So…fiddling around on the back end of the left side of the frame. Just finishing up putting on a new Quarter panel. Before jumping into the right side panel, I’m taking just a little time to wire brush/clean up the frame wherever I can and hit it with some rust oleum primer. I found what appears to be a frame manufactured date. Car is model year 1972 but looks like this frame was a March 1971 build? Anyone able to better educate me on what these numbers mean?


My take on it is that the bottom row 3-10-71-1. Would mean March 10, 1971 frame build. Maybe first shift? Top is perhaps frame number? But does that even relate to anything on the car? Some very faint lettering above the serial number, I can’t make it out though.

 

I have the same stampings on my '72 frame

Frame number: 6263668 (decode = '72 convertible frame)
Frame date code: 4 12 72 1 (decode = 4/12/72 build date, 1st shift)

 

That would be about six months before the 72"s came out.

 

It is not a 3 probably an 8 or 9. The 3 has a straight line across top.

 

cool , just curious how does frame date compare to cowl tag build date, or door tag date?
I have a 72 Supreme convertible, cant read my frame date yet… undercoating and rust…

 

Good catch. I think it is an 8

 

What's the build date on the body tag?

 

Well, if nothing else else, I am learning where all the data plates are! Car is a 72 I think?

 

www.datatagdecoder.com

 

That would be a very early '72 model year production car .
Model changeover was the last week in July or the first week in August.
The frame was made on August 10th 1971, and the body was assembled about a week or two later.
Frames were made in places like Milwaukee (A.O. Smith) or New York (Budd).
They were usually shipped by rail then to Lansing.
The car would have come off the assembly line either the third or fourth week of August 1971.

 

Thanks for the help on this. One thing I find interesting is that my car has a split bench seat with drop down armrest. Floor pan does not show any evidence of bucket seats. Sure wish I had them! Everything else appears correct.


Thanks! Nice knowing the history a little more.