http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Chevelle-SS-454-1971-CHEVELLE-SS-454-REALLY-nice-West-Coast-car_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a3Q7c 39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50 QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem20ab9f00e6QQi temZ140318277862QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks check out the build sheet on this 71 LS5!

This is the 3rd or 4th documented '71 SS454 I've seen without hood pins. How can this be explained?

I swear I've seen that buildsheet with the exact spring marks before.

I have a pair of 70s with A/C. DID 71s have the shut-off lever on the A/C vents? This 71 has the 70 style A/C vents. Makes me say HUMMMMmmmmm?
Bob

My 71 convertible was built same plant on 9-1 (build sheet) and this one was built 8-11 according to build sheet they posted. That is roughly 20 days or 3 work weeks to build 7100 cars. Not sure how this pans out

I would love to have that!!!

I compared it to my 1971 buildsheet, built in Van Nuys, and there are some minor differences in terminology of some codes. I am curious about the hand written VIN# in the upper right corner. Mine was also built in 5/19 so of course it has a much higher number.

Didn't the hood pins only come with the cowl induction hood?

I'd like to see more than one overall picture. Pretty sharp car otherwise.

Didn't the hood pins only come with the cowl induction hood?

In '71 &'72 they came with both style hoods. Only in '70 was it that way.

This is the 3rd or 4th documented '71 SS454 I've seen without hood pins. How can this be explained?

Didn't the hood pins only come with the cowl induction hood?

In '71 &'72 they came with both style hoods. Only in '70 was it that way.

I went through the same thing with mine when I bought it and came here to TC. I was also curious about the pins missing.

My uncle bought the car in 1973 from the original owner. It had a cowl hood (no CI) but no pins. It is unknown if the hood was damaged and replaced prior to him purchasing the car (no signs of a wreck and all sheet metal is original), if it was an owner delete ( although the build sheet does not have a mention of it), or if the stripe delete, mine originally was, had anything to do with the pins not being there. There were very faint marks on the radiator support where the cable/screw mounts that leads me to believe there once was a a cable screw there but......I really dont know.

I added a factory CI hood and the pins when I purchased the car from him in 07. I know mine is an original SS as I have pictures of it in 1973 with no pins, the original buyers paperwork, order forms, and window sticker, plus 5 build sheets (3 which I found myself).

So was this the 13th car built...according to the vin?:confused:

I compared it to my 1971 buildsheet, built in Van Nuys, and there are some minor differences in terminology of some codes. I am curious about the hand written VIN# in the upper right corner. Mine was also built in 5/19 so of course it has a much higher number.

It looks to be the thirteenth car off the line,and the pilot VN LS5 . CMD billed per the sheet,probably a brass hat car wasn't retailed till 4/71 and curiously was titled in OR.

Z15 so domed hood not ZL2 so no flapper or pins? . Cool car the seller doesn't seem to be aware of it's signifcance

I went through the same thing with mine when I bought it and came here to TC. I was also curious about the pins missing.

My uncle bought the car in 1973 from the original owner. It had a cowl hood (no CI) but no pins. It is unknown if the hood was damaged and replaced prior to him purchasing the car (no signs of a wreck and all sheet metal is original), if it was an owner delete ( although the build sheet does not have a mention of it), or if the stripe delete, mine originally was, had anything to do with the pins not being there. There were very faint marks on the radiator support where the cable/screw mounts that leads me to believe there once was a a cable screw there but......I really dont know.

I added a factory CI hood and the pins when I purchased the car from him in 07. I know mine is an original SS as I have pictures of it in 1973 with no pins, the original buyers paperwork, order forms, and window sticker, plus 5 build sheets (3 which I found myself).

Thanks Mac. Yours is one of the cars I was referring to. I remember when you first wrote about it also remembering how heavily documented your car was. There is a popular article road testing the 1971 'LS6' car that was never to be, obviously a pre-production car, and it too did not have hood pins. Maybe real early cars didn't get them on the non-CI hoods?

Thanks Mac. Yours is one of the cars I was referring to. I remember when you first wrote about it also remembering how heavily documented your car was. There is a popular article road testing the 1971 'LS6' car that was never to be, obviously a pre-production car, and it too did not have hood pins. Maybe real early cars didn't get them on the non-CI hoods?

Except mine is a real late car 5/71 :D.

