Would a 1962 model year car that was built during the first week of August been built at the end of the model year (August 1962) or at the beginning of the model year (August 1961). When was the typical production model year switch over point at this time?
The model year usually ran from August to July (August 1961 to July 1962 for the 1962 model year). You can check by looking at the sequential portion of the serial number (VIN), which is the last 7 digits of the 9 digit VIN. It should be in the lower end of the range, the ranges for the 1962 model year are: [TABLE="class: grid, width: 800"] <tbody>[TR] [TD]Plant Name [/TD] [TD]Series or Body Platform [/TD] [TD]Serial Number Start [/TD] [TD]Serial Number End[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Flint, MI[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]1001001[/TD] [TD]1101495[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Flint, MI[/TD] [TD]Y[/TD] [TD]1501001[/TD] [TD]1604700[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]South Gate, CA[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]2001001[/TD] [TD]2020852[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]South Gate, CA[/TD] [TD]Y[/TD] [TD]2501001[/TD] [TD]2527089[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Linden, NJ[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]3001001[/TD] [TD]3038992[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Kansas City, KS[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]4001001[/TD] [TD]4025354[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Kansas City, KS[/TD] [TD]Y[/TD] [TD]4501001[/TD] [TD]4525678[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Wilmington, DE[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]5001001[/TD] [TD]5022987[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Atlanta, GA[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]6001001[/TD] [TD]6023088[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Arlington, TX[/TD] [TD]B and C[/TD] [TD]8001001[/TD] [TD]8019915[/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE]
Thanks Sean. It's a Y body from South Gate and the last 7 digits of the VIN are 2526768 which would put it at the end of the Model Year build. So I am guessing the model year switch over ran into August 1962 that year for some reason. Where did you find the production serial number ranges? I bought the car from the original owner and he said that he ordered the car from the dealer because he wanted a 4-speed. His dealer told him he wasn't sure if he could get the car before they stopped building them for the year so they must have snuck it in the build during the last week or so of production.
You can calculate them if you know the starting serial number and the plant production (which you can get from Ward's Automotive Yearbook). Does the body tag say 08A or 08B for the build date?
Good info Sean. Is that info on their website on the 'public data' page? I'll need to register to see it. Start/stop dates seem to vary.... My '65 GS vert is a VERY late build of 3rd week of August 1965. Sean, if you would, could you check last sn of '65s built at Baltimore for the 4000 series Skylarks? Or let me know where to find it. Thanks!
I usually just get the Ward's books from my local library, but I own 1951-1976. Send me a PM with your email and I will send you a PDF with the pages from the 1966 book (has 1965 data). Also see attachment showing VIN ranges for 1965.
Thanks Sean! My 65 GS vin is just under 300 cars from the end! Build date code is 8c. Wonder if this was the last day or two of production.... PM sent.
