1983 or 1984 brochure: Assistance please
08-22-2010, 01:52 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
1983 or 1984 brochure: Assistance please
Can anyone offer input as to whether this brochure was produced for the 1983 model year (which is what I originally understood), before the decision was made to skip to 1984 model year production? I am by NO means, an expert on C4's.
- storage envelope
- cover
- February 1983
- FIRST EDITION
Guesses are fine ... but would really like input from someone who has this piece, or has seen this exact piece, with same date & edition, etc.
- storage envelope
- cover
- February 1983
- FIRST EDITION
Guesses are fine ... but would really like input from someone who has this piece, or has seen this exact piece, with same date & edition, etc.
08-22-2010, 02:19 PM
#2
Instructor
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This is more logic and the basic knowledge that comes from being raised in the house of a man who retired from GM in southern Michigan.
We know that the '83 model year was cancelled due to production delays, with the first models being built in early 1983. "... production started on January 3, 1983. The first 1984 C4 Corvettes were delivered to customers in March 1983."(1)
Typical GM model releases in the '80s (may be the same now, I just don't "live" it like I used to) were in September with the factory workers having July off for retooling and starting on the new models in late July/early August. (Dad worked for Fisher Body)
As such, a 1983 car would be introduced and sold beginning in September 1982 and continue to be produced until June 1983. One could expect the sales brochures to be created and printed in the month just prior to release, August 1982.
Since we know that production began on the 1984 Corvette in January of 1983 and the first cars were delivered in March of 1983, the February 1983 date on the cover would suggest that it was produced for the known release of the 1984 in early 1983. Had it been produced for a normal release date for a 1983 model car, it would have been printed in 1982.
The other clue I would note is the big 84 on the race car. I may be wrong on that one with it just being coincedence, but it looks like typical GM marketing to me.
Hope this helps.
1. http://www.web-cars.com/corvette/1983.php
We know that the '83 model year was cancelled due to production delays, with the first models being built in early 1983. "... production started on January 3, 1983. The first 1984 C4 Corvettes were delivered to customers in March 1983."(1)
Typical GM model releases in the '80s (may be the same now, I just don't "live" it like I used to) were in September with the factory workers having July off for retooling and starting on the new models in late July/early August. (Dad worked for Fisher Body)
As such, a 1983 car would be introduced and sold beginning in September 1982 and continue to be produced until June 1983. One could expect the sales brochures to be created and printed in the month just prior to release, August 1982.
Since we know that production began on the 1984 Corvette in January of 1983 and the first cars were delivered in March of 1983, the February 1983 date on the cover would suggest that it was produced for the known release of the 1984 in early 1983. Had it been produced for a normal release date for a 1983 model car, it would have been printed in 1982.
The other clue I would note is the big 84 on the race car. I may be wrong on that one with it just being coincedence, but it looks like typical GM marketing to me.
Hope this helps.
1. http://www.web-cars.com/corvette/1983.php
08-22-2010, 04:22 PM
#3
Team Owner
I have a brochure that I got from the NCM some years ago that was advertised as the 1983 brochure that was printed by GM but never sent to dealers. It's is very similar to your pics but there are a few differences. On the inside of the front cover, mine just says "SIX DOLLARS", no "first edition". The back cover has the same date and the "4205".
The race car with the number 84 appears in one section and I would expect that it just happens to be the number of the car and not necessarily referring to a 1984 Corvette.
On page 50 of my brochure, it shows a gold car with what was the base 15" wheels and tires. The other pics of cars all show the 16" wheel and is referred to as the "optional 16" wheel and tire" When the 84 went into production, the 15" wheel/tire combo didn't make it. All '84's came with the 16" wheel and tires.
Nowhere in my brochure does it specifically refer to the model year; no "1983" or "1984" anywhere. I also have "The Anatomy of The New Corvette" poster.
The race car with the number 84 appears in one section and I would expect that it just happens to be the number of the car and not necessarily referring to a 1984 Corvette.
On page 50 of my brochure, it shows a gold car with what was the base 15" wheels and tires. The other pics of cars all show the 16" wheel and is referred to as the "optional 16" wheel and tire" When the 84 went into production, the 15" wheel/tire combo didn't make it. All '84's came with the 16" wheel and tires.
Nowhere in my brochure does it specifically refer to the model year; no "1983" or "1984" anywhere. I also have "The Anatomy of The New Corvette" poster.
08-22-2010, 04:34 PM
#4
Drifting
Thread Starter
This is more logic and the basic knowledge that comes from being raised in the house of a man who retired from GM in southern Michigan ....
... Since we know that production began on the 1984 Corvette in January of 1983 and the first cars were delivered in March of 1983, the February 1983 date on the cover would suggest that it was produced for the known release of the 1984 in early 1983.
The other clue I would note is the big 84 on the race car.
... Since we know that production began on the 1984 Corvette in January of 1983 and the first cars were delivered in March of 1983, the February 1983 date on the cover would suggest that it was produced for the known release of the 1984 in early 1983.
The other clue I would note is the big 84 on the race car.
I have a brochure that I got from the NCM some years ago that was advertised as the 1983 brochure that was printed by GM but never sent to dealers. It's is very similar to your pics but there are a few differences. On the inside of the front cover, mine just says "SIX DOLLARS", no "first edition". The back cover has the same date and the "4205".
