GruntyPants

Hello all,
Normally I'm lurking on the C3 forum when working on my '69, but I find myself needing the expertise of the C1 crowd.

I have what I've been told is a '54. But the only type of identification I can find on the body is a PA State reissue ID tag. I will be calling the PA DMV (I'm in GA), when I've got a few hours to kill on hold.. But until then, an anyone tell me how I can verify the year of this vehicle and any other bits of info I'll need to satisfy a potential buyer?

As I found it, it has a '65 327 mated to a '70 M21 4 speed, but the side mount motor mounts were done horribly, as well as the makeshift trans mount, so I've pulled those components and am deciding whether or not to try to re-install them, or leave them out.

Anyway, any info is appreciated.


Shawn

Vette Daddy

Sent u a PM.

csherman

Brett is an expert !!! He will def be able to help you
can you post more photos?

mgsabrsula

There are definate differences in '53, '54, late '54 and '55 fiberglass. That will tell you which year the body was actually made. I'm sure by now you know where the number is on the frame.

Vette Daddy

Body build characteristics cannot tell difinitively what year the car is. There are "trends" on how the glass changed and the cars were built but no strict cut-offs for when these changes occured.

53 - cloth, bag molded, press molded panels late Nov-Dec, one piece floor pans vs jig assembled pans, cloth pans vs press molded pans
54 - Same as 1953 plus the white glass late in the year. Late Feb-early Mar cars have many cloth panels.
55 - While "most 55's were white glass, there have also been documented cases of cars with cloth. These were very late production as the plant used up everything on the shelf due to 1956 style change.

There are also evidence of 53 only, 54 only and 55 body build characteristics.
* clips in certain places on 54-55 that are not on 53 bodies
* Square cut holes vs hole saw round holes
* Flat head countersunk rivets vs stove head rivets
* Bonding strips not used on 53's vs 54-55
* Trunk hinge cutouts 53 vs 54-55
* Placement of certain drainn holes
* Placement of dimmer switch holes
* Foot washer pumps vs none
* Flipper vs non flipper moldings
* Tail pod openings
* 55's are an oddball overall
* etc, etc.....several more differences between years

If you really know what you're looking at, there are many differences besides cloth vs press molded vs white glass.

MaineDoc

That shows what I know. Figured if had V-8 must be a 55. Wasn't the 327 introduced as a special option in 1955?

MaineDoc

I should also add that this is the way that I remember Corvettes in the late 50's and in the 60's. It wasn't pretty but they were typically abused in just this fashion. Pull out the old smoking original engine and jury-rig some free engine from a wreck that might somehow be faster. To say that they were "rode hard and put away wet" would be an understatement. Here in Maine 15 year old pickups are treated better than those early Corvettes were.

scopeli

a 55 body will have a small slot where the antenna ground cable comes out of the body and mounts to the frame. earlier cars will have a round hole with a plate.