Yet another myth that won't go away.
Factory Records
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
Factory Records
Been wondering....
Documentation being so important, did Chevrolet not keep records of the vehicle builds? The tank sticker for example....there must have been a copy filed at the factory after a vehicle was produced. Was there a fire and they were all destroyed? I'm sure this has been asked before, but if anyone knows the back story, please share.
Documentation being so important, did Chevrolet not keep records of the vehicle builds? The tank sticker for example....there must have been a copy filed at the factory after a vehicle was produced. Was there a fire and they were all destroyed? I'm sure this has been asked before, but if anyone knows the back story, please share.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
There will eventually be more detailed responses, but my understanding is that a fire destroyed nearly all of the Corvette records from the St. Louis factory. Records are available beginning with the cars first produced in Bowling Green. Also GM of Canada can provide extensive records searches for all Canadian sold vehicles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Been wondering....
Documentation being so important, did Chevrolet not keep records of the vehicle builds? The tank sticker for example....there must have been a copy filed at the factory after a vehicle was produced. Was there a fire and they were all destroyed? I'm sure this has been asked before, but if anyone knows the back story, please share.
Documentation being so important, did Chevrolet not keep records of the vehicle builds? The tank sticker for example....there must have been a copy filed at the factory after a vehicle was produced. Was there a fire and they were all destroyed? I'm sure this has been asked before, but if anyone knows the back story, please share.
GM Heritage Center
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,200
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi belaire,
I think it's interesting to consider how HAPPY the vast majority of owners would be with the information and how UNHAPPY the few owners of fake cars would be.
Maybe at this point it's better that no info becomes available?!?
Regards,
Alan
I think it's interesting to consider how HAPPY the vast majority of owners would be with the information and how UNHAPPY the few owners of fake cars would be.
Maybe at this point it's better that no info becomes available?!?
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...Records are available beginning with the cars first produced in Bowling Green...
For 77-81 St. Louis Corvettes, GM contracted with the Allied-Vaughn company to put copies of dealer invoices on microfiche. This information is available through the Heritage Center.
GM says the 68-76 build information records were destroyed.
Belleaire: at the time C3s were produced, factory documentation was meaningless. These days, it's priceless.
Safety Car
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
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Alan makes a valuale point.
What do you mean my car is not a 435 hp BB
I paid 80 grand for it
Yeah leave a sleeping dog lye
Marshal
What do you mean my car is not a 435 hp BB
I paid 80 grand for it
Yeah leave a sleeping dog lye
Marshal
Safety Car
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
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Must be a Govt conspiracy.
Marine Corps used the same Fire excuse for personnel records retained at St Louis, MO from the 70's.
Allot of fires back than in St Louis?
Marshal
Marine Corps used the same Fire excuse for personnel records retained at St Louis, MO from the 70's.
Allot of fires back than in St Louis?
Marshal
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
LOL....you are probably right!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
Corvette Myth: there was never a fire.
True, but even that amounts to a minor miracle. The Bowling Green build information was supposed to have been destroyed by plant personel. GM allowed the plant manager to donate the information to the National Corvette Museum.
For 77-81 St. Louis Corvettes, GM contracted with the Allied-Vaughn company to put copies of dealer invoices on microfiche. This information is available through the Heritage Center.
GM says the 68-76 build information records were destroyed.
Belleaire: at the time C3s were produced, factory documentation was meaningless. These days, it's priceless.
True, but even that amounts to a minor miracle. The Bowling Green build information was supposed to have been destroyed by plant personel. GM allowed the plant manager to donate the information to the National Corvette Museum.
For 77-81 St. Louis Corvettes, GM contracted with the Allied-Vaughn company to put copies of dealer invoices on microfiche. This information is available through the Heritage Center.
GM says the 68-76 build information records were destroyed.
Belleaire: at the time C3s were produced, factory documentation was meaningless. These days, it's priceless.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
If it is a conspiracy, it's a good one.
The point being, if someone purchases a car with no factory documentation, it could be extremely difficult to find/replace the information. If documentation is important, make sure it is with the car at time of purchase.
The point being, if someone purchases a car with no factory documentation, it could be extremely difficult to find/replace the information. If documentation is important, make sure it is with the car at time of purchase.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
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From: Titusville Florida
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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That myth will never go away if the National Corvette Museum is making the claim on their website:
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp
The records were long gone by the time of the start of production in BG. Why would GM keep hard copy records for cars they had built years or decades earlier? The NCM was reminded of this many times but can't be bothered correcting their website.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Yes, I read about the "fire" on the NCM site while searching for availability of records for my cars.
Maybe aliens beamed them up to outer space to build Astrovettes?
Maybe aliens beamed them up to outer space to build Astrovettes?
Last edited by Brcmpbl; Nov 10, 2012 at 01:17 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Aliens beaming them UP is about as likely as GM keeping them 'secret' for many years, at no benefit to themselves. If they were available, GM would have been SELLING that information, just like selling everything they have, so the execs can bump-up their bonuses. 
That includes selling-OUT their retirees and all their manufacturing capabilities to overseas sources.
That includes selling-OUT their retirees and all their manufacturing capabilities to overseas sources.