1970 Ontario Orange (RPO 991)

[Rob Loszewski]

I recently spoke to someone that mentioned to me that there is no supporting evidence and/or documentation, other than some dealer records, to indicate that RPO 991 - Ontario Orange Corvettes were ever manufactured. According to Michael Antonick's Corvette Black Book, the color did exist, but he does not list production numbers for any of the colors.

Does anyone have any official documentation to support the existence or non-existence of a 1970 Corvette painted Ontario Orange from the factory?

-Rob Loszewski, Site Administrator
Corvette Action Center

http://CorvetteActionCenter.com

NCRS #27792

[Robert C.]

Re: 991 ????

Where do you find this stuff? I have never seen a 70' ontario orange car. The only thing close is the Caramel Bronze #993. No #991 exists in the manuals etc The Ontario Orange color is #987.????

[Rob Loszewski]

Re: 991 ????

As I said in my initial message, Michael Antonick lists it in his Corvette Black Book. In fact, in some of the publication years, he omitted it from his book and in others, he has included it. I believe that in his latest addition, it is listed, but I have not confirmed it yet.

[Juliet P.]

Re: 1970 Ontario Orange (RPO 991)

I have a GM Dealership sales binder (the thick 3" thing with the real sample swatches etc...) for the Chevrolet 1970 model line. It lists the Ontario Orange (I don't recall the code, the book's at home and I'm in the office, I'll look later), however the thing is dated 1969.

Of the over 750 cars in the 1970 Registry to date, NOT ONE has code 991, Ontario Orange. To quote a friend I was discussing this with in e-mail last year: "What is wrong with the obvious deduction - in over 600 cars you have not one reporting code 991. I think there is a BIG clue there. I wish I could remember who once told me: "Never overlook the obvious." "

The NCRS 70-72 TIM&JG does not list 991 as a valid code for 1970 Corvette Trim Tags either. I've discussed this with other NCRS members too and nobody I've spoken with has ever seen a bonifide 1970 trim tag with 991 /Ontario Orange. I'll let them all speak in this thread for themselves though.

I have 3 editions of the Black book. Two list Ontario Orange, one doesn't. I didn't realize that Mike Antonick put it back in the 2001 edition when I got copy from him at Carlisle this year, or I would have asked him why. ~Juliet




1970 Corvette Registry

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Ontario Orange (RPO 991) *TL*

"What is wrong with the obvious deduction - in over 600 cars you have not one reporting code 991. I think there is a BIG clue there. I wish I could remember who once told me: "Never overlook the obvious." "
I can't imagine who would state that so crudely.

I can't speak for Mike's motivations, but I think this color showed up in some of the 1970 preliminary publicity. Like so many other 1970 proposals, I suspect it happened only a handful of times if at all.

There is a story and photos in a 1970 issue of "Corvette News" that showed an Ontario Orange 1970 LT1 with power steering. I believe the issue was late enough that the 1971 models were in production when it was published. I may be mixing up the 1970 issues, but I seem to recall the cover photo of the car was taken in the snow, so the car's production was not that late in the model year. (No comments about Michigan winters.) I do believe there was a reference in the story to the fact that Ontario Orange was not available to the public, but I will have to dig the CN out of the attic to confirm that, or maybe it was just the power steering that was not available. Perhaps someone else on the board has them closer at hand. Memory is a terrible thing to lose.

Either that same issue or the next one contained a story of the joys of ordering new Corvettes to the specifications the writers desired. It was likened to working in the candy store. At the time I took it as an explanation for both the Ontario Orange and the Power Steering.

[Tom Freeman]

Re: 1970 Ontario Orange (RPO 991)

Just looked at the LT1 Registry and they list one with paint code 991. It is VIN # 400006. Check it out here: http://www.lt-1registry.com/70a.html

tom...




LT-1 Registry Page

[Terry M.]

LT1 Registry *TL*

Gee I'm surprised to see mine listed there because I have had no communication with them. Ah, must be the internet.
I am impressed with the number of N40 options listed on all these cars that should have CTU engines. Kind of makes me go mmmmm....

