69 Sidepipes on a 68 ?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46
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From: Tucson AZ
69 Sidepipes on a 68 ?
My 68 has factory 69 sidepipes on it. It is a late 68 (late july). Is there any chance that these pipes were a dealer installed option? How many/what options were dealer installed back then? What paperwork would they show up on to substantiate? Thanks.
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A dealer could put anything on a Corvette that was available at the time that the customer requested. The sidepipes were not available until model year 1969. Yours were probably installed by a previous owner which is very common. Obviously the factory didn't put them on. The dealer could have put them on the following year. Only a receipt could verify that. That won't lend to any kind of originality. Pretty much a jump ball as to whether the dealer installed them or the owner once the pipes became available.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
'69 factory installed sidepipe cars have a rear valance with no holes for tailpipes. A '68 should have those holes, whether it has sidepipes or not, since they weren't a factory option that model year.
That doesn't mean someone didn't glass over the holes or replace the rear valance with those from a '69 sidepipe car.
That doesn't mean someone didn't glass over the holes or replace the rear valance with those from a '69 sidepipe car.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Thanks for the responses guys. Whoever put the pipes on (as an accessory) did a good job on the rear valance fill panel. It looks like they belong. I was just wondering if dealers regularly did this on later built '68s. Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I'm sure there were many performance oriented dealers that would do most any customizing you wanted if you were willing to pay the cost. Many dealers catered to that crowd.
There were just as likely many dealers who wouldn't do that kind of work, either because they simply didn't want to, didn't have the tech's capable of it, or didn't have the clientele that asked for it.
Many speed shops were quite capable of doing good work like that, as well as shops employing Bubba and his relatives who tried and butchered cars. Then there's the backyard shade tree variety of the Bubba family...
There were just as likely many dealers who wouldn't do that kind of work, either because they simply didn't want to, didn't have the tech's capable of it, or didn't have the clientele that asked for it.
Many speed shops were quite capable of doing good work like that, as well as shops employing Bubba and his relatives who tried and butchered cars. Then there's the backyard shade tree variety of the Bubba family...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
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From: Westminster Maryland
One of the problems with using the 69 side exhaust valance on a 68 car is that the 68 had the back-up lights in the valance. So besides dealing with the cut-outs for the rear exhaust in the rear quarters, the valance would need to be modified or the back-up lights changed to 69 style.
Regards,
Alan
Regards,
Alan
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