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Rare Yellow 1997 C5?

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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:15 PM
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Default Rare Yellow 1997 C5?

I'm usually on the C6 Forum, but a friend of mine (seriously, it's not me) is looking at a yellow 1997 C5 coupe (manual trans & loaded) that is for sale and the current owner has told him that it is a very rare car - it's supposedly one of only three cars painted a special yellow color for GM executives that year. Can any C5 historians/experts verify/deny that story or add any more information??
Enjoy,
akriggm
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:25 PM
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I've never heard of that but I would give the Corvette Museum a call and see if they know anything based on the VIN.
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:35 PM
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In the Corvette Black Book by Michael Antonick it says for 1997 Corvette production "the ending vin did not match production because production counted all vehicles built during 1997 including pilots and prototypes." Knowing GM it is possible that three yellow coupes were (painted)"special built." I like to see the Corvette. Any paper work ??
I'm sure if you contact the Corvette Museum that you could get the built sheet for the vin. I'd also like to look at the trim sticker.
Last summer I was at a Corvette show here in Rochester and I saw a 1997 Red Coupe with the vin # 001997. That was cool. It was in perfect condition. I'd like to have that one. Hope others comment on this special yellow Corvette. Like to see some pic's too.
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:39 PM
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I would try contacting the C5registry (www.c5registry.com). They have production facts from all years of C5 and might have info on this car.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 06:57 AM
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I went to a Corvette show at the GM Tech Center in 2003 and saw one there. I will see if I can find a picture of it.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 07:27 AM
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Here it is, it was in 2004.
Attached Images  
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 09:13 AM
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Cool, thanks for the pic. Great you posted it.
It looks like a different yellow in pic. I could be wrong. Did it look like Millennium Yellow in real life ? Would love to have the vin # to check it.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 09:46 AM
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Without documents it's AFAIK.

Also the black painted halo is suspect, that's a custom touch done more recently. I wouldn't bet a dime that car is real, for all you know it was probably wrecked at which time the custom paint was added.

Pass.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 09:48 AM
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It wasn't MY which is what got my attention since I owned an '01 MY coupe at the time. I talked to the owner and he said it was a pilot car where they were testing the color and decided that it wasn't good enough for production.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 11:07 AM
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I'd say anything is possible - if the owner can track down the history of the car and get the documentation, it would be a cool thing to have.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 11:30 AM
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What's the paint code on the RPO sticker? Millennium Yellow code is 79U.

..rickko..

Last edited by rickko; Nov 10, 2010 at 11:41 AM.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by bradc6
It wasn't MY which is what got my attention since I owned an '01 MY coupe at the time. I talked to the owner and he said it was a pilot car where they were testing the color and decided that it wasn't good enough for production.
I thought so. Remember during C4 production they also had problems with different yellows. Also C6 changed the yellow color during the 05 model year. Seems GM was always experimenting with yellow .
Saw the halo painted black and the chrome tips on exhaust. I could see GM doing the halo like that for a pilot Corvette. Tips look like Corsa's or Z06 style pipes. Very Cool. My .02 cents.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
I'd say anything is possible - if the owner can track down the history of the car and get the documentation, it would be a cool thing to have.
Agree.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 01:32 PM
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I do not remember this, but I may have forgotten it too...

What is the VIN#, and I will look at the build sheet...
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 02:56 PM
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All,
Thanks for the discussion and the picture. My friend is trying to get the VIN and additional info from the current owner. We are in the Metro Detroit area, so it could well be the car that bradc6 saw at the GM tech center back in 2004. I'll let you know whatever my friend finds out; maybe I can even get him to join the Forum (he currently has a yellow 1995 C4)!!
Enjoy,
akriggm
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 03:30 PM
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Could have been Gold?
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
Could have been Gold?
The current owner said the color is PPG Dandelion Yellow; it is a "softer" yellow than MY......
Enjoy,
akriggm

Addendum: According to my friend, it appears to be the car in the photo posted above; including the black halo and chrome exhaust tips. Apparently the targa top is also painted black.

Last edited by akriggm; Nov 10, 2010 at 05:35 PM. Reason: Added info
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 05:47 PM
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If that's a 97,the wheels should be wagon wheels, of course that can be changed too, but if it's a "rare" car, keeping it original would be better for resale.
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Old Nov 10, 2010 | 06:06 PM
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What RPO code does it have for the color?

Dope
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Old Nov 11, 2010 | 02:26 AM
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1341 Arctic white

292 Nassau Blue

381 Light Carmine Red metallic

155 Fairway Green Metallic

2164 Sebring Silver Metallic

2393 Black

3026 Torch Red

Total Production for 1997 was 9,752 coupes (only coupes were available)

Source: Corvette 50th Anniversary by The Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Last edited by manley845; Nov 11, 2010 at 02:29 AM.
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