69 L78 trim tag

[Pacecar]

Saw a 69 L78 Camaro locally at a classic car dealer that was hosting a cruise night.  Lots of things wrong in engine compartment, such as an aftermarket booster and master cyl and replacement water pump. Trim tag shows a 12 B date.  Any thoughts on the tag ? Dealer was asking $64,995 for the Camaro. Did have an SS hood instead of the ZL2 hoods people put on

[william]

124379N560142

Bid to $50k at Mecum FL this year, no sale. Tag looks ok but may have been off the car judging by the lumps of putty on the rivets.

Has some issues:

Aftermarket shifter, steering wheel
Service replacement alternator
Aftermarket booster/master, horns
Missing AIR system, incorrect manifolds

The Mecum listing made no claims about drive train originality.

[cook_dw]

X2. Tags real but been off the car.

[HawkX66]

No disrespect William and Darrell, but I don't think you can conclude that the tag has been off the car because of the putty. All that means is that someone replaced the putty. Could have happened during a resto etc. Not everyone knows not to mess with it. I've seen quite a few cars that don't even have the putty put back in. Probably a better idea in this case... FWIW, I know nothing about this particular car.

[cook_dw]

FWIW Im not basing my opinion on the putty.  A better photo might change my mind on the tag but I still think it is good at this point.

[william]

No disrespect William and Darrell, but I don't think you can conclude that the tag has been off the car because of the putty. All that means is that someone replaced the putty. Could have happened during a resto etc. Not everyone knows not to mess with it. I've seen quite a few cars that don't even have the putty put back in. Probably a better idea in this case... FWIW, I know nothing about this particular car.

I didn't "conclude" it was off the car. I said it may have been off the car; more investigation needed.

The appearance of the seam sealer in the rivets is absolutely a factor in body tag originality.

[HawkX66]

Sharp looking 69, but nobody painted the black tail panel during the resto. Non-original motor. Looks like the right rivet was over tightened like it was done later. Just off the bigger pic.

https://www.ironplanet.com/for-sale/Automobiles-1969-Chevrolet-Camaro-SS-Coupe-Missouri/1405510

[cook_dw]

After seeing that photo I retract my previous statement.  Repo tag.  And that tag has definitely been off..

[Kelley W King]

My 12A has no X number.

[william]

12A would not have an X code.

IMHO the tag is real.

[HawkX66]

It's been around the block a few times. Google the vin. Appears to have been bought and sold many times.

William, Why would a 12A not have an X code, but a 12B would? Are you saying you think that was added to a real tag?

[firstgenaddict]

As a comparison, this is the tag on a X66 Convertible I did some work on, the tag is original paint never off the car.   

[bertfam]

Dave, read THIS.

The Xnn codes were a mid-1969 model addition to the Fisher Body cowl tags of Norwood-built Camaros, starting with the 12B (second week of December) build week. (CRG has found 12B cars both with and without these codes. Our data for all cars in prior weeks is absent this code, and our data for all cars in weeks following contain this code.) These codes were an aid for Fisher body assembly workers to identify body trim and paint changes required for different Camaro models. The codes are divided into two groups: those with the Z21 style trim option and those without the Z21 style trim option.

Ed

[HawkX66]

Dave, read THIS.

The Xnn codes were a mid-1969 model addition to the Fisher Body cowl tags of Norwood-built Camaros, starting with the 12B (second week of December) build week. (CRG has found 12B cars both with and without these codes. Our data for all cars in prior weeks is absent this code, and our data for all cars in weeks following contain this code.) These codes were an aid for Fisher body assembly workers to identify body trim and paint changes required for different Camaro models. The codes are divided into two groups: those with the Z21 style trim option and those without the Z21 style trim option.

Ed

Thanks Ed.

[william]

One minor footnote. Beginning March of '69, Fisher Body stopped placing the X44 code on standard converts w/o style trim. No idea why.