Hi, I'm going to look at a 1969 SS Camaro Convertible tomorrow morning. It's a friend of my uncles, so I think it should be legit. He wrote down every number he could find on the car and motor. I was wondering if the numbers match what he is telling me. Any help would be appreciated. The Trim Tag reads: ST69 12467 NOR335371 BDY TR 712 10 A PNT 05D X66. The Vin is 12467N649xxx. The motor casting number is 3955272. C-2?-9. The pad reads T0411JI 19N649xxx. I don't have time to look everything up tonight after work and it's alot of money for me to spend, so I'm hoping one of the experts on this site can help me. He says it's a 396 SS with Auto trans and has 1968 black interior. Thanks Team Camaro, JIm

Decode for VIN and trim tag:

1 = Chevrolet
2 = Camaro
4 = 8-cylinder engine
67 = convertible body
9 = 1969 model year
N = Norwood, OH assembly plant
649XXX = vehicle serial number sequence

Decode for body number: 335371

05D = Built the Fourth week of May.
69-12467 = Convertible.
NOR = Built in Norwood Ohio.
712 = Custom Black Bucket Seats.
10-A = Lower Color is Tuxedo Black and the Convertible Top Color is White.
X66 = SS396 without style trim

Will decode the rest for you in a bit, but I laready see a couple of things that make me concerned, and I think it may take good, closeup pics of the engine pad stamp to verify it's not a restamp.

VIN and trim tag dates "line up"; VIN is a late May VIN.


Block casting number 3955272 1969 396/402 265, 325, 350, 375, 2&4 bolt

Block casting date March 2?, 1969

Assembly stamp T0411JI is T= Tonawanda, 0411 = May 11th, JI= 396/350 (L34) with auto.

The assembly stamp and the partial VIN stamp concern me for two reasons:

1. Engine assembled more than 6 weeks or so before the car. Could have happened, but makes you want to confirm.

2. Partial VIN on pad. By May of 69, the partial VIN should not have been stamped on the pad, but rather on the vertical block flange down by the oil filter. Check the block flange (see the drievtrain decode link I posted below); I think it is even money that you will find another partial VIN on the block flange, and that it will not be for this car.


Car should have a silver grille, no tailpan/rocker blackout on a Tuxedo Black car.

http://www.camaros.org/diffs69.shtml

http://www.camaros.org/drivetrain.shtml

http://www.camaros.org/coolingsystems.shtml

Make sure you get a good pic of the trim tag. I'd want to make sure it's real....

That's one hell of a find if it's legit... Keep us posted.

Hi, I called Jim at work to tell him what was said and he said he should have typed pads not pad. I guess the second set of numbers was by the oil filter. Hope this helps, Jim's wife

Wow, that sounds like a great car!!....nice find and i can't wait to see this one through...

Kelly

It's mine! Big Project, can't wait to start. It is half way through a body off restoration. I get over there and all I see is a shell on a rotissery, boxes of parts in attic, enclosed trailer, and friends garage. Took me three hours to make up my mind. It was going to be a 1/4 mile race car. It has a brand new complete moser 4 link rear and a roll bar. New trunk pan, quarters, and door skins installed already (nice job). All the rear suspension brackets welded in and looks nice also. Not crazy about the rear end set up, but at least I can easily cut the roll bar out. Motor needs rebuild and no trans. I bought the rotissery too. I had the wrong number on motor assembly date. It is T0501JI, not sure how that happened, but makes more sense now that I have time to check things out. What does style trim mean? I have a seasonal job, so I have all winter to work on this Camaro. I will keep everyone posted when things get rolling. Thanks for all of your help, Jim

Hey Congrats! Sounds like a fun project. Keep us updated.

Wow Jim that is friggin fantastic!!...sounds like a wicked car!!..looking forward to seeing the resto process!!

Kelly

I'd like to see a pic of the cowl tag. Sounds too good to be true.

A May 1 built engine is still a little on the long side for an 05D, but probably fine. Happened with the high performance, low volume engines. Only 2,018 L34 equipped Camaros in 69, so it was rare back then.

Style Trim on a non-SS car included the fender gill modlings, wheel well trim, black paint under the rocker trim (most body colors), and drip rail trim on the coupes. The 69 SS cars got the chrome fender gills, so your car (without Style Trim) should only have those gills.