I have owned my c-3 427-390 for 23 years...to my dismay , I noticed my gas tank had new bolts holding the bracket.....I put in a call to the previos owner...he never had the tank pulled ....I suspect our local corvette mechanic as he is the only one who ever had access Ques:Is this documentavailable threw any arcive? Ques; What good would my casting #s do someone else?

 

There are 5 different factory/dealer docs that would/could verify your cars options as factory built. Dealer sales invoice, protect-o-plate w/pamphlet, window invoice, corvette order copy or car shipper copy. Any of these originals could substantiate how your car was optioned out as it left the factory, HOWEVER, without these your up a creek so to speak.
Casting #'s will only serve to verify that correctly configured pieces were used when built, or restored.
As of this writing there are no versions of the above documentation available for the "early shark" model years. However there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel as we say, some forms of documentation do exist, and they are being worked on for acquisition....be patient.

 

thanks

 

Michael having owned your 69 for over 20+ years have you throughly inspected behind the drivers dash and behind the radio for a copy of the order copy? I found the order copy for my 68 behind the radio back in 1975 when I removed the radio for repair. Found the order copy for my 70 behind the speedometer when I pulled the dash down to replace the speedometer in 1974. These documents are just extras since both cars are original owner cars. I left the order copy in my 68 for discovery for another owner someday.

 

The NCRS or Bloomington Gold can authenticate the car to an extent.

 

I seem to have a similar problem. I recently bought a 63 Split Window Corvette #11342 of the year. The car came with air conditioning (which I know is exceptionally rare in a 63), but in the process, they redid the interior in black from original dark blue.

From what I've seen put together on this car, it would have been one heck of a job to change a non-air car over to an air car (alternator mod, evaporator, wiring harness, battery change, new cables, battery access on drivers side, vent system, *****, bezel labels, dash cuts, cables, center vent, etc.). I believe I am the 4th owner and the man I bought it from brought it over from Hawaii.

From what I"ve read in the resto books, the parts were available around car build #10000 but the majority of them didn't start coming off the line until about car #13000. The manuals state that the assembly line had to "trial" the installs until they got it right and then they mass produced them. If all that is true, this would be one of the first Corvettes in 1963 to have air conditioning (with the imperfections of the original install).

The looks of the rest of this car are that of a survivor/driver car which has been well taken care of and repainted the original silver color with the original block/carb/transmission (300HP with powerglide).

So I'm now trying to find a way to help "get it certified" or find out more history on the car such as the original sales location/dealership, previous owners (other than who I bought it from) and other history details.


Do any of you folks have ideas on how to help document the authenticity of this vehicle or its original sales condition?

Thanks...