Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

[John M.]

Having previously restored primarily Chevelles, I've done a lot of research on tags, markings etc.

They are found more frequently, or should I say, more are being reproduced and offered aftermarket as correct, whether correct or not.

There are reproduction parts tags produced for virtually every part that I don't immediately see available aftermarket for the Corvette.

Other than Master Cylinder bails, springs and Shocks, I really don't see much else being reproduced and sold.

I realize these are most likely being overdone, but in the Chevelle field, you see sway bar tags, caliper dust shield tags, A-arms, fuel lines, brake lines, axle, frame, rotor, check valve, steering box and on and on.

You also see much more common assembly line markings such as, Temp and date on radiator top valance, Color Codes and model numbers on firewall, etc. etc.

Being that Chevelles were produced in multiple plants, and practices varied from plant to plant, as well as intermittent torque tests performed and marked. Is it that reproduction tags, dabs and markings at each Assembly plant are being somewhat generalized and offered as reproduction?

Or were the parts not typically tagged as often in the Corvette plant, and the need to Color code and tag less frequent due to the plant having less of a product mix?

Are parts ID decals limited to Springs, Shocks and master cylinder bails on Corvettes?

[Tom H.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

Hi John !

I can't say for certain, but I'd have to say that some of the Corvette parts might not have been so heavily labeled since they were unique to the Corvette and Corvette only. Also, like you said, the Corvette was built in only one plant, so that helped as well.

Chevelles were built in multiple plants that also produced Buicks, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles and Chevrolets all at once, the labeling system may have been more critical for parts distribution and installation. Also in the case of "A" body Chevelles, you have to remember there were coupes, sedans, wagons, and 4 doors as well as El Caminos being built simoultaniously. That would have been a nightmare to keep parts straight in there without labels !!

I'm sure someone really knows the answer, but that's always been my thought.

[John H.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

1st-Generation Camaro restorations (the other side of my hobby) are similar to many of the Chevelle restorations I see - sometimes I think there's a contest going for who can pile on the most "restoration graffiti", almost none of which was on the cars when they left the plant. eBay auction restoration photos are apparently the standard .

Corvettes ('63-'67) had very little in the way of labels, stickers, stamps, and paint splotches on them, and NO fasteners had "paint marks" on them unless the car was one of the two selected each day for the off-line Quality Audit, which included a torque check of critical fasteners.

[Michael H.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

1st-Generation Camaro restorations (the other side of my hobby) are similar to many of the Chevelle restorations I see - sometimes I think there's a contest going for who can pile on the most "restoration graffiti", almost none of which was on the cars when they left the plant. eBay auction restoration photos are apparently the standard .

Corvettes ('63-'67) had very little in the way of labels, stickers, stamps, and paint splotches on them, and NO fasteners had "paint marks" on them unless the car was one of the two selected each day for the off-line Quality Audit, which included a torque check of critical fasteners.

John, thanks for the info. I've been involved in an ongoing debate with a guy near here that's restoring a 68 Camaro. I told him several times that the 68 Z28 that I bought new didn't have all those silly labels stuck on everything but he insists that they did. Proof, he said, is the fact that all the vendors sell them.


Same for the paint on nuts and bolts. As John mentioned, there wasn't a guy running around the chassis line checking bolt torques and adding his paint blob of approval. Not in the 50's and 60's anyway.
Paint swipes were mostly for part/assembly identification.

[John M.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

Makes sense.

Sounds like the assembly practices and processes are documented quite a bit better with the Corvette. Especially with the National Point judging events and documentation surrounding the NCRS.

Creative levels of "detailing" are a little more difficult to get away with than with the GM A bodies.

I've been guilty of a little "excess detailing" myself, so I'll have to keep the reigns pulled back a bit.

[Terry M.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

We are a very tight knit group. There was a time when the paint daubs were getting out of hand -- I won't mention which years or which restoration shop was championing them, but the judges quickly got wind of what was happening with the help of those folks who worked in St. Louis (and Flint and Bowling Green) and the word spread. A few point deductions, and it was all in check.

We are blessed in many ways in comparison with other marques.

Corvettes being newer than say some of the Classics we have more of the people who built the car still alive -- although that is changing rapidly. And yes I know we are NOT newer than the A or F-bodies -- see my next point.

Corvettes were ALL built in one plant (serially except for one year), and many of the work practices moved from Flint to St. Louis to Bowling Green. We don't have the "issue" of cars in plant X being built differently than cars from plant Y. And, as mentioned above, with only two body styles there are fewer variations on the plant floor.

We have ample literature from "back in the day" Assembly Manuals, Parts Books, Technical Service Bulletins. The popular literature of the day always road tested a Corvette or two or three and those tests include many photos.

Corvettes were probably better cared for in general than other Marques. For the most part they have been fair weather cars from the beginning. We have more original examples to study, and a program to reward owners of such vehicles. We were the first to make such a program, and the results speak for themselves.

That said that are a couple of labels missing from the C3 list, but I don't want to start another "trend" so I'll not be specific.

Of course on the down side there were far fewer Corvettes built than many (but not all) other marques. And of course those Corvettes that were raced, as with any race car, lost a lot of originality on the way to the finish line.


I'm sure there is more, but it has been a long day and this is already too long.

[John M.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

That said that are a couple of labels missing from the C3 list, but I don't want to start another "trend" so I'll not be specific.

I don't know if it would start another trend, other than one of restoring correctly.

That's why we come here, to learn what's correct, and carry on the torch of correct preservation and restorations of our Corvettes.

I don't think a restored car with correct reproduction lable placement could ever be passed off as original, what would the harm be in laying out correct information for restoration purposes?

[Terry M.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

I don't think a restored car with correct reproduction lable placement could ever be passed off as original, what would the harm be in laying out correct information for restoration purposes?

Oh yes, it can and has been done.

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Tags, decals and paint dabs. "1969" as compared to other GM models.

My 71 December 70 build has Owen corning fiberglass labels on the under side of the front fenders and I know on the spare tire tub.
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Kelly