Re: [FWDLK] When it rains it pours

["Mark J. Hash" <mjh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Re: [FWDLK] When it rains it pours

In an effort to prove whether or not the '61 DeSoto I reported to the list is indeed one of the last ones made, the current owner redoubled his efforts to find the body tag, and found it!  It was on the inside door frame.  Anyway, for those who can decode the tag here's what he wrote down for me:

 

A    K    M    R    T    V    X    Y

2     3     5    1     2    1    3    8

 

   SO    NUMBER    BDY    TRM     PNT

 1028      3015         614      105     B-W2

 

I hope these numbers are what are needed to discover if this is, indeed one of the last DeSoto's made. . .

 

Mark   mjh

'57 Fury '57 Savoy, '61 DeSoto soon?

   

----- Original Message -----

From: Tony Rinaldi

To: Mark J. Hash

Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 10:50 AM

Subject: Re: [FWDLK] When it rains it pours

Hi Mark,

The body plate should look like the attached pencil tracing. On the lower left, you will see 02 04. This means that the car was manufactured on Feb. 4. In this case it is 1960 since the tag is from a 1960 Chrysler and it would indicate a build date in ?59 or ?60.

Since the body plate is missing, you can always uncover the hidden number on the firewall behind the heater unit under the hood. It is on the passenger side firewall about 6 inches in from the fender side. There are about 10 bolts to remove. You may have to scrape the paint off the numbers to read them accurately.

If you decide to do this, I can help you decipher the build date if you can?t figure it out.

Note, this trick works on a ?60 Chrysler. See no reason that it should not be the same for a DeSoto.

The reason for the hidden number was to be sure that they were putting the right stuff on the right ordered car. Not for any security issues.

Tony

From: "Mark J. Hash" <mjh@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 07:32:32 -0700
To: "Tony Rinaldi" <awrdoc@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] When it rains it pours

We looked for the body plate, even using his shop manual to describe where it is, and could not find it.  It said just above the left front fender, but there was nothing there.  Nor was there evidence it had ever been there. . .

Mark   mjh

----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Rinaldi <mailto:awrdoc@xxxxxxxxx>  
To: Mark J. Hash <mailto:mjh@xxxxxxxxxx>  
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 6:55 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] When it rains it pours

Hi Mark,

You need the info from the body plate. Probably on the inside of the driver?s door. Have him send you a tracing and if you want, I?ll look up the info for you so that you can decipher the info for the date of build.

Tony

From: "Mark J. Hash" <mjh@xxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: "Mark J. Hash" <mjh@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 02:04:15 -0700
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [FWDLK] When it rains it pours

1961 DeSoto four door hardtop.  VIN # 61  13124486.  The current owner tells me this car is the 15th from the last DeSoto made.  Can anybody verify this from the VIN?