Paul Borowski

409/409, is your '75 L-82 car a Z07 car by chance? Out of the 144 built, I've only seen 4 in person, but I think I have 6 Z07s in my survey.

409/409

Paul I should rephrase that. Literally every option except Z07.
I would be very interested in a copy of the paper work you previously mentioned. Thanks

60 SHARK

Thanks to you guys for this topic,,, I'm enjoying it because I have a 75 4spd roadster that "LOOKS" like a L-82 in every way except the vin#,, I learned that the original owner added all he could to duplicate a L-82,,,, mine has most options, and sold new in Ontario Canada, ,,, , ( ( a whole differnt world of numbers ) ) Thanks for all the fun info,, i didn't know their was so much intrest in 75 roadsters here on the forum,,, teddy

SBR

I have always liked the 75 L82 4 speed convertibles. I have seen plenty of 78 L82 4 speed Pace cars with ultra low miles, but not nearly as many 75 L82 4 speed convertibles.

Paul Borowski

OK guys, found the letter from GM about the 1975 L-82 convertibles. The amount built was 366, not 336. How about some of the guys that posted they have a '75 L-82 car pm me their info on their car and I'll post a copy of the letter-I know some non-owners would like to see it a save it to a file, which is OK. For those with a true L-82 car, how about just telling me by pm, strictly confidential whether you have a coupe or conv, last five digits of your VIN(I have a letter from GM showing all of the 1975 L-82 VINs, so I'll know if you're BS ing me or not-just kidding on that one), your cars info on the body tag(build date, paint code & interior code)and most of your car's factory options if known. Don't need to know you change the oil every 500miles or you've had it since highschool, Don't need to be an original engine car, original or modified cars, just cataloging cars that were original L-82 cars. I've already received info from two owners, so I'll make sure I'll send and scan a copy to them first.

60 SHARK

Thanks Paul,,,just so I am on the right page,,is the only true way of telling the car was born a L-82, the VIN on the windshield post?

KenSny

What Paul is saying is that he has a VIN list of the L-82 Convertible cars that were built.
Coupe or Convertible is defined at the beginning of the VIN. i.e "1Z37T" is a coupe, L-82 is the "T".

60 SHARK

Ok, so, that IS the only way to verify a L-82 car,,, correct?

KenSny

Yes, as it came from the factory. Assuming the VIN tag has not been tampered with.

60 SHARK

Good, that's what I had always thought,, but some ( not on this forum ) had been trying to convince me otherwise, thanks for makeing that clear for me ,,,teddy,,,

Paul Borowski

Yes, KenSny is 100% correct. Has to have a "T" as the fifth digit in the VIN. Can anyone imagine the millions of $$$ in resto's, fraud resto's, re-stamps, bogus cars, bogus trim tags, lawsuits, etc., etc., etc. GENERAL MOTORS could have saved hundreds(maybe thousands)of people's money if a VIN system would have been in place since the late fifties/early sixties where a certain letter denoted fuelie, 3 x 2's, L-72, L-88, L-71, L-89 like it was since '72??? Incredible!!!

KenSny

Paul:
That would seem to indicate that if 2,372 (I have seen this number as high as 6,690) L-82 cars were built and 366 were convertibles then 2,006 were coupes. I don't think I've ever seen that close a number before. Any better numbers?

Thanks

Paul Borowski

Ken, the letter I have looking at it now says 366 convertibles & 2007 coupes. I know that comes to 2373, so it must have been an addition error on GM's part, however I did talk to Dave McClellan 15-20yrs ago at Corvettes@Carlisle about '75 L-82s Corvettes & he told me Zora burnt one to the ground climbing Pike's Peak with it and overheated the catalytic converter. He did not say if it was a coupe or conv or even if a Z07 car. He said they had a hell of a time trying to get it to pass emissions. My first few cars in the survey have March 19 build dates and several original owners told me they waited for months for their car to be built.

60 SHARK

Thanks Paul,, you mentioned Zora, and it reminded me, while examining my 75 owners manual, i noticed it has a signature that says ZoraDuntov in ink ,,any way to know if it is genuine of not? would ha ever have done that? Thoughts???

Paul Borowski

I could not tell if his signature is genuine or not, but I had seen him many times @ Carlisle, Bloomington, Corvette Museum signing memorabilia, so it's possible it's authentic.

KenSny

Well, Duntov would sign autographs at the various events.

I had a cousin who worked for GM design in '70s and he said to get the cat and emissions in spec was a nightmare. One of the reasons the engines were detuned to only 205 HP for the L-82. Of course, the HEI was part of the emissions requirement also.

Remember the warnings not to park over leaves or anything that would ignite from the heat?

Interesting story about Pike's Peak run.

SBR

[QUOTE=KenSny;1596796144]Well, Duntov would sign autographs at the various events.



Agreed, he signed the radio block off plate and owners manual to my car.

gsimon767

Of about 50 1975 L82s listed in the C3 registry the earliest vin is about 19000 which confirms your March 19 earliest build date. I was not aware of the delay in deliveries. Would explain why there are so relatively few produced.