Thanks Mac. Yours is one of the cars I was referring to. I remember when you first wrote about it also remembering how heavily documented your car was. There is a popular article road testing the 1971 'LS6' car that was never to be, obviously a pre-production car, and it too did not have hood pins. Maybe real early cars didn't get them on the non-CI hoods?

That's what I was thinking. Maybe Van Nuys had some of the 70 run hoods left and used them up on early 71's, and that may explain the AC side vents with the shut offs!

Boy, if that is a fake sheet, it looks pretty darn good, other than the handwritten VIN, which on a true early production car they might have built the cars then decided they were OK to sell and added VINs to them....definately a zone delivered car...interesting to say the least... :yes:

So was this the 13th car built...according to the vin?:confused:

It would be the 12th car built.
The 1st one built would be 100001,there is no "0" car.

It may be the 12th in California but in South Carolina it's the 13th. Count again.
James

(Vin of car) 100013-100001(VIN of 1st car built) = 12

There is NO "0" car.(car with a VIN of 100000)

That's the 12th car built

(Vin of car) 100013-100001(VIN of 1st car built) = 12

There is NO "0" car.(car with a VIN of 100000)

That's the 12th car built

Count again. :yes:

Lets see.

100001=1
100002=2
100003=3
100004=4
100005=5
100006=6
100007=7
100008=8
100009=9
100010=10
100011=11
100012=12
100013=13

:D

Lets see.

100001=1
100002=2
100003=3
100004=4
100005=5
100006=6
100007=7
100008=8
100009=9
100010=10
100011=11
100012=12
100013=13

:D

Pretty good Dean, you only needed to take one shoe off for that.... :D

You know, some years ago at the Kruse auction in Auburn IN., I did see a Chevelle, Had to be a 72 because the last 6 of the VIN was 500003....

Pretty good Dean, you only needed to take one shoe off for that.... :D
yup, yup.
wanna here my ABC's?
you can sing along with me. :yes:

You guys are a hoot!:D

You know, some years ago at the Kruse auction in Auburn IN., I did see a Chevelle, Had to be a 72 because the last 6 of the VIN was 500003....
So it was the second one built in 1972.......:D

I have a bunch of pictures of that car when it was offered on e-Bay back in January 2003.

On 1970 model the hood pins were included with the ZL2 Cowl Induction hood. D88 stripes were also included with ZL2. Non cowl Induction cars came without the hood pins, and stripes were an extra-cost option.

For 1971 the hood pins were supposed to be standard on all SS cars, ZL2 or not. Considering that the car in question was one of the first to roll off the line it is not inconceivable that there will be a few anomolies as such. Running changes can and do happen (they certainly did in 1971 for Chevrolet. Numerous changes happened to the content on full-sized Chevies and Monte Carlos during the 1971 run, plus the Vega GT came out after the start of the 1971 run. They also switched 4-speed suppliers on the 1971 Vega during the 1971 run. Just something to remember...)

I have a bunch of pictures of that car when it was offered on e-Bay back in January 2003.Me too, no hood pins then either.

What about Mac's car that was a late build with no hood pins?

What about Mac's car that was a late build with no hood pins?


My guess it has to do with the stripe delete.

I don't think that's it, I've got a '71 SS 454 in original paint that has hood pins, but is non-cowl induction and stripe delete. The car was built 5/12/71.

I don't think that's it, I've got a '71 SS 454 in original paint that has hood pins, but is non-cowl induction and stripe delete. The car was built 5/12/71.

It must be a special order paint car too, since black was not a standard color in '71, right?

Yes, it was a "customer order" car (lower right column of all (6) build sheets I have found).

I don't think that's it, I've got a '71 SS 454 in original paint that has hood pins, but is non-cowl induction and stripe delete. The car was built 5/12/71.

Mine was built 5/19/71......may be you stole my hood pins!!!:D Mine also has "customer order" on the build sheet.

You'll have to take that up with the original owner...I wasn't even born when the car was built.

Me either, although I was born 3 months after mine was built.....hence why I love the 1971 year!!!

My uncle said the guy he bought it from like the plain look (Sleeper), hence the stripe delete, and maybe he had the hood swapped to make it look more ordinary as the hood pins and cable do give it a look....if they indeed came on it from the factory. There is no sign of any wreck underneath so I kinda ruled that out. Its possible he had sex on the hood one too many times and it caved in.... who knows!!!

Possibly Warrior90's pins were added by the original owner after purchase if the stripe delete did remove the pins. His is one of the few 71 stripe deletes I have seen on TC.

