Early C3 Corvette Owner's Jacket?
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 360
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Early C3 Corvette Owner's Jacket?
Hi guys,
Anyone ever heard of a jacket that was sent to original owners when they sent in the card from their owner's manual? I know it gave you a subscription, and I've heard stories of a pin of some sort, but has anyone ever heard of or seen a jacket?
Thanks, john
Anyone ever heard of a jacket that was sent to original owners when they sent in the card from their owner's manual? I know it gave you a subscription, and I've heard stories of a pin of some sort, but has anyone ever heard of or seen a jacket?
Thanks, john
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,287
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi aj,
I don't think a jacket was ever part of the 'new owner's package'.
I remember the owner's pin, and believe they ended in 1967.
I know that by 71 if you sent in the 'card' in the owner's manual you received the Corvette News subscription and an owners card.
Because of the 'card' being removed from the owner's manual, the value of manuals that still have the card is probably 10 times the value of one without the card.... to those whom that sort of thing matters to.
The cards were different colors so can't be changed from one year's manual to another..... not that anyone would ever consider doing that!!!!
Regards,
Alan
I do remember having a blue Corvette windbreaker that I bought at the dealership. Maybe that's the one you've heard about.
I don't think a jacket was ever part of the 'new owner's package'.
I remember the owner's pin, and believe they ended in 1967.
I know that by 71 if you sent in the 'card' in the owner's manual you received the Corvette News subscription and an owners card.
Because of the 'card' being removed from the owner's manual, the value of manuals that still have the card is probably 10 times the value of one without the card.... to those whom that sort of thing matters to.
The cards were different colors so can't be changed from one year's manual to another..... not that anyone would ever consider doing that!!!!
Regards,
Alan
I do remember having a blue Corvette windbreaker that I bought at the dealership. Maybe that's the one you've heard about.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,684
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
Starting in the late 50's, there was a post card in the back of the owners manual, to fill out and send back, to start your free subscription to Corvette News. When you did this, you were also sent an Owners Kit, that included an owners card, a lapel pin, and a jacket patch. I've never heard anything about an actual jacket though.
Over the years, there were ads in Corvette News, that offered things like Corvette jackets, and also personalized owner's plaques, to install on your dash.
I don't remember exactly when GM stopped offering the Owners Kits, but I think it was in the late 60's.
Over the years, there were ads in Corvette News, that offered things like Corvette jackets, and also personalized owner's plaques, to install on your dash.
I don't remember exactly when GM stopped offering the Owners Kits, but I think it was in the late 60's.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,684
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
I've got to learn to type quicker. Alan got in at 5:42, Vettebuyer at 5:46, and it took me until 5:48. 
I think Alan is right, that the Owners Kits were stopped in 67.
The patch and pin sent were always the early round logo, like those in Vettebuyer's post, even during the 63-67 era. I've been told that there were some slight variations of the pin used, over the years, but it was still always the 53-62 logo.
I think Alan is right, that the Owners Kits were stopped in 67.
The patch and pin sent were always the early round logo, like those in Vettebuyer's post, even during the 63-67 era. I've been told that there were some slight variations of the pin used, over the years, but it was still always the 53-62 logo.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 360
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Starting in the late 50's, there was a post card in the back of the owners manual, to fill out and send back, to start your free subscription to Corvette News. When you did this, you were also sent an Owners Kit, that included an owners card, a lapel pin, and a jacket patch. I've never heard anything about an actual jacket though.
Over the years, there were ads in Corvette News, that offered things like Corvette jackets, and also personalized owner's plaques, to install on your dash.
I don't remember exactly when GM stopped offering the Owners Kits, but I think it was in the late 60's.
Over the years, there were ads in Corvette News, that offered things like Corvette jackets, and also personalized owner's plaques, to install on your dash.
I don't remember exactly when GM stopped offering the Owners Kits, but I think it was in the late 60's.
Hmm, I've seen 2 jackets, both identical, that owners claim were part of the (mail in) 1969 owners packet. They both have identical patches (very similar to Steve's) in the same place. Interesting.
