One of my '60s was also built in the month of June. It also has an alternator.
A couple of years ago a few of us with 1960 Imperials were able to narrow down the time where the alternator replaced the generator. I think we determined it was the end of May. Switching to an alternator on a generator car is usually obvious, unless several other changes are made. The exhaust manifold casting on the generator equipped cars is extended towards the front to provide a bracket/mounting surface for the extra heavy unit. For many years it was important to remember when ordering electrical parts for the "late '60", such as the voltage regulator, it would be necessary to designate 1961, or one would end up with the generator related part.
During the model year there were several other changes such as the emergency brake release. It was changed from PUSH to PULL OUT PUSH DOWN. These days, I think this might have been a recall item. The change was made because it was too easy to release the brake, a child sitting in the car, for example, and result in an accident.
Paul W.
Thanks a lot Bill for your very clear explanation!
Now I know that I have an Imperial that was built in June 1960, I always
thought that it was built much later that year cause the car is already
fitted with an alternator.
But ofcourse this may added later by one of the previous owners.
Does Chrysler keep records of the first owner of the car you think?
It would love to know who the first owner was you see?
Thanks again,
Robert
Op Di, 7 maart, 2006 9:21 am, schreef Bill Watson:
>
> Actually, "102791" is the 2,971st car off the line. If the first car was
> 100001, then 100011 is the 11th. -
>
>
> 1st - 100001
> 2nd - 100002
> 3rd - 100003
> 4th - 100004
> 5th - 100005
> 6th - 100006
> 7th - 100007
> 8th - 100008
> 9th - 100009
> 10th -100010
> 11th - 100011
>
>
> The 2,971st car would have been at the very end of September as 383 were
> built in August and 2,663 in Sepember, totalling 3,046 (or 100001 to
> 1003046).
>
>
> And your car, 116664, would be the 16,664th car off the line.
>
>
> Serial number ranges are inlusive, that is the first number is included
> as is the last number.
>
> As 17,703 Imperials were built for 1960, all at the Imperial plant on
> Warren
> Avenue (formerly DeSoto and before that Graham-Paige), the numbers would
> run 100001 to 117703. Your car would have been built at the very
> beginning of June, 1960, as the last 1,129 cars were built in that month
> (116575 to
> 117703) with no production in July. The sheduled build date would be
> listed under "SO NUMBER" (Shipping Order Number) on the data tag under the
> hood. The four digits under the "SO" are for the Scheduled Build Date.
>
>
> Finally, the digits quoted in the original post are the machined-stamped
> raieed digits. There should be two hand-stamped digits before the eight
> digits quoted - 9 - Imperial
> 1 - for Custom / 2- Crown / 3- LeBaron / 9 - Crown Ghia
> The first two digits were added as the car came to the end of the
> assembly line. During the 1960's Chrysler used the Shipping Order Number
> as the tracking number up to the point the VIN tag was attached to the
> car. Which is why you will find the SON stamped on the body during the
> 1960-1968 era
> and not the VIN. The VIN was also not stamped on the data tag under the
> hood until 1969 while the VIN did not appear on the engine or
> transmission until mid-1968.
>
> However, if it was a CKD export unit, it may only have the
> machined-stamped digits. I have seen other export Chrysler products
> assembeld overseas with only the machined -stamped portion of the tag and
> nothing else added. Many times an additional tag was added with a local
> VIN - Chrysler Australia
> (1950's) and Chrysler Great Britain (1930's) went that route.
>
>
>
> Bill
> Vancouver, BC
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rob van der Es" <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 11:51 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: 1960 serial number, custom or crown
>
>
>
>> HI Anthony,
>>
>>
>> Well, if if starts with 9204 it is a Crown! Just like mine, your serial
>> production number is 102791 and they started with 100001. So that means
>> your car is an early 1960 model, # 2790 to be exactly. I bet it came
>> with a generator instead of an alternator.
>>
>> The production # on my car is 116664, so this is a late 1960 model :
>> productionnumber 16663.
>>
>> My car came thus equipped with an alternator:)
>>
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>
>>
>> Op Ma, 6 maart, 2006 1:10 am, schreef ajl:
>>
>>> Guys;
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have a 1960 Imperial 2 door in storage. The vin number on the title
>>>
> and
>>> on the vin plate is 04102791. Is this a crown or custom?
>>>
>>>
>>> Anthony
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
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