8N477196 M22

[bertfam]

Could it have simply been a place holder in the gang stamp?

If that were true, then ALL 68's would have the square c and [/b]ALL[/b] 67's would have the partial 7, but they don't.

Ed

[cook_dw]

Unless the gang stamp was swapped out from time to time or there were 2 different ones (gang stamps) used..  Not trying to argue just thinking of different possibilities..

[bertfam]

Even though he wasn't at the Muncie plant, I would have to let John comment on this. He may have inside information.

Ed

[JohnZ]

Even though he wasn't at the Muncie plant, I would have to let John comment on this. He may have inside information.

Ed

Sorry, can't shed any light on this; many others (like Jerry and "Crash") are much more knowledgeable than I am with those details.

[bertfam]

Thanks anyway John. This may just be one of those mysteries that we'll never figure out.

Ed

[bcmiller]

Bottom line - it is not a ratio code indicator.  Whether it is an assembly inspection mark, internal tracking mark, or whatever...it makes no REAL difference at this point.

[bertfam]

Whether it is an assembly inspection mark, internal tracking mark, or whatever...it makes no REAL difference at this point.

Except to drive us nuts! I'm CERTAIN that the Muncie workers planned this! I can see it now...

"Hey Homer, let's randomly put some kind of weird character after the date stamp so those idiots collecting these cars 50 years from now will go crazy trying to figure out what it means!"

"Haw Haw. That's a great idea Jethrow!"

Ed

[KurtS]

The 68 little c is pretty common.
Darrell could be right, they could just be a placeholder. The c looks like the lower part of a broken E and the 7 is the top part of a broken 7.

[bcmiller]

Possible.  But the number of digits did not change from 1966 to 1967, so I am not sure why that would be.  1966 format was P and 4 digits (two numbers for month, two numbers for day of the month).  1967 and later was P and 4 digits (number for year, letter for month, two numbers for day of the month).

I was bored so decided to check what I have here at home. 

Two M22 cases, one from Camaro and one from Chevelle.  Both had normal assembly date format, no funny characters.

Found one case here with the partial 7 and one with the small squared off c - both had normal inspection marks up on the top, center, back edge on the raised area.  One had a diamond, the other a diamond with a line inside the diamond.  Hmmm....this is the first time I have checked these over that closely.

Maybe the internal tracking mark idea has merit, or just someone wanted their stamp to look "different".  I don't know.  But there are other instances of inspection marks being part of the assembly date.  See attachments, one from a 1964 Muncie and one from a 1965.

[cook_dw]

It still could have been a place holder.  They could have had a blank stamp and lost it and then grabbed the next one they had which was a broken one..  Still not saying that's the reason but it's the only conclusion I can justify at this point..

[KurtS]

If so, I'm surprised they didn't just grind off the character....