Were these cars really so transient???

[Jim C.]

I received my shipping data today and was very surprised to see that my car was originally delivered to a dealership in Paramus, New Jersey. What's most interesting is that I have pieced together an ownership history that goes back to 1975. At that time, my car was owned by a guy living in Appleton, Wisconsin!!! Appleton just seems like a long way from Paramus. I've seen several other posts with similar stories, where people are surprised to find out how far their cars have travelled from their original dealerships.

I guess I didn't think people (and Corvettes) were so transient back in the 60s and 70s. It just seems like I've read several stories about cars that are MANY MANY miles, and several states away from their origins. Interesting stuff. Any thoughts on this???

Jim C.

[Loren L.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Your question would evoke more response if you said what year the car is; a '75 contact on a '75 is far more relevant than a '75 contact on a '63.

[Eric J.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Jim, I felt the same way. My 63, which has been in the PHX area since at least 1974 was originally sold in Lansing MI. From 74 to 89 it stayed within a 5 mile perimeter on the west side of PHX passing through at lease 4 owners. As Loren points to, a lot (or a little) can happen in 11 years.

[Oliver B.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Same here: my '77 was delivered to White Bear Lake, MN in June '77. The lady I bought the car from (and took it to Germany in 1992) told me that her late husband bought the car from a colleague of his, who could not afford it any longer - and that was in early '78 and Tampa Bay area.

Long distance within half a year, I think.

(Btw: on a recent vacation to St.Petersburg, FL, I looked up all the addresses and phone #'s of people with the name the lady recalled and phoned or visited them - to no avail... )

[Matthew L.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

My 1969 Corvette that I bought in 1982 off a a guy in PA who had it for several years before me I always assumed it sold somewhere in the Pittsburgh PA area. Here to find out it sold new in Indianapolis Indiana I was shocked.

[Dan P.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Just confirmed the '70 ZR1 I've been researching was sold in San Diego. The fellow I bought it from purchased the car in Highland Indiana. Not to out of the ordinary - until you consider the car came from the factory with 456 posi... not exactly a road car.

Explains the home made tow-bar attaching points and rock chips covering her nose!

[Jim C.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Loren,

Sorry for the lack of information. I have a 1966. I know a lot can happen in 10 years, but it still makes me wonder how and why my Corvette left the east coast for the midwest. Who knows, in the ten year period that I don't know about, it may have gone to other places besides the midwest. Again, I just didn't think people were so transient back in the 60s and 70s. It's fascinating to hear about where some of the cars ended up when considering their origins. If I can find another owner or two, maybe I'll be able to tell you what happened to my car. Good hunting!!

Jim C.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Matt,
Is your 69 a silver 427 w/ side pipes by any chance? I know a guy in central PA that had one new, he still has the window sticker somewhere...

My car all Pennsylvania 1966 and just as transient.

Mason Chevy Olds delivered per the report.
We have Reedman Motors sticker that means it went through there.
We have a title 1 date of 8-4-69 with no reported mileage, which to me means that the 1st owner turned back the odo and then refused to state original mileage when the car was sold in '69.

Just my opinion, but why would a dealer take a car that had an issue?

So the car was all over Pennsylvania Kennett Square, Langhorne, and then clear on the other side of the state, Clearfield, PA and back to Selinsgrove PA.

[Jerry S.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

I am not real surprised that many of these cars have worn a lot of different state license plates. Our 62 has accompanied us to seven different states during our 44 years of ownership. Back in the 60's and 70's, corporations were transferring employees a lot more than I sense happens now. Jerry

[Dave S.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

I am not real surprised that many of these cars have worn a lot of different state license plates. Our 62 has accompanied us to seven different states during our 44 years of ownership. Back in the 60's and 70's, corporations were transferring employees a lot more than I sense happens now. Jerry

I've got a 71 that has more trailer miles than odometer miles. Philadelphia to Florida to Utah to So. California to Houston to New Jersey to Massachusetts. Went to Charlotte and Carlisle this summer. Odometer reading is 7155 miles. Lots of cool stories on how these cars moved around the country.

[Larry M.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

Just confirmed the '70 ZR1 I've been researching was sold in San Diego. The fellow I bought it from purchased the car in Highland Indiana. Not to out of the ordinary - until you consider the car came from the factory with 456 posi... not exactly a road car.

Explains the home made tow-bar attaching points and rock chips covering her nose!

Dan:

Car probably saw some "street action" around South Chicago and Gary Indiana areas. There were a lot of hot cars around there back in the day.

Also, Highland was VERY CLOSE to Route 30 Dragstrip.....just down the road a bit. Your car probably made a pass or two on this strip. Google the name for a lot of info and history.

I grew up in this area......but was in Texas in 1970......driving and racing a hot 1969 Z28 with 4:88 gears on the streets. I loved the sound of the 30-30 cam at 7000 RPM through headers and Thrush mufflers. Can't be duplicated.

Larry

[Mike E.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

The 62 FI car I bought in 1976 in Wisconsin was brought there by a guy who flew to California, vacationed, bought the car and drove it back to Wisconsin and immediately resold it. Why did he do that? To pay for his vacation. That was done hundreds of times over in the mid 70's.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

I picked up my 63 new in Jefferson, Wisconsin, drove it to New Mexico. Once there, I made two trips to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. My buddy then took it to California to look for work while I was in SEA. He returned it to storage back in Wisconsin, after which I returned took it with me to live in Illinois. My son took the car for about a year to Little Rock, then returned it to Illinois. I now have it here in Florida - all this with only 44k on the odometer some 47 years later. Yes, even one owner cars get around this fair land.

Stu Fox

[Edward S.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

The dealership in Paramus was Konners Chev. which for many years was the largest volume Vette dealer in the US. His standing inventory on vettes was quite large, so large that each year he held a vette show and Zora & Effie were always there - I still have stuff from my 58 that Zora signed. Konners had a second floor show room which was mostly filled with older vettes. I can't remember the year but he sold 50 vettes with the same options and special badging - as part of the deal he had all the buyers pick up the cars at the plant with him, and drove back in a convoy. I have not heard of any of these special vettes being up for sale in a long, long time. With the volume that Konners did I am sure that cars delivered to his dealership are in all parts of the country. Brings back alot of good memories.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Were these cars really so transient???

The 62 FI car I bought in 1976 in Wisconsin was brought there by a guy who flew to California, vacationed, bought the car and drove it back to Wisconsin and immediately resold it. Why did he do that? To pay for his vacation. That was done hundreds of times over in the mid 70's.

Mike,
In those days RUST was a reason that California cars were brought back to the salted road areas.
I moved to California back then and my friends would come out, buy a car and advertise it back in the midwest as as a rust free California car.
When I worked at the chevy dealership in CA, I thought I went to heaven. I could actually remove nuts & bolts without a torch.

DOM