protectoplate and mid year

[Karl K.]

What is protectoplate and why are 63 to 67's referred to as mid year?

[Steven G.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

A Protect-o-plate Is A Metal Plate Like A Credit Card That Has Reverse Lettering And Stored In Vehicle Warranty Booklet Extended Page. The Information On Plate Describes That Vehicles Identification, Dealer, Owner And Other Codes And Was Used To Swipe At Dealership When Car Was Serviced. As Far As Mid Year, Maybe Mid 60's.?

[Bill M.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

Mid years cause the're the best

[Reba W.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

I think when the 1963-67 cars began to be referred to as mid-years, they were the middle of three body styles (C1, C2, C3). We are now into C6s, and they are no longer the middle, but the name remains.

[Tracy C.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

I too wondered about the origin of the term "mid years" to describe the 63-7s until Duke expained the term to a person who wasn't smart enough to put his preconcieved opinion on the shelf. I'm not sure he ever accepted the truth, but I digress.

Back in the 60s their were two basic terms of endearment for Corvettes:

Solid Axles (53-62) and
Rubber axles (63 up)

When the 68 came on the scene, they were different and a need to define them separately existed because they also had "rubber axles". They became known as "Sharks" due to their resemblence to the Mako Shark II show car.

We now had "Solid axles" and "Sharks" and the ones in the middle. Henceforth they became known as the "Mid Years".

Today the term really has no logical application, but is still used by those who appreciate the history.

tc

[Stuart F.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

Mine was built on July 9th, just past the middle of 1963. Does that count for something? Just kidding. I do know one thing; the 63 does not have a Protecto plate.

Stu Fox

[Rick A.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

Stu,

my Z06 is July 11th

[Mark K.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

I too wondered about the origin of the term "mid years" to describe the 63-7s until Duke expained the term to a person who wasn't smart enough to put his preconcieved opinion on the shelf. I'm not sure he ever accepted the truth, but I digress.

Back in the 60s their were two basic terms of endearment for Corvettes:

Solid Axles (53-62) and
Rubbler axles (63 up)

When the 68 came on the scene, they were different and a need to define them separately existed because they also had "rubber axles". They became known as "Sharks" due to their resemblence to the Mako Shark II show car.

We now had "Solid axles" and "Sharks" and the ones in the middle. Henceforth they became known as the "Mid Year" cars.

Today the term really has no logical application, but is still used by those who appreciate the history.

tc

That's not how I remember it. They're called mid-YEARS because of how people refered to Corvettes in the 60s. There were the early 60s Corvettes, the late 60s Corvettes, and the "mid-year" 60s Corvettes (which centered right around the center of the decade - 1965). If it was the style or generation another term without the word "year" would have been used. As it was the term is an early 70s term that stuck.

And I've never heard the term "rubber axles". The 63-67 Corvettes in those days were almost invariably just called Sting Rays while the older cars were just Corvettes although "Solid Axles" was used. Jeez, even the Beach Boys just refered to the car as a "fuel-injected Sting Ray".

[Tracy C.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

That's not how I remember it. They're called mid-YEARS because of how people refered to Corvettes in the 60s. There were the early 60s Corvettes, the late 60s Corvettes, and the "mid-year" 60s Corvettes (which centered right around the center of the decade - 1965). If it was the style or generation another term without the word "year" would have been used. As it was the term is an early 70s term that stuck.

And I've never heard the term "rubber axles". The 63-67 Corvettes in those days were almost invariably just called Sting Rays while the older cars were just Corvettes although "Solid Axles" was used. Jeez, even the Beach Boys just refered to the car as a "fuel-injected Sting Ray".

It really isn't important whether you called them Rubber Axles or Sting Rays. Perhaps it depended on what part of the country you were living at the time. Regardless, neither of these terms differentiated between the second and third generations. Many people refer to the third generation cars as Stingrays even though the nameplate ceased in 76.

I'm also confident it wasn't just a 60's thing but rather a term to capture the "mid generation" at the time the term was coined. The name would have still been relevent if the styling change would have occured 5 years before or after the fact.

tc

[Ted S.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

The first year the protect o plate was introduced was 65. It was designed to help the service department ID a few simplle items when the car was brought in for service or warranty work. Mid year is half way between 1960 and 1970. If I look at the protect o plate for my 65 it is very basic. It IDs the motor FO202HG (375 FI) BELOW IS AP0218W (4:11 posi) and on the right is P0224 (4spd) On the top left corner is 437G (White vinyl) On the top right is the vin# 194675s111808. And in the middle is the origional owners name and adress. All of this info is in a owner protection plan booklet included on every chevrolet/chevelle/chevy 2/corvair/ and corvette. This is the finest documentation you can have because it is so hard to fake. C! (clever) C2 (better) C3 (considerate) C4 (careless) C5 (fat farm or drive a 65) C6 (was it that hard?) Paperwork is what you need for every vette you buy! Ted

[Jeff A.]

Re: protectoplate and mid year

First of all - POP are now being reproduced very convincingly - so be careful.

Regarding the mid-year term...
Us "old timers" started using that, when there were only 3 body styles.

I will always think of my C2's as midyears.
Here is a shirt I bought at Bloomington in 1980 (it fits my wife now)
IMO this says it all.