Topic: Partial VIN vs Plants

[tim_morrison82]

Can i bug you for a little trivial question?

I have come across a block that is dated spot on to my build date, and its serial number is approx 600 units from my car, which i believe would have to be more than just a coincidence. However, the Partial Vin stamp includes an 'A' instead of an 'R'.

My question is if this block was actually miss stamped with its Partial Vin, maybe due to the R stamp being missing, etc...

Were all plants prefixed with different starting numbers in the 68 model year?

After the strike could it be possible that the serial number of cars at different plants could be so similar that cars built on December 1st, could have a similar serial number?

Thanks in Advance

[jwc66k]

I believe the letters refer to the assembly plants, "R" for San Jose (in Milpitas, formerly in Richmond) and Atlanta (somewhere in Georgia). With the numbers that close, buy a few Lotto tickets.
Jim

[tim_morrison82]

I agree. But workrate at each plant surely couldnt be 1 for 1 including the strike... the dates slot in so precisely with the serial, that i cant really understand how 2 different plants would be at the exact same number at the exact same time.

[J_Speegle]

Here are a couple of points I would offer

1- Not sure why a worker (if a mistake on his part is going to be used to explain) have in his hand a stamp with an A  when he always uses an R?  We can't even be certain he had access to a full set of alphabetical stamps or only a single letter one

2- Since you mentioned December (thanks for limiting the discussion) For comparison here are some data points


8R109670 finished - Dec 1st
8F120938 finished - Dec 2nd


9R120424 finished - Dec 18th
9F138992 finished - Dec 10th

Remember or at least consider any of these examples could have been assembled at a different week or month from the car with a sequential number just before of just after.  Greatest span I've seen was 8 months but that was very unusual