What's this marking in the trunk?

[TripleTransAm]

I've been into researching factory markings for a decade or so, having gotten into musclecars in a big way in the 1980s.

What's the significance of this? Does anyone else have this marking on the trunk lid?

http://firebird.freeservers.com/mm/DSCF7357.JPG
http://firebird.freeservers.com/mm/DSCF7358.JPG

[Directedby]

I am probably wrong, so don't worry, but the only time I have seen this marking is on replacement parts.

When a car is salvaged for its parts, they usually mark the date on each part.

Maybe the trunk is not original and was replaced or the part was picked up on 2/13/03.

[WolfeBros]

I agree that it is most likely not a factory marking.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by WolfeBros
I agree that it is most likely not a factory marking.

Interesting. If the trunk lid WAS replaced, it must have been painted at the factory, because the finish seems to perfectly match the rest of the car. If the lid was painted at the dealership, this dealership's body shop should be awarded the Nobel Prize for the best non-factory-but-factory-looking paint job. The car was delivered in early-to-mid February, perhaps it was some dealer writing to indicate how long the car has been sitting in the showroom?

I'll ask next time I visit the dealer and see what they have to say.

[RCSignals]

Nothing like that is on my trunk lid.
It's white marking like is used elsewhere though, like under the hood on top of the LS electrical junction Box.
Does the writing match any other markings?

[bchapman]

My husband works on the assembly line at Ford (he built Rangers, and now does the F-150). The guys are forever writing each other messages on the frame. If you ever see "You suck", don't worry about it ... it was only meant for the next guy down the line.


:burnout:

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by bchapman
My husband works on the assembly line at Ford (he built Rangers, and now does the F-150). The guys are forever writing each other messages on the frame. If you ever see "You suck", don't worry about it ... it was only meant for the next guy down the line.


:burnout: I agree it was probably just an employee putting his or her initials and date on the lid. John

[Thomas C Potter]

My Blue MM has nothing. 'PU', hope that's not a jinx!!

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by bchapman
The guys are forever writing each other messages on the frame. If you ever see "You suck", don't worry about it ... it was only meant for the next guy down the line.

ROFLMAO!!

When I worked in the field as a system tech for the cable company, we'd often find similar derogatory messages at the top of a pole, left by the power company linemen for each other...well, if they were REALLY derogatory, they were usually about us...!

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by WolfeBros
I agree that it is most likely not a factory marking.


After an impromptu visit to my dealer (more on that elsewhere, I promise), I discussed the marking with my favorite tech.

He took one look at it and claimed it was probably a shipping mark. He doubled checked in his computer and sure enough the car was built on Feb 13, 2003. It's a factory original piece supposedly because it has the VIN label on it. There are, according to the tech, about 20 locations where this sticker proves a factory-original-installation.

[Flat Eric]

Speaking of factory mark, my 99' Impala had a big oily boot print on the inside of the back seat pocket material! ...of all places to walk :)

[WolfeBros]

I agree that it is most likely a factory marking.
There.....all better.:D

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by WolfeBros

I have seen plenty of other types of marks, numbers, paint sticks, ect......just nothing that large. Feel free to quote me again and again. On rare occasions I get some right. I wasn't quoting as fact this time......I was quoting an opinion. The clue was the use of the words 'most likely'.

No sweat, I wasn't quoting you to put your comment on the spot, it just seemed like the best lead-in to my post. Likewise, my technician's info was based on an educated guess combining the build date and the presence of those factory VIN stickers.

When I was waiting impatiently for delivery of my '98 WS6, I was told it was in the hands of a local transport company. The car was built about 15 minutes away from the dealership where I bought the car (the former F-body plant just north of Montreal), so the transportation method was specific to this region, since it was not travelling far. I a$$ume that the shipping specifics for other regions were unique to that region (trucking company, shipping method, etc.).

So we're thinking that perhaps the company that handled the shipping of this MM to its Montreal-area destination might have used such markings to denote which cars to pick up. I don't believe there's any way the car could have made it to the dealer within 24 hours of its construction, so we are fairly confident that the markings were done within factory grounds... just possibly not by factory employees.

I gotta make sure I take as many pictures of these markings, in order to assist me in my concours frame-off restoration of this MM some 25 years down the line. :D