63 console shifter plate usage ?

[Jim K.]

A good friend of mine recently purchased a very nice original low mileage 63 roadster, with a 300hp 4spd drivetrain. Having once owned a 63 coupe myself, I happened to notice that the shifter plate console did not have the horizontal rib pattern in it but was a 64 type, painted black to match the black interior seats and carpet. When I discovered that the serial # of the car was the 105th car from the end of production I believe that it may be possible that this painted shifter plate was put in at the factory when they ran out of the ribbed ones during the last couple weeks of 63 production. Are there any 63 owners out there with a painted shifter plate ? Any other feedback/thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, Jim kish

[Tracy C.]

Re: 63 console shifter plate usage ?

Doubt this scenario as the console pieces were also sold over the counter. I've seen a number of these still in the wrappers. I also remember seeing an old photo of Doc Rebuild at a swap meet with 5 or 6 NOS 63 console plates hanging in his booth LONG before repops were a twinkle in David Crane's eye.

tc

[Joe L.]

Re: 63 console shifter plate usage ?

A good friend of mine recently purchased a very nice original low mileage 63 roadster, with a 300hp 4spd drivetrain. Having once owned a 63 coupe myself, I happened to notice that the shifter plate console did not have the horizontal rib pattern in it but was a 64 type, painted black to match the black interior seats and carpet. When I discovered that the serial # of the car was the 105th car from the end of production I believe that it may be possible that this painted shifter plate was put in at the factory when they ran out of the ribbed ones during the last couple weeks of 63 production. Are there any 63 owners out there with a painted shifter plate ? Any other feedback/thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, Jim kish

Jim-------


The 1963 plate, GM #3823337, was discontinued from SERVICE without supercession in January, 1974.

The original 1964 plate, GM #3848189 (the black-painted version and the only one ever available in SERVICE), was only available in SERVICE for a very short time. It was discontinued in January, 1966 and replaced by the 65-66 plate, GM #3860161. The latter was discontinued in October, 1967 and replaced by the 1967 plate, GM #3900308. All of the aforementioned assumes the car does not have power windows but the same principles apply if it does.

If the car has a genuine GM #3848189 plate, then I expect there's a very good chance it's original to the car, considering the car's late build. If not, it would have to have been a used one that was originally installed in 1964 and later transferred to the 1963 OR a SERVICE piece originally purchased sometime between September, 1963 and January, 1966. Either of these possibilities seems somewhat unlikely.

If the plate is actually a 3860161 or a 3900308, then it's not possible that it was originally installed in the car.

[Jim K.]

Re: 63 console shifter plate usage ?

Thanks for the great info Joe. We will pull off the plate and see what the GM part # is . Best regards, Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: 63 console shifter plate usage ?

Thanks for the great info Joe. We will pull off the plate and see what the GM part # is . Best regards, Jim

Jim------


It's worth the trouble to take the plate off and check for numbers. Lots of things can be revealed from the "underside" of parts like this. However, keep in mind that what you'll likely find is a CASTING number and not a finished part number. It's possible that the same casting was used for all 1964-67 plates. However, if so, I'm sure there are visible differences between all the various parts used over the 64-67 period. Perhaps someone with knowledge of what these differences are can step in and let us know.

[William C.]

Re: 63 console shifter plate usage ?

65 added the holes at the rear for the seatbelt retainers to mount