Last edited by avalonjohn; Jan 13, 2014 at 06:59 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield County CT
Here is a shot from a 62 owners manual. It references "a patch for jacket or cap".
I just checked on eBay and there is that pin listed for $125. Oh well, looks like I'll just have to be content with just the patch.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
I just checked on eBay and there is that pin listed for $125. Oh well, looks like I'll just have to be content with just the patch.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Last edited by Ratfinkharley; Jan 13, 2014 at 07:12 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
In 1961, a Zora recording too
I have 3 pins, two that says 'OWNER' and one with the OWNER not on the pin...There identical except no owner.....Part of mMy Dads packet for the 63 is below
No jackets or any clothing came with the packet but one did have on a 5 inch square white 45 recording of Zora driving a 1961, 315 HP FI car through the gears...it was about 3 or 4 minutes long....I think it was only available if you ordered a 315 car...as it would have been useless for those cars without a 315 FI car..........
.
No jackets or any clothing came with the packet but one did have on a 5 inch square white 45 recording of Zora driving a 1961, 315 HP FI car through the gears...it was about 3 or 4 minutes long....I think it was only available if you ordered a 315 car...as it would have been useless for those cars without a 315 FI car..........
.
Last edited by Ironcross; Jan 13, 2014 at 09:22 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 360
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I have 3 pins, two that says 'OWNER' and one with the OWNER not on the pin...There identical except no owner.....Part of mMy Dads packet for the 63 is below
No jackets or any clothing came with the packet but one did have on a 5 inch square white 45 recording of Zora driving a 1961, 315 HP FI car through the gears...it was about 3 or 4 minutes long....I think it was only available if you ordered a 315 car...as it would have been useless for those cars without a 315 FI car..........
.
No jackets or any clothing came with the packet but one did have on a 5 inch square white 45 recording of Zora driving a 1961, 315 HP FI car through the gears...it was about 3 or 4 minutes long....I think it was only available if you ordered a 315 car...as it would have been useless for those cars without a 315 FI car..........
.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,684
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
I'd have to go look through some of my old Corvette News magazines, but I seem to think that this jacket was regularly advertised in the magazine.
My old Corvette club use to buy these by the case, to use as club jackets. We had the club name embroidered on the back. I'm pretty sure we either got them through Corvette News, or the Chevy dealer that was our club sponsor. These jackets were pretty popular. Back then, it seemed that anytime you went to a car show, you'd see a few of them.
I'm not saying that Chevrolet didn't offer a jacket to Corvette owners, or that it isn't possible, but I've never heard of it, or seen any reference to it. If they did, it could have only been for a year or two. I know a couple of people who are the original owners of 68's and 69's. I'll have to ask them if they remember anything about getting a jacket, when they bought their cars.
These had to be pretty well made, since this one is almost 40 years old. The fact that it's a medium, and it's been a little while since I was a medium, might have something to do with why it's lasted this long.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 95
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
Did the jackets look something like this one?
I'd have to go look through some of my old Corvette News magazines, but I seem to think that this jacket was regularly advertised in the magazine.
My old Corvette club use to buy these by the case, to use as club jackets. We had the club name embroidered on the back. I'm pretty sure we either got them through Corvette News, or the Chevy dealer that was our club sponsor. These jackets were pretty popular. Back then, it seemed that anytime you went to a car show, you'd see a few of them.
I'm not saying that Chevrolet didn't offer a jacket to Corvette owners, or that it isn't possible, but I've never heard of it, or seen any reference to it. If they did, it could have only been for a year or two. I know a couple of people who are the original owners of 68's and 69's. I'll have to ask them if they remember anything about getting a jacket, when they bought their cars.
These had to be pretty well made, since this one is almost 40 years old. The fact that it's a medium, and it's been a little while since I was a medium, might have something to do with why it's lasted this long.
I'd have to go look through some of my old Corvette News magazines, but I seem to think that this jacket was regularly advertised in the magazine.
My old Corvette club use to buy these by the case, to use as club jackets. We had the club name embroidered on the back. I'm pretty sure we either got them through Corvette News, or the Chevy dealer that was our club sponsor. These jackets were pretty popular. Back then, it seemed that anytime you went to a car show, you'd see a few of them.
