Early Corvette Trim Tag ID

By: Alan L. Colvin 

This article will focus on the different types of Corvette trim Tags that were used from 1955-1982. There were numerous changes over that period and we hope to cover the majority of those changes in this article. We will cover the rear differentials in brief detail to point out the specific differences that exist.

1955-62 Corvettes did not have a trim tag. The only way that you can positively verify the original paint and/or interior is to acquire the original dealer invoice or other original paperwork. Not all dealer invoices show the original paint but most do show the interior code and color. Also, if the car still has the original interior, there may be an assembly line sheet in between the seat springs that would indicate the interior color. On 1955-62 Corvettes there is also the possibility that the paint code was written in white chalk under the spare tire cover. On 1956-57 Corvettes a chalk mark was written on the front crossmember indicating the paint code. Finally, if the car has not been restored some factory paint overspray may still be visible on the floorpan or on the inside of the car behind the interior door panels.

The 1963-64 Corvette trim tag is different from other models in several respects. In the top left corner of the trim tag is the body build code. The 1963 Corvette trim tag build code contains a letter that represents the month, which is then followed by a single digit that represent the week of the month (1 through 6). All 1964 Corvette trim tag build codes contain a letter that represents the month, followed by two digits that represent the day of the month (1 or 01 through 31).

Top: Stripped interior of a 1967 Corvette shows the 1963-67 location of the trim tag and VIN plate on the right side of the dash. Bottom: Closeup of trim tag from the same car.

Directly below the time build code is the word “Style.” Following the word Style is the last two digits of the model year (63 or 64), a blank space, and the three digit body style code (837 for a coupe or 867 for a convertible). The next position to the right is the body sequence number. This number represents the numerical sequence of the particular body style (coupe or convertible).

Starting in mid-1964 and continuing throughout the 1967 model year, all body sequence numbers were prefixed with the letter “A” for the A.O. Smith body source or “S” for the St. Louis Assembly Plant. A.O. Smith began producing Corvette bodies for shipment effective with Corvette serial number 109678, which was produced in January 1964. Earlier cars contained no body prefix letter. Please refer to the trim and paint sections of this chapter for the interior and exterior trim and paint combinations for a particular application.

The 1963 through 1967 Corvette trim tags differ from the later 1968-78 Corvette trim tags in several respects. The primary difference is that there are fewer positions where information is listed. From 1963 on, trim tags had many changes.

In the top left corner of 1963 through 1967 trim tag is the body build date code. 1963 build date codes contain a letter that represents the month, which is then followed by a single digit that represents the week of the month (1 through 6). 1964 and later trim tag build date codes contain a letter that represents the month, followed by two digits that represent the day of the month (1 or 01 through 31).

Corvette trim tag from a silver/dark blue 1964 convertible built on November 9.

Directly below the build date code is the word “Style”. Following the word “Style” is the last two digits of the model year (63 or 64), a blank space, and the three digit body style code (837 for a coupe or 867 for a convertible). The next position to the right is the body sequence number. This number represents the numerical sequence of the particular body style (coupe or convertible).

Starting in mid-1964 and continuing throughout the 1967 model year, all body sequence numbers were prefixed with the letter “A” for the A.O. Smith body source or “S” for the St. Louis Assembly Plant.

The 1968-78 Corvette trim tag is very different from the 1965-67 Corvette trim tag. In the top right corner of the trim tag is the body build date code. The body build date code consists of an alphanumeric code representing the month followed by two numbers representing the day of the month. On the left side of the trim tag is the word “Trim”, which designates the interior trim code of that particular car. The actual trim code is to the right of the word “Trim” and consists of a 3 digit numerical code. Following the trim code and to the right is the car's exterior paint code. This code consists of a three digit numerical code. Following this three-digit paint code is the word “Paint” to designate the paint code. On the lower half of the trim tag is this wording: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION CERTIFIES TO THE DEALER THAT THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS APPLICABLE AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE.

Corvette trim tag from a 1978 Pace Car built on March 21.