Unusual Trim Tag / VIN / Block Code combination

[Major_Tom]

Hi,

thanks for accepting me into the forum. My name is Johann, I am from Germany and looking at a 1967 Camaro SS 396 right now, which supossedly is a L78 car. Before any questions arise, the car is a very well done frame-off restauration, almost no flaws at all on the car -basically like new. The seller is asking 68,000$ for it.

Now to the weird part:

The trim tag says the car is a 4N car, production first week of July 1967.

The VIN is a 16xxxx, so July 1967 seems to fit.

The block matches the VIN, the engine code says it´s a MQ - so L78 block. Assembly date is 07II, so 11th of July.

Basically there seems to be a mismatch between the trim tag and the block / VIN combination.

The carburetor seems to be a Hollley 4160 series List- 3613, so not original but from a 1966 Chevelle SS 396 L78.

Is there the possibility that this is still a real L78 car? If it´s not - is this well made tribute in the market price range? It certainly is a very nice car.

Kind regards and thanks in advance

Johann

[rich69rs]

Welcome Johann!

Can you post some pictures of the trim tag, etc.  I know that those that know that can help you will want to see pictures if you can post them.

Richard

[KurtS]

I'd like to see a picture of the engine pad. But I'm a doubter that it's a real L78....

[bertfam]

I'd like to see a picture of the engine pad. But I'm a doubter that it's a real L78....

Kurt, it's HERE but there's way too much paint on it to really tell and it's too small. I tried to enlarge it (see below), but it didn't help. He'll need to remove the paint and take a better picture.

Ed

[Major_Tom]

I posted enlarged pictures of the pad here

https://www.camaros.net/threads/unusual-trim-vin-block-code-combination.482690/post-1783293190

Sorry for posting in both forums - I wanted to get as much info from the US-Experts as possible. Those cars don’t have the same following in Europe as in the States and as such it’s much harder to get an educated opinion.

[Mike S]

 I don't see the number 7 in the VIN stamp though it can be covered by paint. A normal stamp would be like 7L164xxx    though there was a period where the 7Lxxxxxx was stamped reversed as L7xxxxxx. Looking at the number 6 in the above pad stamp, the font doesn't look right. But I'm only going by what my L35 was stamped on a Feb 67 motor. Check out my reply #38 here that shows the number 6 :  http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=10311.msg77958#msg77958

Mike

[bertfam]

As I said, you're going to have to have them chemically remove the paint and take better pictures of the pad. DO NOT USE SANDPAPER or anything else abrasive.

Ed

[MO]

Ground control to Major_Tom:
Sorry, no offense, I couldn't help myself.

I seriously doubt an L78 would be installed in lieu of an L35 "accidently" on the assembly line.
Unless the car has an impeccable restoration, 68k for a NOM 4N car seems like a lot.
 

[KurtS]

I think someone restored it this way. Tag looks OK and I'm pretty sure the block is a restamp.
I agree, $68K is a lot.