I was looking at a 1963 Split Window yesterday, and nearly everything on the car seems to be correct. However, the trim tag had an exterior color code on it that I cannot find any information on. The code was 836. The interior code was 490J, which is correct for the interior of this car.

But, there was never a color code that started with an 8 as far as I can find in the Black Book, NCRS judging manuals, or Norton's book.

Does anyone know what might be wrong here? Or, is it something easy to know about? Neither NCRS friend I was with was very knowledgeable about 63s.

I have no real reason to suspect that the owner of this car is being deceptive. He's had the car for 25+ years. I suppose something could have happened before he bought it. (In fact, something did because the front surround has had work done to it, and the hood has been replaced (with a '64). It also looks like the car has been completely repainted (sloppily, too).

Does anyone have a picture of a Silver Blue '63 Split Window? It'd be nice to see a good picture of one next to a Sebring Silver car, but I won't hold out on that.

Thanks,

- Jeff



[Modified by boerio, 12:31 PM 10/14/2001]

 

Is it possible you're misreading the "B" and it's actually a mis-stamped "9", which would make the car Ermine White. Normally, paint codes in 63 consisted of 3 numbers followed by the letter "A".

 

Try this site for a photo of a silver-blue 63:
http://www.corvettegold.com/vette/rt6931e.jpg

I bought a used silver-blue roadster in late '63 and within a year the paint had oxidized while I was stationed in Texas. I eventually repainted it a different color, more to my taste (67 Lynndale Blue).

 

Actually, as I look again at the photo I referenced above, that car may be a darker color than silver blue, but the light portions, like the top of the hood in this photo, and the body above the trim line, look to me to be close. It's kind of a cross between silver and a slightly faded baby blue.

 

The first digit is most certainly an "8". There's no mistaking that. We spent about 30 minutes on this item alone trying to figure out what it could possibly be.

- Jeff

 

On my 63 Coupe, the paint color code, 923A, is next to the word "Paint." Is that where you have 836?
Tom

 

That is correct. The color code on the trim plate says 836A. The trim code is correct for the car (at least the color of the interior matches the code), which was 490J.

So, the closest I can figure is that if the trim plate was misprinted, the color is really 936A, which would be the Ermine White. I know the car has been repainted, and it looks more like a Silver Blue than anthing else.

That or something else is wrong.

Is it possible that a legit trim plate would be misprinted? Anyway to know for sure? I'd hate to take this to an NCRS event and get laughed out of there.

- Jeff

 

Yes it is possible, especially in 63.

 

So how would I go about trying to prove that it's an authentic mistake, if I were to try and get something like an NCRS bowtie award?

- Jeff

 

It's up to the entrant to prove that their car has a "factory error", but in most cases this is pretty tough. NCRS judging manuals have evolved over the years based on observation, which does not necessarily correspond to what is in the AIM, for example, and "factory errors" are certainly not unknown.

Your first step should be to discuss this with the '63-'64 Team Leader. Ask him if a similar anomaly had ever been observed? Send him a tracing of your body tag. Also, you should look in all the nooks and cranies for signs of the original color. Take off the door sill plates, and lift up the carpet edges. The evidence will probably be there.

If and when you do take your car to an event with some experienced judges, they will make a determination based upon what they observe, and you can certainly show them anything you uncover. "Factory errors" are not unknown and experienced judges can usually tell the difference between these and field modifications.

The road to a Bowtie Award is lengthy, thorough, and tough. Your trim tag paint code issue will likely be resolved early in the process, but if your car was originally white and is now a different color, I believe that would automatically disqualify you from Bowtie consideration. Potential Bowtie cars must be proven to be substantially original before being nominated as Bowtie candidates.

Duke

 

Duke,

I know there's four categories for bowtie awards. The interesting question would be that if the exterior of the car were not original, would that disqualify my from the other categories? The conclusion I got from the two other NCRS guys I was with was that it would not, so I could still try to get the stars for interior, engine, and chassis. (I'm also waiting for the 63-64 team leader to get me that info too.)

- Jeff

 

If repainted in the original color as indicated on the trim plate, the car would be eligible for Flight Judging, but not for a Bowtie Award - the Bowtie Award requires that the car be original and unrestored, with no parts replaced, re-plated, re-painted, or not original to the car. Bowtie judging is based solely on Originality - there is no "Condition" judging at all. You can't "create" a Bowtie car - it has to be original, unaltered, and unrestored - totally different standard than Flight Judging.

 

You can still get stars for interior, chassis, and engine. You could not get a star for exterior. If the interior, chassis and engine are original/unmolested, you can get 3 stars. Chuck

 

Thanks, Chuck. That seems in line with what I assumed.

BTW, nice collection of cars you have!

- Jeff