"Matching Numbers", ... the early years

[Wayne M.]

[Warren F.]

Re: "Matching Numbers", ... the early years

That's very interesting! I didn't think it started that early. I guess my recollections of that terminology in use was sometime in the eighties.

[Donald M.]

The Day After the First "Matching Numbers ...

ad came out in Vette Views!

[Tracy C.]

It only took 2 years for the NCRS to start

turning the Corvette Hobby upside down....WOW!

Wouldn't have it any other way!

neat stuff
tc

Bettcha that first "restamp" rang out before 1977 saw the light of day..

[mike cobine]

Doubtful

Since the ones listed were '63, '64, and '65, they were not part of NCRS' interest, which only allowed '53 to '62 at that time. I'm not sure if it is true, but I seem to remember that joining NCRS then was a sponsorship sort of membership, you had to have someone already in sponsor you. But that may have just been a rumor at the time. I couldn't join because I had a '63 in '76 and a '68 in '77. The '63 to '67 didn't get allowed in until years later, like around '81 or '82 or so. The '68 to '72 were even later. Does someone have the correct dates?

The Corvette show at Bloomington, on the other hand, was rapidly pushing restoration in '76 and '77, being they started in '73.

[Terry M.]

Re: Doubtful

From The Restorer, 25th Anniversary issue, Vol 26, #1, Summer 1999:

1974............1953-1962
1978............1963-1967
1985............1968-1972
1993............1973-1977
1996............1979-1982

And from memory:
2003............1984-1986
2004............1987-1989

BTW: That 25th Anniversary issue has some very young looking individuals pictured.

[Tom B.]

Re: "Matching Numbers", ... the early years

Wayne,

As I had mentioned, I recalled (from memory) seeing the "matching numbers" terminology sometime earlier in the '70's, but your observation does a lot to set a point of reference. At the time of my recollection I was living in the Midwest searching mostly the newspaper listings, so maybe it there's a regional thing involved as well. Who knows, maybe it's an "age thing" and the CRS Syndrome . At least it will give me something to search around for when I can get it to come to mind...thanks for the info. TBarr #24014

[Dick W.]

Re: Doubtful

Mike, I believe that the AACA was the club that required sponsorship to become a member. I could not join until I found a sponsor. (1970's) That changed sometime in the 80's to anyone that want to join and send them the required clams for dues.

[Mike M.]

Re: Doubtful

Dickie is correct. ncrs never required sponsorship, AACA did and still does. mike

[Loren L.]

So YOU are the VV subscriber...... *NM*

[mike cobine]

Re: Doubtful

1978............1963-1967

If it is in print, it must be right. I just remember that in June '78 I bought a '63 coupe and two weeks later at Bloomington, I ran into a booth with some guys from NCRS and inquired about joining and getting information. They told me my '63 was too new for their organization.

That is a heck of a memory you have, 2004 ... 1987-1989. You don't remember the lottery numbers for back on 12/10/03 by chance?

[Wayne M.]

My library starts in 1974

Hi Tom -- Your thread of 4 December prompted me to dig into my vault. The oldest I could find were a few issues of 1974 Vette Vues, So I checked forward from there to the mid-'76 reference. Let us know you find anything earlier. My Corvette Corner, Corvettes Unlimited (Keepin' Track), old Michaelis flyers, etc. start in 1975/76. Should'a kept everything; should'a taken WAY more pictures....

[Terry M.]

Re: Doubtful

Yes, Mike, 1978 is what is in that issue of The Restorer for the beginning of mid-year judging. Perhaps it started after June of 1978, or the folks you spoke to were in denial. At that time there was considerable controversy about that move.

I can't help with the lottery tickets, but I can tell you (but I would have to kill you, if I did) what will be in The Restorer that you will receive in mid-January.

BTW: I think your memory about Bloomington Gold may be a little off. I don't think they started judging cars, at least not with anything that resembled the present system, as early as you indicate. At the moment I don't have the time to research that though, and I am working from my memory. As has already been established that part works better for 2004 than for 1973.

[mike cobine]

Re: Doubtful

I'm sure the "Bloomington Gold" type judging wasn't that far back. I can't remember when they actually began "Bloomington Gold" and since there has been a couple of turn overs in ownership, and a bankrupcy, going to the BG site gives nothing about the history of the organization, the show, and the founding club.

Bloomington started in 1973 but most people have no idea it existed, as it was more or less a club show with a small swap area. It was only on the "front field" of the fairgrounds along IL Rt. 9. In '74, it grew somewhat as several clubs in surrounding areas came, filling the front field, and they actually had classing and "judging" but not what we have today. It was more show and shine, although there were supposed to be classes as to original, modified, and custom.

In '75 I believe was when they actually rented some of the fair grounds besides the front field, it began to grow enough to be heard of a state or two away, because in '76, there were large crowds from several states away going to see what they missed in '75.

I know the club I was in (MVCA) began judging for operation of parts, cleanliness, and what they thought were original parts in '76 based much on what they had seen and learned in Bloomington in '76. Central Illinois Corvettes (CIC) had been doing the same from early '76 to maybe back into '75 as a member we had came from CIC and talked about restoring his car.

In '75, I had a couple of club members look at a '67 BB coupe with air I had for the intent of restoring it. However, I didn't want to sell when they came around. I wish I had because I had a lady back into me and then the engine blew a week later. Selling would have bypassed those hassles.

I bought a '63 convertible a week before Bloomington in '76 and didn't have the cash to go up, even though the rest of the club went up in mass. In some ways, that was a mistake since there may have been better deals up there.

By '77, I-55/Rt 66 was filled with long lines of Corvettes caravanning to Bloomington.

[Dick W.]

Re: Doubtful

AACA dropped the sponsorship some years ago. How do you think that I finally became a member???? Who would sponsor me?