MCR

why didn't GM product any Black Corvettes fro 70-76. am restoring a 73 and was shocked to find out if i paint it black it could now way be time period correct. Any idea the rational from GM on this move?

Mark G

The early 70's were a dark time in US history with the closing of Viet Nam, the civil unrests in major cities around the country, energy crisis, etc. GM obviously didn't want to add to the somber mood by producing dark colored cars.

Um, ...ok, I really don't know, but that's one theory

Mark G

nutsy

sounded good to me.

MCR

Social conscious? Maybe...but 6 years of no factory black vettes?????

dbeall1968

In 1968, black was the poorest selling color, about 1/5 as many of the Green cars that were sold, about 1/4 of Safari Yellow. I think it was a business decision.

CCrane65

I don't know that you can say there were no black Corvettes produced in the early 70's, only that black was not on the order sheet.

They did have the option to have no paint at all (usually chosen by racers) and as I understand it from other posts, you could order a black car regardless of the order sheet. Seems to me I have seen an article in one of the Corvette magazines where the subject was a documented black 72.

Also, even to this day you can order any color and any interior color combination. Some combinations may be highly discouraged but you can still order it.

I have seen Electron Blue C5s with Torch Red interiors. Not a combo I'd choose but to each his own.

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LemansBlue68

Just another theory, but my contention has been that GM didn't want to take the extra steps and expense necessary to get the bodies straight enough to do black paint proper justice. Black tends to accentuate any body wave or defect. It seems that the '70's Corvettes had more than their share of body waves from the factory and finishing them in black would only make that more pronounced.

On the other hand, colors do go in and out of style, but I've always considered black to be a color more immune to style trends than others.

It sure looks good when it's done right.

Augustus

"The early 70's were a dark time in US history with the closing of Viet Nam, the civil unrests in major cities around the country, energy crisis, etc. GM obviously didn't want to add to the somber mood by producing dark colored cars."



Actually that sounded like a Very reasonable response, and I believe it. Makes sense.

Corey_68

If you like black paint it black, the hell what anyone says.

Ray Y

I agree. My '70 is now black and that was the first year of no black.

terry82

be careful there are ncrs agents out there

Mike Ward

And not one of them (us) could give a rat's azz what somebody does to their own car........................

Faster Rat

...and referring to us as "agents" is so much nicer than "weenies"

tobyte1

I always heard that that although there was more bodywork involved on the black cars, temperature was the main factor. The black cars, especially in the warmer climates, had problems with delamination of the fiberglass, bonding adhesives, as well as fillers softening due to the increased surface temps.....

vettebuyer6369

Ive also been told that the black cars were the most trouble to get straight (and GM has always been criticized for their paint quality ya know) and they decided the werent worth the aggravation. Seeing how there arent any production numbers for '69 (the last year of black) so its tough to make an argument about sales.

And, c'mon, GM didnt offer black from 70-77, period. Going on about the fact that someone could get one painted that way as a special deal doesnt change anything. Its not significant. is it really necessary to say, "there were no black Corvettes from 70-77... unless a buyer wanted to make a special order and asked the dealership and the trim tag is coded primer only or special or something and the car has documentation." ?

jr9170

leadfoot4

No disrespect to the current sponsors on this forum, but at one time, one of the largest, if not the largest, Corvette dealer in the east, was Palmyra Motors, located about 35 miles east of Rochester, in Palmyra NY. They regularly ordered new 'Vettes in primer, and painted them in any color the customer wanted, in their Chevy dealership's body shop. The dealership has long since closed, however as a teen ager, I was there several times in the late 60s-early 70s, and saw new 'Vettes in primer.


I believe this to be the most accurate statement. I've always loved black cars, and back in the 70s, when a 'Vette was a little out of reach for me financially, I wanted a Pontiac T/A. I stalled on buying one, because they weren't available in black from '71-'75. They finally brought back black in '76 and I ordered a '77 in Sept. of '76, which I kept till '01, when I bought my C-5.

Eddie 70

I was told mine was all original. Man you can't trust anyone. I wonder if I can get some of my money back from the guy that sold it to me.

CCrane65

But Eddie, how much? A Paint jobs worth? And then you'd have to decide what color it is "supposed" to be since it couldn't have been black.



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Raphiki

I think black on an early '70's vette would look like the surface of the ocean. A lot of "flat" surfaces. It wouldn't have been pretty unless they wanted to invest a lot of time finishing.