Cowl Tag X Codes.

[caddyguy]

Hi, I am new to the group. I am trying to purchase a 69 Z28.  I do not want to get ripped off. The cowl tag and the VIN indicate that the car was built in L.A. The vin is 124379L xxxxxx . The cowl tag shows body VN316602  with a X77 code stamped on it. Can a X code Z28 come from the L.A. Plant? All that info I found shows X codes only from the NOR plant. Can this be correct? The car matches the rest of the paint and trim codes on the cowl tag.  Thanks.   Gary.

The cowl tag shows.       ST6912437  VN316602
                                    TR712       72 72 PNT
                                        04B           X77         

[BlackoutSteve]

No X codes on LA cars. No X codes on pre Dec68 Norwood cars either.

That VIN says LA but the trim says Norwood.
They don't match. Some one has swapped one or both of the tags on this car.

Find the hidden VIN on the cowl or under the heater box to determine if the VIN is at least correct.

Eitherway, I'd pass on that car.

[1968RSZ28]

Hi and welcome caddyguy -

Post a picture of the cowl tag here and the experts can tell you if it's real.  It's possible for a Van Nuys car to have a "X" in that location.  The fact is, a "X" in that location has a different meaning in a Norwood car than it does for a Van Nuys car.  Read this CRG thread for more info...

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=6079.0

Did you see the cowl tag photo in reply #4?   

Paul

[1968RSZ28]

That VIN says LA but the trim says Norwood.

The cowl tag shows body VN316602.

Steve -

VN stands for Van Nuys, so the cowl tag says LA too...   

Paul

[Mark]

Can't have an 04B build date and an X77 w/o number, they don't go together.  W/O numbers never reached the X series in April of 69.  Based on the numbers on the tag as presented the tag is a fake, no question.

[caddyguy]

Thanks guys! I will try to post a pic of the cowl tag.

[BlackoutSteve]

That VIN says LA but the trim says Norwood.

The cowl tag shows body VN316602.

Steve -

VN stands for Van Nuys, so the cowl tag says LA too...    

Paul

Sorry, my mistake.. I was expecting to see LOS like my tag has, and thought the V in VN was a typo to a Norwood code.. Was VN on the later tags?

[1968RSZ28]

I was expecting to see LOS like my tag has, and thought the V in VN was a typo to a Norwood code.. Was VN on the later tags?

Yes, from CRG...

The next three letters represent the assembly plant ("NOR" for the Norwood, Ohio factory and "LOS" for the Los Angeles (Van Nuys), California factory.  In mid-December 1968, the "LOS" was changed to "VN".

Paul

[caddyguy]

Here is a pic of the cowl tag. Is it possible for a Z28 to be built in Van Nuys?

[Mark]

Of course its possible for a Z28 to be built at Van Nuys, they probably built 15 or so every day.  But thats a fake tag for sure.  You will have to look elsewhere for evidence of the car being a Z and if it is, then deduct some value for having a fake tag on it.

[BlackoutSteve]

Obviously it's been removed and refitted with the wrong rivets, but how can you make out a fake tag with such an out of focus image?
I have a genuine, damaged tag, and I also have a repro of that same tag, and I can't pic them in front of my own face!

[bertfam]

If you look carefully, it's X774. (The 4 hasn't been sanded.)

Ed

[Mark]

I can tell because its an 04B build date with hardware store rivets and a w/o code that never existed in that month, let alone that week.  04B w/o's should be in the E to I range, not X.  Also the number groups do not line up when referenced line to line with known good tags from cars that would have been built around the same time.

[caddyguy]

Thanks for the help. I think I am going to pass on this car.

[x77-69z28]

GOOD IDEA!