"By The Numbers" Matching Numbers Engines

In sales of Corvettes we often speak of "matching numbers". But what does that really mean? What it means and how you can find out exactly if a car you are considering really has a matching numbers engine.

[@CatholicBoy1957]

I went to so many websites and got dragged around by the nose with muddy explanations, then I came here and got a crystal clear explanation and this is all I need. .

[@wellsway1]

Excellent video, quick and informative👍👍

[@66ElCamino357]

Thanks for explaining what the numbers reference…

[@66ElCamino357]

The "S" would stand for St. Louis Assembly plant for the vehicle and the "V" in the suffix would be the assembly plant for the engine being Flint MI.

[@rea8755]

Thank you

[@supsailor1885]

Is there a similar video for Chevelles?

[@MrDjh66]

Ok thank you

[@gpt5002]

Would decking the block cause the serial number to be removed yet the F ##### number remain?

[@buyavettedotnet]

Highly unlikely.

[@smokeydabeecharlescoleman8365]

Is it the same location for a big block ?

[@buyavettedotnet]

Casting date on early big blocks is located on the lower passenger's side of the engine block, near the starter. Stamp pad still contains the same data as small blocks.

[@MrDjh66]

Is this the same for a 1966 to?

[@buyavettedotnet]

Yes, this applies to all 1960-82 Chevrolet engines.

[@josemary2106]

Sometimes the engine no. Looks too perfect, then sometimes the stamp looks too imperfect.

[@kingw818]

lil 😆 9

[@jeffrooee]

forgive my ignorance, but what is the significance of numbers matching? does it tell you that the original motor is in there? Wouldn't it be better if someone dropped a newer engine in there?

[@buyavettedotnet]

Nearly anything that's antique/collectible is going to be worth more if it's original, and not modified. People buy these cars because they're nostalgic for them -- they remember what they were like when they were new, and they want them to be exactly like they remember. Original is almost always going to be worth more than modified, if they're otherwise in the same condition.

[@adamcady9359]

@@buyavettedotnet negating top specimens i e l 88, ZL1 etcetera that trend is pushed out due to all the customers that want rest don't mind with modern fuel injected crate engines. Sad I know, We full original engines much to my dismay at a daily at my shop due to customer demands and replace them with bigger beefier modern ls7s or 502 or 572 crate engines because their original 454 LS6 in a Chevelle just wasn't enough power LOL so I might have it half of these suckers generally don't care about the engine once it's pulled but it's still sad because most of them might just pickle them and then set them and store them on a pallet somewhere and hope that I find a clean enough body to throw them into someday. My 69 has it's original 427 and Muncie 4 speed, but my Wife's 73 has a 383 stroker that has about 100 more horsepower and kicks its butt every which way to Sunday because it's built to the nines LOL but we both know which one I'm driving on the weekend, my 69 all the way! Have a great day Sir and awesome video.

[@buyavettedotnet]

@@adamcady9359 thanks for the kind words! There certainly seems to be plenty of both "numbers matching" customers, and those who don't seem to mind. We'll keep stocking cars for both though!

[@marissejans6247]

@@buyavettedotnet Thanks. Great to know. I am based in Europe and looking to obtain information on previous Ownership of my C3 Corvettes. I had the website before, but lost it. How to get History Ownership info? Many thanks in advance! Regards from England? 😎🇬🇧

[@buyavettedotnet]

@@marissejans6247 I am not aware of any website that has ownership history for all C3 Corvettes -- maybe try one of these? www.c3vr.com/ www.c3registry.com/

[@whiteboy8507]

Love u son

[@kblopp]

The best thing you can do to a 75 Corvette is get rid of the original engine.

[@vitomacchio3963]

I have a 1970 Corvette Convertible, the badging says LT1 but I'm not sure can you tell by the VIN number if this is true? VIN 194670S403777

[@buyavettedotnet]

They didn't start putting the engine code in the VIN until 1972, so no way to tell the engine on a 1970 from the VIN. Also, looks like you have an extra digit towards the end of that VIN.