Hey guys. First post, hi everybody and please bear with me.

I have a '69 SS396 numbers matching car with a lot of original parts, interior, radiator, etc. I would rate it a survivor. My neighbor, a body guy who "shoots" cars for a living has inspected the paint and we feel it has never seen a total repaint. I would guess that the stickers in the trunk, engine bay and driver's door are original.

I did a search on the site for the following question and have not been able to find an answer. I have two stickers on the driver's door. The stickers contain the one that lists the VIN # and build date and also the one for the tires. I know the SS was suppose to have F70X14's as the original tire size. However, the CRG lists an "optional" tire size for a SS396 as a 7.35X14WS. That is what is on my tire sticker, the 7.35X14 size. I believe the diameter of a 7.35X14 is the same as a F70X14 so it could make sense. What are the chances the car came with the optional white sidewall tires? When I bought the car, it struck me as a car for an "older gentleman". It is dover white with a T400 tranny and the 325HP motor. A 12 bolt 3.07 posi rear, PS with tilt wood grain steering wheel, deluxe interior and AM/FM with a rear speaker, trim tag coded "X22". Certainly not one of the high performance SS cars. I have no history or window sticker. I plan to take out the seats and carpet soon and check for a build sheet. Unfortunately, the car had period correct 15 inch rallyes and radials when I bought it and no spare tire.
Originally, I was going to replace the sticker with a F70X14 one, however, the more I thought about it, the more questions I have.
Thoughts?

Thanks,

Donald

"I would guess that the stickers in the trunk, engine bay and driver's door are original."

Do they look old? If they are OE it could just be an error. OE paint/owner ZL1 #16 has the wrong tire sticker. But I sort of doubt it as the standard tire for '69 was an E78 x 14. The "7.35" designation was last used in '68.

The standard tire size for Camaro SS was F70 x 14. WSW, RSW and later FG belted were optional. 15" wheels were not optional.

The VIN label should only appear on '69s built at Norwood starting at VIN N670xxx. Chassis/Body broadcast sheets are virtually never found in Norwood-built cars. Van Nuys cars may have have a badly weathered sheet taped to the fuel tank.

Hey William, thanks for the reply.

I would say the stickers look original, they have the right amount of patina. The sticker lists both tire sizes, E78 and 7.35. I thought it could have just been another factory mistake, but I based my observation on what those guys at the Camaro Research Group posted about the 7.35X14 (E78) as being an option on the '69SS. Not the standard tire size but optional, that is the part that does not make sense. Those guys seem to have a lot of info. Why would anybody want a E78 tire, I would have thought that everybody would have wanted the "70" series tire back in '69. I know I did and could not wait to get them on my car. Maybe because the E78 was a "wide" white wall while all the other tires had a "skinny" stripe?

My car was built at Norwood, my VIN is before the N670XXX number you referenced. I heard that before, that in August they started to add the clear VIN sticker to the door. My car is a February car according to the trim tag and the one on the door. That makes no sense to me. Maybe that VIN sticker on the door is a repro? I don't know, it "looks" awfully real, right down to the correct "font" on the type written VIN and build date. I did not think anybody out there made those door stickers with the VIN and build date on them. I have never found them but that does not mean they are not available.

Once again, thanks for your information and reply.

Donald

The VIN sticker on the door was available in repo for a short time about 15 years ago. It was 2 part; the label and the mylar overlay. Anyone with an typewriter could duplicate the info, I did several. GM would not license it so it became unavailable. It does not belong on your car.

Your car should have F70 x 14 tires. Our chart must have an error.

Again, great data. Thank you very much William. Hmmm, then I guess someone along the way had one of those stickers made. I have only owned the car since last year and really wish I could find more history other than what the car itself tells me researching the part numbers, etc.

That could possibly fit all together, at a regional show last year, one guy commented that the car could be a "survivor" or if it was restored, it was done quite a few years ago. When I heard about the VIN number sticker only showing up in August, I figured mine was added at some point.

Well, I hate to yank off that VIN sticker but will most likely do it. I do have the "correct" tire sticker for the car listing the F70X14 tires. Currently I am running ARE "D's" and BFG's. At some point, I plan to add a set of F70X14 redline tires and rallye wheels for the judged shows.

Donald

As Bill said, the tire size on our chart is in error. I'll have it corrected.....