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Ontario Orange (RPO 991)

Terry-----

I believe that the issue that you are referring to is the February/March 1970 issue of Corvette News. That issue has an article authored by Karl Ludvingsen about a 1970 Corvette LT-1 that he had test driven. The pictures in the article, including color photos on the front and rear cover, are all taken in snow conditions.

I can't find any mention in the article of the color, but I didn't read the article word-for-word, and I might have missed it. For the most part, the article dealt with engine performance issues and other functional aspects.

The picture on the cover, which was apparently taken at night in artificial light, could be either Ontario Orange or Corvette Bronze. However, the picture on the rear cover, taken in natural light, of the same car (same Michigan license of LYZ 193) looks a lot more like Corvette Bronze. All of the black-and-white pictures seen in the article are of the same car, too.

The October/November, 1970 issue of Corvette News features an, apparently, Ontario Orange Corvette which is identified on the cover as a 1971 model. In the text of the article on the then-new 1971 Corvette model, it lists that that 7 "brand new" colors were added for 1971, including 3 "firemist" colors. These were identified as Steel Cities Gray, War Bonnet Yellow, and Ontario Orange.

[Jim T.]

Re: LT1 Registry

Reference the N40 power steering and a CTU coded engine. The other stampings for the 350/370 are CTK and CTR. According to the Black Book, they all have mt and ig. Don't want to leave out CTV for the ZR1. Which of these would be the LT-1's that were able and not able to have N40?
New question. How many early 70's have you seen or have knowledge of having 69 engine stampings? This is mentioned in the Black Book.

[Terry M.]

CTU & CTK *TL*

Jim,
The Spring 1994 ( Volume 20 #4) issue of The Corvette Restorer explains the differences between CTU & CTK coded engines in more detail than I can post here. The same information is in the 1970-72 TIM&JG in a somewhat different form. So is the information about 1970 CTR engines. In a thumbnail:
No N40 on CTU or CTV if the engine is as originally configured by Flint.
According to the Flint build records no engines coded CTR were produced in 1970.
I am not aware of any early 1970 Corvettes with 1969 engines installed at St. Louis.

[Terry M.]

[Jim T.]

Re: CTU & CTK

Just reread my 1970 new car dealers brochure. Magic-Mirror color choices:Monza Red, Mulsanne Blue, Marboro Maroon, Daytona Yellow, Cortez Silver, Classic White, Donnybrooke Green, Bridgehampton Blue, Laguna Gray, and Ontario Orange.
One of the pictures includes a Ontario Orange Corvette, so I guess there had to be one at least, perhaps the some one in the Corvette News publication that snow covered night in Michigan.

When I got my subscription started to Corvette News with the purchase of my 70 I was sent back issues for 1970. Another item was included, a three page fold out drawn/painted picture of a LT-1 Corvette Coupe and the color is Ontario Orange. This is a one sided item of the LT-1.

[Dave S.]

Re: CTU & CTK

The fold out 3 page piece was the folder for the Owners Kit. The car is orange but it is a sketch as opposed to a photograph. Inside that folder was your first copy of Corvette News, a plastic owners card and a congratulations letter from Chevrolet.

[Jim T.]

Re: CTU & CTK

I still have all of the initial stuff including the letter. I sent a copy of my letter to Juliet for the 70 Corvette Registary. Anyone know who's signature is on the letter that was included with the packet?

[Dave S.]

Re: CTU & CTK/70 Owners Kit

Jim,
I am fortunate to have the entire owners Kit for my 70 as well. They are a great addition to any Corvette. The letter in 1970 is signed by the one and only John Z. De Lorean, General Manager. The earlier Congratulations letters were signed by Ed Cole. I'm not sure when the change took place but I believe De Lorean had a short tenure in that position. As the years went by and the owners kits lost favor, some pieces were dropped. Starting in 67 there were no Corvette Owners pin and no Corvette patch. 66 and earlier had both.