I wonder how may of these documented 71 without pins can trace their car back to the original owner to verify they left the showroom without them.

Me either, although I was born 3 months after mine was built.....hence why I love the 1971 year!!!

My uncle said the guy he bought it from like the plain look (Sleeper), hence the stripe delete, and maybe he had the hood swapped to make it look more ordinary as the hood pins and cable do give it a look....if they indeed came on it from the factory. There is no sign of any wreck underneath so I kinda ruled that out. Its possible he had sex on the hood one too many times and it caved in.... who knows!!!

Possibly Warrior90's pins were added by the original owner after purchase if the stripe delete did remove the pins. His is one of the few 71 stripe deletes I have seen on TC.

I wonder how may of these documented 71 without pins can trace their car back to the original owner to verify they left the showroom without them.

Sounds like a White Snake video l:)l:)

Were all the 71-72 hoods pre-drilled/cut for the pins when manufactured or did the holes get cut some time prior to paint? I also wonder about the 70 year as we know it came both way....were the same hoods used and the pin hoods were cut at some point or did they produce 2 seperate hoods?

I have contact information for the original buyer. I'll have to check with him, but everything looks correct for a factory installation. This car is a true survivor. I haven't found anything that's been altered on the car. Aside from the usual stuff ( battery, fan belt, heater hoses and core, air filter, oil filter, plugs and wires, exhaust...I'm installing a Gardner System now, and tires) this car is original.
If I can get confirmation from him, I'll post it here later, but I'd be very surprised if the pins were not factory installed.

I have contact information for the original buyer. I'll have to check with him, but everything looks correct for a factory installation. This car is a true survivor. I haven't found anything that's been altered on the car. Aside from the usual stuff ( battery, fan belt, heater hoses and core, air filter, oil filter, plugs and wires, exhaust...I'm installing a Gardner System now, and tires) this car is original.
If I can get confirmation from him, I'll post it here later, but I'd be very surprised if the pins were not factory installed.

Me too....it looks pretty pristine. Especially if that is the factory paint!!!

Thanks, I wish I could take credit for it, but I've only owned it for a year. The previous owners kept it up. If you get up on it, you can see the flaws. A few small chips, door dings, and some cracks and "checking" around the lead lines and the back of the hood. However, for 38 year old black lacquer, it's pretty nice. I've thought about doing a frame off on the car, but I just don't think I can disturb it. So for now, I just try to clean off 38 years of age without hurting the originality.

Thanks, I wish I could take credit for it, but I've only owned it for a year. The previous owners kept it up. If you get up on it, you can see the flaws. A few small chips, door dings, and some cracks and "checking" around the lead lines and the back of the hood. However, for 38 year old black lacquer, it's pretty nice. I've thought about doing a frame off on the car, but I just don't think I can disturb it. So for now, I just try to clean off 38 years of age without hurting the originality.

NO!!!! That is a awesome Survivor. I would try and find any and all parts that may have been replaced and try and get the proper dated ones back on. Also a special order paint / stripe delete is a pretty rare car.

Thanks, I wish I could take credit for it, but I've only owned it for a year. The previous owners kept it up. If you get up on it, you can see the flaws. A few small chips, door dings, and some cracks and "checking" around the lead lines and the back of the hood. However, for 38 year old black lacquer, it's pretty nice. I've thought about doing a frame off on the car, but I just don't think I can disturb it. So for now, I just try to clean off 38 years of age without hurting the originality.

Awesome car John and I agree with you keeping it as original as possible.

Yes, it was a "customer order" car (lower right column of all (6) build sheets I have found).

It's been said that a lot of dealers would place orders for cars that were sold "customer order" for lot stock, as Customer cars were generally built before dealer orders. :yes:

That could very well be the case here, but I won't know until I contact the original buyer. I can't understand why a dealer would order a car in this configuration...it seems like a personal taste type vehicle with the lack of Cowl Induction and stripes. I have to make a point to talk to the original buyer soon...I have several questions I would love to get answered.

Warrior90,

Where was your car built and what were the locations you found your build sheets?

I found one on my tank, 2 under my back seat, one came from inside the door panel, and the other is a carbon coby that came with the original buyer's paperwork. Do you have any photos of your build sheets?

