Matching Numbers 1953-1967
A Guide to 53-67 Corvettes
BY: Bob Kroupa of Vette-N-Vestments
Frequently, you will read or hear someone
talk about a
Corvette with "matching numbers". For the uninitiated,
it lends a bit
of mystery to the Corvette mystique. In
reality, "matching numbers" commonly
refers to the original Corvette motor that was installed
when the Corvette
was built. A "matching numbers" Corvette can be valued
at thousands of
dollars more than a Corvette without the matching
numbers.
Since identifying the procedure to see
if a Corvette
has matching numbers is a lengthy process to explain, we
are going to
concentrate on Corvettes in the 1953-1967 model years.
An article covering
the 1968 and later models will follow soon.
As one might expect, many of the original
motors in vintage Corvettes have
been replaced for a variety of reasons. Replacement motors are
readily available
and can be the correct motor for the Corvette. However, a
Corvette with a replacement
motor is NOT a matching numbers Corvette.
In order to determine if the Corvette has a
matching numbers motor, we need
to start with the serial number or VIN (Vehicle Identification
Number) of the
Corvette. The VIN on the 1953-1967 models identifies the
specific model, the
year built, the assembly plant and the production number of
the Corvette. As
an example, the 50th Corvette built in 1953 would have a VIN
of E53F001050.
The "E" relates to the model (Corvette), "53" is the year
built, "F" is the assembly plant (Flint, Michigan). The
production
numbers started with 001001, thus 001050 was the 50th model
Corvette built.
The VIN on the 1953-1955 can be found at the
top of the left hand door pillar
just below the courtesy lamp door switch. On the 1956 through
the early 1960
models the VIN is on the door hinge pillar just below the
upper hinge. It can
be found on the steering column under the hood on the early
1960-1962 models.
In the mid-years, 1963-1967, it was moved to a location below
the glove compartment.
On the mid year models, the VIN also
identified the body style of the Corvette.
An example of a 1963 Corvette with the serial number of
30837S121449 relates
to a 1963 Coupe built late in the model year. The breakdown of
the serial number
is "3" (for the year 1963), "08" identifies the model
(Corvette),
"37" represents a Coupe (67 denotes a Roadster), "S"
represents
the assembly plant - St. Louis, and the remaining digits
identify the build
sequence. Again, the build numbers for 1963 started with
100001 and ended with
121513.
The final step in determining a matching
numbers Corvette is the motor number.
In 1953-1955, the 6-cylinder 235 had an engine number stamped
on the right side
of the block to the rear of the distributor. An example of
this number could
have been LAY507604. To decode this number, the "L" means
1953; "AY"
designates the engine build plant (Tonawanda), the type and
transmission (235-Powerglide);
and "507604" indicates the engine serial number.
Unfortunately, on
these models, there is no correlation between the VIN and the
motor number.
This makes it difficult to determine if this was the original
motor that was
installed when the Corvette was built.
During the 1955 model year, the first V-8 was
introduced for the Corvette,
this was the 265 motor. It also had an engine identification
number. An example
could have been 04080422F55GR. Broken down, the first eight
digits (04080422)
relates to the motor build number, the "F" identifies the
plant assembly
location (Flint, Michigan), the "55" denotes the year, and
the "GR"
identifies the engine type and transmission (265 V-8 with a 3-
speed manual transmission).
A "YG" designation would be for a 235 6-cylindar with
Powerglide,
and an "FG" would denote a basic 265 with Powerglide. The
engine number
appears at the front of the engine block behind the water
pump.
Again, original motors are difficult to
determine since there was no correlation
between the VIN and motor number, itself. However, a change
was made in the
motor identification for 1957. The change eliminated the
sequence build number
and added the month and day the motor was built. A typical
number would have
been F228EM. In this case, the "F" relates to the assembly
plant (Flint,
Michigan), "2" relates to the month of February, "28" refers
to the day of the month, and "EM" identifies the type and
transmission
(283-250 Fuel Injected with manual transmission).
Incidentally, there were eight identification
codes for the 1957 engines. And
that number grows with the later models in the late fifties
and the mid years
(1963-1967). For help in decoding these numbers, your best bet
is to view the
related publications available in the VetteFinders.com
Bookstorewhere you will
find publications that provide a complete breakdown of the
engine codes and
more.
The change in engine identification brought
us closer to determining if the
Corvette had the correct motor, however, the dates were not
the same as the
VIN of the Corvette. The "date only" identification continued
through
the 1960 model year.
The engine number can be found on a pad on
the front right side of the engine
block just below the bottom of the valve cover. For purposes
of this article,
the location continued through the 1967 model year.
In the 1961 model year, an important series
of digits were added to the engine
code. In addition to the manufacturing location, month and day
of the build,
and motor identification and transmission, the all important
six digit sequence
build number of the Corvette was added to the engine
identification. Again,
it was the last six digits of the VIN. An example is a 1961
Corvette with a
VIN and engine number as follows:
· VIN 10867S100848: "1" is the model year of
1961, "08"
shows the model (Corvette), "67" shows the model (two door
convertible),
"S" identifies the assembly plant (St. Louis), and the last
six digits
indicate the production number.
· Engine number F0228CQ100848: "F" identifies the
manufacturing
plant as Flint, Michigan, "02" is the build month of
February, "28"
is the day of the month build date, "CQ" is the base 283-230
motor
with a manual transmission, and the all important matching
number from the VIN
of 100848.
This basic explanation should prepare you to
identify that special "matching
numbers" Corvette.
When asking about a matching numbers
Corvette, be prepared for responses that
indicate one or more of the following, "I'm not sure", "I
don't
know", "I never checked", "I was told it was the correct
327 motor". Often these responses are an indication that the
numbers do
not match. You will have to check the numbers to be sure if
they are correct.
Bring a cloth to clean the numbers pad which is often covered
by grease and
grime. Also bring a small powerful flashlight to read the
numbers in tight spots.
A common problem you may encounter when
looking for the numbers on the engine
pad is that you will find nothing. This is an indication that
some motor work
has been done and the pad was "decked", thus removing all of
the numbers.
Another problem that has surfaced in recent years is finding
an engine that
has been re-stamped to reflect matching numbers. These may
appear on "big
blocks" (fuel injected, 396s, 427s) that command the high
prices. When
in doubt, hire an expert to assist in the evaluation of a
Corvette.
Now it is time for you to check the numbers.
Hopefully, you will be looking
at numbers that indicate you have found yourself a "matching
numbers"
Corvette!
Related Publications
For more information about other C3 technical
projects, check out these publications
available at the VetteFinders.com
Online Store:
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