no papers?
 

If a car doesn't have any paperwork is there a way to find out what it was from the factory. Is there a database with this info?

It depends on the year. For anything made in St. Louis, the answer is "No". No 'official' records were kept. There have been attempts to re-create that information, but it cannot be used as real documentation...only informational data. For cars built in Bowling Green, the factory/archives should have all the pertinent build data.

Prior to '72 you're SOL except for the paint and interiorcolours stamped on the trim tag. '73 and up also has the engine type encoded in the VIN. For '77 and up there is a company Allied Vaughan (?) that has copies of many of the invoices (I think) showing all the details including original dealer. The museum has paperwork for Bowling Green built cars. If you have an orignal Canadian car, GM Oshawa has all the details.

Realistically, the newer cars didn't have a lot in the way of exciting engine, suspension or transmission options so finding paperwork won't make much difference. It is rare to see cars with undetectable add-on options so probably just inspecting the car will tell you all you need to know.

Hi BRJ,
Every thing Mike and 7T1 have posted is right on.
Depending on how molested or unmolested the car is there is a lot that can be learned from a close examination of the interior, chassis, engine compartment and running gear. You have to know what to look for and what the clues mean but it's possible to learn some interesting things.
Regards,
Alan

Alan, Mike, what about the tank sticker. I seem to recall seeing post that say there is a build sticker on the tank. Do you know if that is correct?

Bill :flag:

if you have a 72 a W in the vin means its a big block.

Hi Bill,
You're right about the build sheet.
We're all answering blind because BRJ didn't tell us what year and it isn't in his profile.
Regards,
Alan

IF I CAN ANSWER THIS IS CORRECT FOR MANY YEARS. SOMETIMES THEY WERE PUT ELSEWHERE ALSO. what year are you talking about?

[QUOTE=Mike Ward; If you have an orignal Canadian car, GM Oshawa has all the details.[/QUOTE]


I have wondered about my 77. Have quite abit of the frame attachments stamped :Made in Canada. Need to do a little diggin.

Thanks.
Michael.

The car is a 69 cp. The owner told me that he's changed the gas tank but didn't mention the build sheet. Am I incorrect in thinking that all corvettes of this vintage had the sheet on the tank? When I was replacing the tach cable on my (sold) '69 I found a order sheet shoved between the tach and speedo. It had the options and the dealer that it was delivered to. The sheet was 7x9 or so? Working on a mystery wrapped in an enigma....The current owner of the '69 in question is vague, and leaves out parts of the cars story. Thanks for the replies.

If the tank has been changed, the build sheet is no longer there [if it every was], but the order sheet in the steering column is a great find. It should have most of the info you are looking for.

I was referring to Corvettes imported into Canada at time of manufacture. There were no Corvettes built in Canada, although many components were sourced here