The car was a Leed's (Kansas City) car. One build sheet was given to me with the title (don't know it's origin, but looks like one that would come off the dash carrier...it's a copy #7 in red). Since I've had it, I found one above the tank, one between each of the front inner fenders and firewall, one still hog ringed to the upper back seat and one taped to the back of the drivers door panel. Attached is the copy that I received with the title, the rest are still in the car where I found them. I have pictures in a file if you're interested, but it would be kind of repetitive to show the same buildsheet six times.

Damn....you got some options!!!

I have the same one as well..... I dont think you see to many of this type of build sheet. I have never look in my fenders before. How did you do that without removing them?

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f382/M60-E4/1971%20Chevelle%20SS/BuildSheet7.jpg

I had to drop the inner fenders down to get a good look at them. Plastic inners, so they were easy to lower out of the way. I like the buckets and console on yours, wish mine had them! Thats my only regret with this car. But, until I find the perfect car, this will work.

Need to get this in the LS5 Registry (http://macswebs.com/ls5registry). :yes:

Boy, if that is a fake sheet, it looks pretty darn good, other than the handwritten VIN, which on a true early production car they might have built the cars then decided they were OK to sell and added VINs to them....definately a zone delivered car...interesting to say the least... :yes:

My 1971 GMC Sprint SP-454 (Van Nuys - May 1971) has the exact same hand-written VIN suffix on all four build sheets:

http://www.chevelles.com/sprint/bs1_c.jpg
http://www.chevelles.com/sprint/bs2_c.jpg

Cool SP!!

Weird how these 3 cars are days apart and from the same plant, and 2 have typed Vin#s and one has a handwritten one. Just goes to show there is no one true way things were done.

I have also wondered what the handwritten numbers are on the top left corner as all of these build sheets have this.

Just to add some more "fuel" to this thing...my wife has a '72 Nova SS that was built in Van Nuys also. We have 3 build sheets for this car and the VIN is type-written but in the upper left-hand corner there is a hand-written number sequence as well. Maybe this is another one of those "plant variances" that keep coming up with these build sheets. This one did that.......that one did this. Interesting thread in any case.
Duke

Cool SP!!

Weird how these 3 cars are days apart and from the same plant, and 2 have typed Vin#s and one has a handwritten one. Just goes to show there is no one true way things were done.

I have also wondered what the handwritten numbers are on the top left corner as all of these build sheets have this.

The real question, is Dan Carr's Sprint built in May of 1970, or May of 1971????

I'm going to guess May of '70. With the early VIN number 101047, the early shock codes, and the early control arm codes, it looks like one of the first '71s. I also have a copy of a build sheet for a 71 El Camino SS 454 built at Van Nuys (last week of June, 1970) and the VIN is 106XXX. Just a guess.

The real question, is Dan Carr's Sprint built in May of 1970, or May of 1971????

1971

All Chevrolets built on the Van Nuys assembly line had one sequential numbering order. If a Chevelle was followed down the assembly line by a Monte Carlo, their serial numbers would be one number apart.

However, the GMC Sprints had their own numbering system. So my Sprint, serial number 1047, is the 1047th 1971 GMC Sprint built at Van Nuys.

1971

All Chevrolets built on the Van Nuys assembly line had one sequential numbering order. If a Chevelle was followed down the assembly line by a Monte Carlo, their serial numbers would be one number apart.

However, the GMC Sprints had their own numbering system. So my Sprint, serial number 1047, is the 1047th 1971 GMC Sprint built at Van Nuys.

I was wondering that as I posted, but you would have thought that by May 1971 they would have had the computer set up to print the VIN on the build sheet... :yes:

I was wondering that as I posted, but you would have thought that by May 1971 they would have had the computer set up to print the VIN on the build sheet... :yes:

May be with the low number of Sprints produced, they did not have a "program" setup for the Sprint line of VIN#s and is was just easier to write them on the sheets...... just a thought!

I had to drop the inner fenders down to get a good look at them. Plastic inners, so they were easy to lower out of the way. I like the buckets and console on yours, wish mine had them! Thats my only regret with this car. But, until I find the perfect car, this will work.

I loosened my inner fenders (plastic) and looked up in the front fenders on both sides but did not see anything. I only loosened them and used a flashlight although it was still hard to get a good look. I guess I should have taken the inners off. Were the build sheets closer to the doors or more to the front of the fenders?

I also check the top section of my back seat and found nothing.


ASO544

They are back behind the hood hinge area. You can look in there with the door partially open , look through the door jamb into the back of the fenders. If you have thin arms you can reach behind the hinges and feel back there.