I'm not saying that Chevrolet didn't offer a jacket to Corvette owners, or that it isn't possible, but I've never heard of it, or seen any reference to it. If they did, it could have only been for a year or two. I know a couple of people who are the original owners of 68's and 69's. I'll have to ask them if they remember anything about getting a jacket, when they bought their cars.
These had to be pretty well made, since this one is almost 40 years old. The fact that it's a medium, and it's been a little while since I was a medium, might have something to do with why it's lasted this long.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 329
Likes: 55
From: Winfield West Virginia
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
In 1971 I purchased a nylon jacket from the local dealer that was dark blue with the gold thread Corvette patch on the front. The other side of the front had a "racing" stripe that was blue & white "checkerboard" with contrasting color bowtie emblems in each square (white bowtie on blue square, blue on white square). The jacket had a zipper with a round plastic white zipper pull that had a red & blue #1 and bowtie design on it. The inside of the jacket was red quilted nylon. I wore that jacket for several years until it finally got pretty "ratty" and was thrown away. I wish that I still had it today!
Jim
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
''I have a 68 and nothing was available then as I did continue to receive the Corvette News several years beyond the 68`s purchase. There could have been a subscription blank to renew them and through my Mothers diligence she may have done just that..
.Alan is probably right ...1967 as the last year...I know it was at least the 66 model as I was asked through a modeling agency to be a male model for the 66`s in the Corvette News...I forgot the month....could. have been May or June just before the release date to Dealers for the coming year which I think was sometime late August
.Alan is probably right ...1967 as the last year...I know it was at least the 66 model as I was asked through a modeling agency to be a male model for the 66`s in the Corvette News...I forgot the month....could. have been May or June just before the release date to Dealers for the coming year which I think was sometime late August
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 360
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Did the jackets look something like this one?
I'd have to go look through some of my old Corvette News magazines, but I seem to think that this jacket was regularly advertised in the magazine.
My old Corvette club use to buy these by the case, to use as club jackets. We had the club name embroidered on the back. I'm pretty sure we either got them through Corvette News, or the Chevy dealer that was our club sponsor. These jackets were pretty popular. Back then, it seemed that anytime you went to a car show, you'd see a few of them.
I'm not saying that Chevrolet didn't offer a jacket to Corvette owners, or that it isn't possible, but I've never heard of it, or seen any reference to it. If they did, it could have only been for a year or two. I know a couple of people who are the original owners of 68's and 69's. I'll have to ask them if they remember anything about getting a jacket, when they bought their cars.
These had to be pretty well made, since this one is almost 40 years old. The fact that it's a medium, and it's been a little while since I was a medium, might have something to do with why it's lasted this long.
I'd have to go look through some of my old Corvette News magazines, but I seem to think that this jacket was regularly advertised in the magazine.
My old Corvette club use to buy these by the case, to use as club jackets. We had the club name embroidered on the back. I'm pretty sure we either got them through Corvette News, or the Chevy dealer that was our club sponsor. These jackets were pretty popular. Back then, it seemed that anytime you went to a car show, you'd see a few of them.
I'm not saying that Chevrolet didn't offer a jacket to Corvette owners, or that it isn't possible, but I've never heard of it, or seen any reference to it. If they did, it could have only been for a year or two. I know a couple of people who are the original owners of 68's and 69's. I'll have to ask them if they remember anything about getting a jacket, when they bought their cars.
These had to be pretty well made, since this one is almost 40 years old. The fact that it's a medium, and it's been a little while since I was a medium, might have something to do with why it's lasted this long.
Last edited by avalonjohn; Jan 14, 2014 at 10:12 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 628
Likes: 34
From: Evergreen Park Illinois
Those jackets were after market not from Chevrolet. My wife still has hers covered in patches she earned as a timer and scorer for the Chicago Region SCCA in the early to mid 70's The pins were discontinued around '67 as Alan said and the Owners Cards ended in '73. I do not remember when the patch was discontinued. Maybe the same time as the pin .
