bodies left paint they were re-sequenced and that new SEQ number was transmitted to the cushion room, for example. So when guy built seats had a constant flow of Fisher Body sheets. He would make the seats, put them on a cart in SEQ order, and stuff the sheet in the springs of the seat. When the body came down the trim line the worker looked at the SEQ number on the body and pulled the seat with the same SEQ number sheet. At this stage the SEQ numbers would be in order. It was inferred that is was that same on the GM side. Greg

[Nova Research Project]

Jeff, You are talking about the Freemont Broadcast Sheet which were of the new style in 69, while the Leeds Broadcast Copy were the old style in 69.

I think the new style were stamped with a timeclock style machine. Which means the Freemont Chevelles may have received the VIN on the GM side not at Fisher Body.

The Camaros and the Novas still used the old style in 69 as did the Novas in 70. Greg

[Nova Research Project]

Another thought on the 283XXX 07E with standard paint . The Order of Run was created days in advance to allow material for production to be released, and to give stockmen time to supply the line. If a shortage was found after the Order was established and body numbers assigned, but before the body was started the car could be built later with the original body number. At this point it was just a plate in a box.

How does the non COPO chevelles VIN to Body dates compare to the COPO VINs? Are the 7E's and exception or are the special paint cars the exception? Greg

[Chevy454]

So, which is a better indicator of the actual build date of a car: the vin# or the body#? According to the list I posted on the first page, the cars are in order by vin# and build date, but not body#. Is one a better indicator than the other? Is it a coincidence these vin#'s fall in order?

[Nova Research Project]

Rob, I would think that supports the VIN number being assigned at the same time that the trim tag was stamped with the date. So (based on these few numbers) yes VIN is a better indicator of date than Body Number. Greg