When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just bought a 1975 about a month ago and I ordered the pedigree of the car from GM in Oshawa, Canada. They say that the car has the option BY8 ORNAMENT FRT DECOR PLATE EXTR. I've bought the Corvette Black Book, edition 2001, and they don't list that option. Can anyone in the Forum help me to find what was that option.
BY8 code is also used by Monte Carlo, Buick Grand national, full-sized Chevy, etc....probably most of GM line.
It probably isn't an option in the truest sense of the word.....as in you have no choice.......the model you buy gets the BY8 front decor plate assigned to that model. Soooooooo....on the 1975 Corvette, would that be the front crossed-flags circle? Probably.
Rolbou
Welcome to the forum. In Canada, does your local law require 2 plates, front and rear?
If you do the BY8 option could be the mounting bracket for the front license plate?
Any other thoughts there?
JoeB
All of the cars that this applies to have the ability to attach a front license plate. I looked in the 53-82 GM Parts listing and could find nothing attached to this RPO code, except that it ran from 1976-1984 (last year book covers). My guess is that this satisfies a regional requirement to attach a front license plate. I checked a copy of a 1979 brochure and it does not list it as an individual option.
I've got a question ... What is a pedigree check??? I've been told that is NO documentation available from GM on older vettes ... ie. There is no way to know what options an early car came with without a tank sheet ... IS THIS CORRECT ???
It is my understanding that all C3 records in GM St. Louis or Detroit prior to about 1980 were destroyed. My memory is vague on this. Perhaps someone else can help.
This is my best guess based on the following quote from the book shown below. The quote relates to 1973-77 vehicles.
"In 1973 the front grille assemblies are made from cast pot metal. They are painted semi-gloss black with the leading edges of the horizontal bars chrome plated. In 1974-77 they are made from cast aluminum instead of pot metal and are entirely semi-flat black painted with no chrome accents. Cars delivered new in States utilizing only a rear license plate also have a centre grille that was placed inside the car for dealer installation. This centre grille matches the two outer grilles. Cars delivered in States requiring two license plates got a front mounting assembly instead of the center grille."
From this I conclude that BY8 is either the grille or the mounting plate.
That was a Texas only option required by state law. The only way someone from Canada could have gotten it is to have known someone why up at GM. It was used to mount longhorn steer horns to the front of cars in Texas, usually Caddy El Dorados.
Wrong! You fail the test. It was a Canadian option: moose antlers to replace the front crossed flags emblem. Re-try the test after a few Moosehead beers from Nova Scotia ;) .