PURPLEMONKEY

Hi all
I'm a new poster but been reading the forum for the last couple months since I bought my 69. At a club event on the weekend someone pointed out the rear of my car is a 1970 and the front a 69. The name plate date code says its a Dec 69 car and I've read a few articles regarding the strike in 69 and production going on till Dec. I've also read the late 69 cars were built with some 70 parts but the rear half? Any ideas or has the back half been replaced?

exposingtime

Rear end or fiberglass?

Late generally applies to changes on the production line. Either way, your 69 would not have left the factory with a 70 dated rear end or flared 70-72 style rear fenders.

Post some pics and we can help sort it out.

Gary

Alan 71

Hi PM,
I think Gary's right about this one.
Some pictures will tell the tale!
I guess how big a deal this is depends on how the car was described when it was for sale and what you thought you were buying.
Regards,
Alan

Easy Mike

Do you have round tail pipes or square? About the only real change in the rear for 1970 was square tail pipes.

Not likely and certainly not fiberglass.

PURPLEMONKEY

The 70 model came out with flared rear guards and square tail pipes. Do you think it may have been crashed and the rear replaced with a 70 model or a custom job? I don't mind it as I think the 70 rear looks better than a 69 and the 69 front looks better than a 70.

Easy Mike

Who can say? Do you have 70 panels on your 69? Post a pic.

dmaxx3500

my ''dec 16 69'' built car has a 3 digit code rear diff[its factory]

PURPLEMONKEY

will post pic tomorrow

PURPLEMONKEY

69 front 70 rear

Brcmpbl

Can't see the exhaust openings...are they rectangular or round?

Is possible that someone glassed the rear wheel flares onto the car.

There's no way it left the factory like that of course.

vettebuyer6369

Look underneath the car in the back and look for evidence of it being hit.

It didnt come from the factory that way.

PURPLEMONKEY

I had a look last night and the back section must have been replaced right up to the doors as from the inside there appears to be no cuts.
and the exhaust tips are square. Anything else I should look for like diff numbers ? Anyone like to take a guess what colour its and yes I know its blue but not original shade maybe another year.

early shark

My guess is Bridgehampton Blue.

The Punisher

Nice looking car

Easy Mike

Maybe not. The rear surround panel could be 69. It is possible the rear fenders could have been replaced along the factory bonding seams. The rear lower panel is bolt on. Replacing the fenders and lower panel would provide the 70-73 rectangular exhaust bezels and provision for the rectangular exhaust tips.

Can you contact the previous owner? He/she might know the story about the body work.

MalibuVLX

The flare behind the rear wheel looks like 70-72 to me. 68-69 have no flare and tuck in under the rear wheel. Its hard to tell by the angle of the picture and the darker color of the car. Bridgehampton is much lighter than that, at least the ones I have seen. Nice car. Keep us posted on what you find out.

PURPLEMONKEY

Finding the owner that did the body work maybe near impossible as I'm the third owner since it was imported into Australia. Maybe some on the forum may recognize it.

blue427

your 69 looks very similar to my 69 in color.I was at a cruise and a man with a 72 vette said it looks like his which is Targa blue.He didn't have his car there so I couldn't verify it.It might be worth a look into.

Mike69V

I know this was a 2014 post, but hope someone is still monitoring. I have a similar situation as PurpleMonkey. I recently picked up an estate 69 convertible. It has been checked out by a Restoration and Bette Specialty shop (whose owner also serves as a NCRS judge). After a 2.5 hour inspection, his opinion is that is a true 51K mile car based upon original parts and the wear, numbers etc. The odd part that even perplexed him, it has 80 fenders (front and back). He confirmed its a "no hit" car, interior appears original as well. However there are some weird things. Like the seat bumpers are 70 model bumpers as well as some of the hardware. This car is in the last 200 produced in late Dec 69. I'm wondering as well if some of the very late cars in 69 could have had more of the 70 components than GM admits...?

Mike69V

70's fenders (no 80's - typo)