Early or Late '76 - a mystery?

[kayak]

Some us us C3 owners are fortunate enough(?) to own a model year in which GM made changes mid-year to the production run...1976 was just such a year.

As I get to know my Corvette more intimately, I've started to wonder why she seems to be a hybrid early/late 1976 model.


Early '76 indicators

A6 (Long 12") AC compressor type

Production date on VIN - J21 (May 21)

Engine block ID number (V0413CLS) corresponds with production date - April 13

T-top Center Panel - no dome light indicates 1st design

T-top header pads - constant area between the latches (1/2") indicates 1st design.


Late '76 indicators

Production Sequence Unit Number from VIN - 435709 (# 35,709 of 46,558 in 1976)

8" rear "Corvette" emblem (original to this car, no damage to rear recorded)

Rear roof panels - pre-drilled coat hanger mounting bolts (passenger side) indicates 2nd design

Rear Window Trim - painted as original indicates 2nd design


Anyone know at what point GM started considering the early/late differentiation in the 1976 year run? I don't know why this is bugging me, but somehow having a hybrid early/late '76 model is kinda unnerving, especially as I go forward with her restoration.

Would my shark get judged "down" for exhibiting such hybrid features, even though all the hybrid early/late parts I've mentioned are original to the car?

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[DOCMOW]

WHEN IWAS JUDGED FOR NCRS THEY SAID COULD FIND
EXACT DATE IT STARTED SOME TIME IN MARCH AS PARTS RAN OUT

 

[Tom Bryant]

changes

Corvettes having engineering or production changes during the same model year are a common thing and have been happening since '53. One of the ongoing areas of research on any year in the NCRS is trying to determine exact serial numbers when a part changed from one number to the next. Just makes it more fun and as long as you are confident that a part is original to your car absolutely don't change it to match the currently accepted judging sheet because the sheet isn't right. Corvette judging is a constant learning process.

Tom