On page 50 of my brochure, it shows a gold car with what was the base 15" wheels and tires. The other pics of cars all show the 16" wheel and is referred to as the "optional 16" wheel and tire" When the 84 went into production, the 15" wheel/tire combo didn't make it. All '84's came with the 16" wheel and tires.
On page 50 of my brochure, it shows a gold car with what was the base 15" wheels and tires. The other pics of cars all show the 16" wheel and is referred to as the "optional 16" wheel and tire" When the 84 went into production, the 15" wheel/tire combo didn't make it. All '84's came with the 16" wheel and tires.
Last edited by SDLong329; 08-27-2010 at 12:28 PM.
08-22-2010, 05:15 PM
#5
Team Owner
---Logic makes sense ... as does the BIG #84 (somehow, I did not make the connection)!
---That was my understanding ... that the brochure was initally designed as / for 1983 ... but sounds like the brake information may decide on whether it was a revised varation for 1984. FWIW - my brochure indicates 15" wheels as well (suggesting data for a 1983?). I wonder if the lone 1983 Corvette has 15" or 16" wheels.
---That was my understanding ... that the brochure was initally designed as / for 1983 ... but sounds like the brake information may decide on whether it was a revised varation for 1984. FWIW - my brochure indicates 15" wheels as well (suggesting data for a 1983?). I wonder if the lone 1983 Corvette has 15" or 16" wheels.
08-22-2010, 05:59 PM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
Perhaps it was an option (not sure if there are option codes available / visible on the '83), or whether is was a change in engineering. I did not see any information which indicated then the 83's were built. Curious!
08-22-2010, 06:19 PM
#7
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Since the '84 was an all new car, I can only imagine that they also wanted "all new" wheels for it. I have no idea why they went with 16" wheels. Was it for brake clearance or just in keeping with new and different?
08-22-2010, 07:34 PM
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
On the #84 (race) car, the wheels *seem* to be OEM wheels ... or at least very similar in style. I can't tell whether the tires (or wheels) are wider than might be expected on a street car.
08-22-2010, 07:48 PM
#9
Team Owner
Part of the reason for the 16" wheel was Goodyear had been developing the "Gatorback" tire with a "Z" speed rating specifically for the C4. The tread pattern came directly from the Goodyear Formula 1 racing rain tire.
In Dave McLellan's book Corvette From The Inside, he talks about the reasons for going to the 16" wheel/tire. The pre-production car had 15's that worked, but the new Goodyear Gatorback provided a .93 G cornering force on stock suspension. That same tire shaved to 1/2 depth and some minor camber tweaking provided over a 1 G cornering force.
As far as brakes, the 11.5" front rotors were actually smaller in diameter than the earlier C3 brake rotors. The calipers also went from a huge steel caliper 4-piston design to a smaller single piston aluminum floating caliper. So the 83/84 could have used the 15" wheel tire but Dave and the rest of the engineers decided on the 16" wheel and tire for handling and the speed rating. At the time they knew the car was capable of 142 with 205HP from the L83 motor.
In Dave McLellan's book Corvette From The Inside, he talks about the reasons for going to the 16" wheel/tire. The pre-production car had 15's that worked, but the new Goodyear Gatorback provided a .93 G cornering force on stock suspension. That same tire shaved to 1/2 depth and some minor camber tweaking provided over a 1 G cornering force.
As far as brakes, the 11.5" front rotors were actually smaller in diameter than the earlier C3 brake rotors. The calipers also went from a huge steel caliper 4-piston design to a smaller single piston aluminum floating caliper. So the 83/84 could have used the 15" wheel tire but Dave and the rest of the engineers decided on the 16" wheel and tire for handling and the speed rating. At the time they knew the car was capable of 142 with 205HP from the L83 motor.
08-22-2010, 08:23 PM
#10
Drifting
Thread Starter
So, if I interpret properly, any brochure with reference to 15" wheels would likely be prelimnary information derived for / from a 1983 production model. So, if the lone '83 has 16" wheels, perhaps the 16" change-over was made AFTER production of the brochure, but prior to build of the vehicle itself ... or they were upgraded after build date?
08-23-2010, 12:05 AM
#12
Drifting
Thread Starter
Were the 15's & 16's of the same design (just different size)? Curious - are the 15" wheels a 1982 design ... or was is a design exclusively for the 1983?
I am guessing the variations in the brochure were indicative of changes being made mid-stream ... either before, during, or after construction. With the prevous threads in mind, it looks like the version I have (FIRST EDITION) may have been intended for 1984 production, but did indeed have 1983 data included (ie: 15" wheels - which were not available for 1984 MY).
I am guessing the variations in the brochure were indicative of changes being made mid-stream ... either before, during, or after construction. With the prevous threads in mind, it looks like the version I have (FIRST EDITION) may have been intended for 1984 production, but did indeed have 1983 data included (ie: 15" wheels - which were not available for 1984 MY).
08-23-2010, 02:12 AM
#14
Drifting
Thread Starter
You could be right! I wonder if all variations of the brochures have the #84?
If that's the case, reference to the 15" wheels in the brochure were likely carry-over from 1983 data.
What do you think about the wheels pictured on the #84? They look like stock, OEM wheels to me!?
If that's the case, reference to the 15" wheels in the brochure were likely carry-over from 1983 data.
What do you think about the wheels pictured on the #84? They look like stock, OEM wheels to me!?
08-23-2010, 07:53 AM
#15
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '06
The 15s were a completely different (and to my eyes rather ugly) design. When the Museum had the 1983 on the turntable, you would see them spin by (on only one side, if I recall).
