<VV> body codes

[Paul Michalczyk]

With all this talk on Fisher Body build codes, I took a look at mine.  My
build date is the fourth week of August, 1964 (O8D) .  My serial number is
105675L100268.  The body tag also indicates that it is the 18th one made.  I
am the second owner of this vehicle which I purchased on May 11, 1966.  The
car was sold by Arrow Chevrolet in Los Angeles.  My recollection is that they
stated they were also the original seller of the vehicle.  My notes at the
time indicate it was originally sold (or, at least, registered) in February of
1965.

During my recent restoration of the vehicle, I found a many strange things.
The most curious is that the car is equipped as a Corsa, not a Monza.
Although I'm not the original owner, and therefore have no personal knowledge
of what may have happened to it prior to my purchase, it seems inconceivable
to me that somebody would have taken the time and effort (not to mention cost)
to upgrade everything to Corsa trim prior to my purchase.  It would have cost
as much as a new car!  Even the wiring harness(s) were correct for the Corsa
dash.  There are no unaccounted for holes for the Monza trim, or signs of
previous repair to those areas.  (Body was bead blasted to bare metal.)

Among the other strange things is that the body tag is the same style as that
for 1964 models, although that may have been just a "really early" thing.  The
tag was installed on the left-hand side, near the battery, and looks like
this:
                                     O8D
                                ST 65-10567       18          BODY
                                TR 713-                 C-1     PAINT
                                     ED  2LS   3C
                                     5W

The car has a telescope wheel option.  However, it is abundantly clear that
someone merely took a standard steering box and cut the shaft with a hacksaw,
as the end of the steering shaft is very irregular and has saw marks on it.
There are no serrations or other machine marks.  The entry for the real
mounted radio antenna cable (between the engine compartment and backseat area)
was made with a punch or drift rather and sealed with putty rather then the
nice round punched hole made at the factory and later sealed with a rubber
grommet.

 There are other small parts, as well as mounting areas to the main body,
which do not appear to be part of a regular assembly line process, showing
hand fitting.  Clearly some appear to have been done at the Fisher Body plant,
such as the 10 or 12 stampings of the "hidden VIN" number (all the same
number, of course).  In some of the number sets, only half the number is
clearly legible.  The numbers are stamped behind the spring towers on both
sides of the car.  Other items are installed by the assembly plant, such as
the convertible top brackets which hold the top in the folded position were
installed, even though the car has a power top.  The car was equipped with a
two speed windshield wiper motor and washer, but the interior switch was for a
single speed wiper, without a washer.  (I changed this when I purchased the
vehicle in 1966.  I clearly remember wondering what those people were thinking
about when they assembled the car!)  I also have the other items in the
"convenience group": courtesy lights, a day-night mirror, and glove box light.
These items are also not listed on the body tag.  They did get the tinted
glass correct, however.

All this is an explanation for me to ask if anyone knows of anybody with an
earlier numbered Corsa.  I also wonder if the "18 " refers to Monza or Corsa
convertibles.  A while ago there was some talk on V V regarding a 65 Spyder.
Although I have a 140, I wonder if this is a similar case.

Sincerely,
Paul Michalczyk