1968 Trim Tag Build Date 1SD

[Daytona Z]

Can anyone tell me what this build date means on this 68 LOS trim tag noted as being 1SD.

Does the S represent Special Order or something to that effect? I know the car was factory ordered as a L78 and was built in December and sold to customer on Jan 12 from the docs. Was there a mid December change from LOS to VN plant code and does the body number correspond to other trim tags from same period? Thanks for any help.

[ZLP955]

Looks like it was intended to be 12D. Perhaps a '2' needed to be replaced so they used something similar (!), or maybe a new worker didn't realise the stamp is mirrored/reversed when looking end-on and took the wrong individual stamp. Kurt's likely aware of other examples, but the plant probably picked up the error quickly and rectified it.

[Daytona Z]

That would make perfect sense after you mention it. Kurt, have you seen any others like it from the same period? Not doubting the tag or it's originality on this car, just wondered if I missed something in the coding or if it was a known error in the stamping. First one I have seen like it.

Thanks
 

[69Z28-RS]

A mistake (probably), but I cannot believe that Fisher stamped these cowl plates out with individual stamps; I'm not aware of what sort of automated embossing machines were available back in the 50s/60's, but Fisher Body surely had such an animal that would produce the embossed cowl plates from a database (and I suspect the 'database' was in 'ibm card' or punched tape form).  So a 'key in' error into their database probably, but not a wrongly selected 'stamp'...

Just one man's opinion..

[z28z11]

Addressographs - dealers used the same or similar machines to stamp the P-O-P's. I stood in the local Chevrolet dealership with my dad when he bought our '68 Custom Coupe Impala and they stamped the plate. You can still find the machines on eBay occasionally, I've even seen NOS blank plates (with the requisite Chevrolet emblem stamped in one end) sold there. Usually pretty expensive -

Regards,
Steve

[ZLP955]

May not have been individual stamps, not aware of how an addressograph was set up, but there are other known TT errors like 'NBR' and '04L'.
BTW, the car in question is in Alaska.

[Daytona Z]

Yes...it's in Alaska, but hopefully it'll have a new home right here in AB. 

[68 Ragtop]

Are the 4's crooked, or is it a funny angle photo?

[ZLP955]

Yes...it's in Alaska, but hopefully it'll have a new home right here in AB. 

Good luck Graeme, will stay tuned.

[cook_dw]

Its a legit tag from what I can see but what I find interesting is the lack of scheduling code.

[68 Ragtop]

4th week of December car, must have had a few key people out for Christmas holiday that day. Perhaps a newbie on the adressograph machine?

One not to far away from my 1968 tag pic collection.

[cook_dw]

Ditto.  It was the week before Christmas. And with Christmas being on Monday I'd say folks took a few days off for an extended vaca.  Also several L78 & Z cars built that week.

[Daytona Z]

Seller and I talked at length but we're still a ways apart on what we each perceive as the cars net value. None of the drive train matches including the diff, and he was supposed to send me additional pics of the underside including the floors, frame rails and a few things on Wednesday but didn't follow through. I was thinking of flying up to see it but it doesn't look like it will happen at this point? I'm not going to chase it and I'm sure he has enough people interested to get it sold.

Would have been fun to own. 

[z28z11]

May not have been individual stamps, not aware of how an addressograph was set up, but there are other known TT errors like 'NBR' and '04L'.
BTW, the car in question is in Alaska.

Here's an eBay auction of a Graphotype Addressograph, similar to what most dealerships had to print the POP's. I watched several of these being printed over my early years while with my dad during his episodic car deals at our largest Chevy dealer in Nashville, and was always fascinated with them. I'd liken them to a mid-modern mechanical version of a word processor.

If you never knew what the POP's were for, or how they were used - they were used as imprinting plates with a credit card type embossing machine to print (imprint) the owner's info on the top address block of dealer service forms, and warranty claims. All the pertinent info for what the car was (and when it was built, with what drive train), and the owner's info on a very tough to alter permanent record. Simple and effective, it still takes a relatively ancient guy like me to remember them.

The newer generations call them "dog tag machines". Some versions were, same concept, different use -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Graphotype-Model-6340-Addressograph-Dog-Tag-Machine-Vintage/123014880956?hash=item1ca4421ebc:g:hPYAAOSwCMtahJ-Q

Regards,
Steve

[bcmiller]

Original POPs were provided by the factory.

Dealerships could issue replacements - but they were not the same format.