And what day does & correspond to? As he states in the quoted text, it is a deduction based on data. We post theory here a lot too, but sometimes it does not pan out. Factory documentation would be a much better primary source.
Last edited by Yellowbird; 11/14/0712:55 PM. Reason: replaced week with day
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
And what day does & correspond to? As he states in the quoted text, it is a deduction based on data. We post theory here a lot too, but sometimes it does not pan out. Factory documentation would be a much better primary source.
After Kurt examines thousands of tags which bolster his theory it becomes somewhat more than just a theory.
Okay, then his research is to be considered fact? It's the result of careful research, but it would have to be backed up with broadcast info for every sheet.
Here are a few questions that will help make or break the theory.
How did production schedules run? If a car is 10E, does the build week include the entire week even though it picks up the first few days of November? If a car is 12A, does that week begin on the first day of the calendar month, or the first December day of a production week? And is a production week Sunday - Saturday, or something else? And are these cars from normal 1968 production year, or extended (late '69) production?
Comparing a perpetual calendar to the production info will give a better view.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
Okay, then his research is to be considered fact? It's the result of careful research, but it would have to be backed up with broadcast info for every sheet.
Here are a few questions that will help make or break the theory.
How did production schedules run? If a car is 10E, does the build week include the entire week even though it picks up the first few days of November? If a car is 12A, does that week begin on the first day of the calendar month, or the first December day of a production week? And is a production week Sunday - Saturday, or something else? And are these cars from normal 1968 production year, or extended (late '69) production?
Comparing a perpetual calendar to the production info will give a better view.
Kurt gave us the condensed version. He had a head start on this due to his 1st gen Camaro research that weighs very heavily on trim tags. They don't have PHS so the trim tag research was more important. As he states on his site, thousands of tags fit this theory. The chances of coincidence are very small(nil).
And it only takes one tag that doesn't fit the theory to upset the concept. Which is where this topic (D80) came from. If LOR cars don't have extra codes, why do a few?
B80 D80
Jim, do you have the B80 tag pic? I couldn't find it last night. Thought it might be helpful.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
And it only takes one tag that doesn't fit the theory to upset the concept. Which is where this topic (D80) came from. If LOR cars don't have extra codes, why do a few?
B80 D80
Jim, do you have the B80 tag pic? I couldn't find it last night. Thought it might be helpful.
I have the picture but it serves no purpose. It serves no purpose because it has been altered to create the illusion of a real tag. From years of the owner of the tag not being willing to back it up with one other picture of any sort it's becomes evident that it was a hoax from the start.
You claim the B80 tag is altered? Why, if the code has no significance in this application (driprail trim on a convertible)? What would stand to be gained by altering a tag with a code that means nothing to the car?
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
You claim the B80 tag is altered? Why, if the code has no significance in this application (driprail trim on a convertible)? What would stand to be gained by altering a tag with a code that means nothing to the car.
The Dave D80 tag is altered. If you want to know why ask him.
No problem having a critical review of the CRG data.
It took a lot of data and a lot of research before we felt comfortable publishing that info. We wouldn't put it on the site if the whole group (there's 16 of us) didn't concur with the result and the research behind it.
Build weeks as coded on the trim tag are not exact and do not conform to a calendar. Some weeks run long, some short, some half weeks at the ends of the month get labeled to the next / previous month while some don't.
That said, the w/o code progresses thru the month and resets every month. We have enough shipped date info to back up that it's a daily event.
The only exception is one that you posted, the & code. That month in 68, for whatever reason, they ran out of the alphabet and used those codes. It was a 31 day month and perhaps some OT weekends used up the 26 day codes. Don't know, but it was the only month that did that.
BTW, the CRG database is actually 15,000 cars. So we have some real data to work with at this point.
Kurt, it's great to see you posting here. I've referenced your site a few times in my posts, particularly regarding glass codes when I did a survey of 'bird glass.
I'll search my photo archives for any other D80s or B80s not out of Norwood.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
Ahhh Kurt has been around here for a couple years and he has an uncanny ability to post at just the right time. From the very first post he's been a BIG help. Thanks Kurt.
Thanks! I enjoy helping. Pay is great too! Too bad I missed some of these posts for almost a year.
BTW, I asked Geoff to start a new research thread on tags and on 67 console clips. Then again, there's so much info on tags here that this thread should probably be split.....
I asked some friends about other LOR products (full-size Chevys) and they have found 3 other tags with RPO codes on them. All 3 were stamped Z21, one convertible, 2 coupes. 10D, 03C, and 06C/D. The Z21 was stamped in the same position as the D80/B80 on this Firebird tag that has been discussed.
Interesting that it that one of the cars was way back in Oct. I'm surprised it's so infrequent; Z21 (exterior style trim) shouldn't be that rare of an option. So maybe not all tags were stamped.
John V wrote the best summation: Lordstown stopped building '69 Firebirds late in March, the latest Time Built codes are 03-B and 03-C.
In mid March, Pontiac "decontented" the Firebird to reduce the base price. One of the things eliminated from the base content were the Drip Moldings. At that point, you had to order the Decor Group option to get them.
At the same time, Lordstown began coding the 03-B and 03-C Data Plates. The most common code seen has been B80. A couple of odd codes have also been reported which may have been coding errors, misreads, etc.
The codes have been found on coupes and convertibles. Drip moldings are nonsensical on a convertible. Since convertibles wouldn't have Drip Moldings, a B80 code on a convertible either indicates a coding error or else the code refers to the Decor Group option.
I have yet to see a code on an 03-B or 03-C Lordstown Data Plate for a Firebird that was documented as not having the Decor Group option.
From the very first post he's been a BIG help. Thanks Kurt. 
