Totally Confused

[guido34]

My Trim Code plate on the driver's door post says my 1972 was originally trim 400 and paint 905. From the Production Figures pages of this web site that tells me it should be an exterior color of Nevada Silver with a black vinyl interior. I'll have to tell you it's white exterior with saddle interior now. There are several places on the car that the paint is chipped and it reveals red paint underneath. Not red primer, but red shiny paint. I scratched it in an inconspicuous spot and no silver paint was revealed. The interior looks very original, especially the seats which several people have told me are leather. There are no major tears in the seats but they look 33 years old. The dash and console also look 33 years old and are definitely saddle, even the horn button, not black as the 400 trim code suggests. The paint code of 905 implies that the car was originally silver. Actually paint code 905 is not listed for 1972 but is for 1971 as Nevada Silver according to the production page on this web site. I can imagine someone changing the exterior color, but the entire interior? Are the paint and trim codes listed on the Production Figures pages of this web site accurate? I am so confused, but this is a normal situation. Thanks in advance for any insite into this situation.

 

[Tom73]

Are you sure that you have a '72 and not a '71? In the VIN the sixth digit indicates the year. Will be a 2 for 72 or a 1 for 71.

As you said, 905 was a 71 color, not a 72. But 400 was a black vinyl interor for both years.

tom...

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Someone may have swapped trim tags for whatever reason. Does your body assembly date make sense?

 

[guido34]

Someone may have swapped trim tags for whatever reason. Does your body assembly date make sense?

The VIN# is 1Z37W2S503391. It's got the amber turn signals up front, no fiber optics, the plaque below the shifter reads: 454 CUBIC INCHES; 455 LBS. FT. TORQUE; 8.5:1 COMP RATIO. Nothing makes sense.

 

[guido34]

Where would I find the "body assembly date"?

 

[Tom73]

Where would I find the "body assembly date"?

It is on the trim tag after the word "Chevrolet". Would be a letter and a number.

Your car, 3391, would have been built towards the end of Sept '71, so would expect to see something like B 28.

tom...

 

[guido34]

Right after the word Chevrolet and above the paint code is H05 (H zero 5). How does that decode? Thanks.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

H05 is March 5th. Sounds more and more like a swapped trim tag from a '71. Don't sweat it.

 

[guido34]

H05 is March 5th. Sounds more and more like a swapped trim tag from a '71. Don't sweat it.

I just don't understand the motivation of swapping trim tags. Makes me think something underhanded took place in this car's history. I'm afraid it might affect the cars value. I don't know. I'm kinda new to the Corvette world although I've owned other cars that either went up or maintained their value ('94 Firehawk, '68 BMW racer) this just doesn't feel right. I guess it goes along with the engine code missing from the block. Right up front just below and to the side of the water pump is supposed to be the engine number. It was either never there or it was machined off. The place for it to be stamped is there, but it's flat as a pancake and smooth as a baby's behind.

 

[red70vette]

It sounds like your car has had an interesting past. You may have a car that was pieced together from several cars. Have you talked to any previous owners? Does the car have a salvage title?

If the trim tag is wrong you may have a different frame or body or both. I would suggest you have the car checked by someone in the know. The engine is unstamped(not original), the trim tag is from the wrong year(not original), the vehicle id tag lists a different engine(not original). All of these items will severely effect the future vale of the car but none will compare if the frame vin # doesn't match. You could have a car that was stolen and had the numbers changed to a salvage vehicle. Anything is possible but you need to get to the bottom of it before you get left holding the bag with nothing in it. There is a vin# etched into the frame above the rear drivers wheel you need to get it read so you know what you have. I don't mean to freak you out but something smells fishy there.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

The engine is unstamped(not original), the trim tag is from the wrong year(not original), the vehicle id tag lists a different engine(not original). ............ I don't mean to freak you out but something smells fishy there.

I don't quite agree that all of these things are 'wrong'. The car has a VIN for a '72, with a 'W' code indicating a LS5 big block. The car apparantly has a big block now. The fact that the stamp pad has been wiped clear is very common. 99% of engine shops deck the block as a routine practice during overhaul. The engine in the car could very well be the original.

The only thing that seems out of order is the strange trim tag.