Corvette Order Copy question

[Warren F.]

There are some examples of these paper documents over on the C3 Vette Registry, in the 1970 Corvette Registry forum, under the post Ident Numbers Corvette Order Copy (Build Sheets) thread.

On the top line of these documents, there is a box called Order Number. Several of these sheets have a alpha-numeric figure in here. When you see a figure in this box, the adjacent box called Exp. Date of Prod. also has a specific date in it.

Some of these documents, including mine does not have anything in the Order Number box, consequently there is a blank date in the Exp. Date of Prod. box as well.

However, there is always a specific date in the Date Received box.

How does this work? Are all Corvettes ordered by either Dealer or Individual?

Does the factory (St. Louis) just allocate various optioned cars to different dealers, as their allocation, without a order or specific order placed?

In other words, why doesn't all Corvette Order Copies contain an expected date of production? Why does some sheets NOT have an Order Number?

I find this intriguing...fascinating. Thanks, for any info, from those in the know.

[Joe L.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

Warren-----

I don't know why some Order Copies don't have an order number or expected date of production. I can tell you this, though: in the old days (and, very likely, even the present day) all Corvettes, except those for internal GM use, were ordered by DEALERS. A CUSTOMER could place an order with a dealer, but this was an "informal" process usually carried out on dealer paperwork (i.e. purchase order, etc.). The DEALER ordered the car from GM using an order form provided by GM (which the customer usually never even had access to). Since for most years, Corvettes were on allocation, the dealer was provided with a number of order forms equal to their allocation. Some dealers would order Corvettes for "stock" (i.e. no CUSTOMER order) and, in that case, someone in the dealership decided what options to order that they figured would be "saleable" at their dealership. However, the process for ordering the Corvette from the factory was exactly the same as if a CUSTOMER had ordered the car. Usually, though, CUSTOMER-ordered cars were given a higher build priority than "stock" orders (to get the car to the customer as quickly as possible before he/she changed his/her mind). I'm not sure when this "priority" system was instituted, but it WAS instituted at some point.

The Corvette order forms contained a pre-printed order number. Usually, at least for C2/C3, this was a 3 alpha character, 3 numeral series of characters. This was the order number and it followed the car right through all the stages of its ordering, production, and delivery process. It is also usually found on the window sticker for the car and it all started with the pre-printed number on the Chevrolet-supplied-to-dealer order form.

I don't know of any situation, past or present, where GM produced Corvettes and then "assigned" them to dealers. Even if they did, someone (presumably, someone from the Chevrolet Central Office), would have to have ordered the car and spec'd it out. I am quite certain that the St. Louis or Bowling Green plants never just built cars as they chose and shipped them out.

[Dave S.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

Warren,
Seeing as your car is an LS-6 that may explain why. Maybe Chevrolet did the ordering of those 188 cars. My 71 LT-1 has numbers and dates assigned to those spaces. I have all the original paperwork and I know that the original owner of my car ordered it through a Chevrolet dealer in New York, Demeree and Sons.

[Warren F.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

Thank you guys.

I have a lot of paperwork for my car. This includes the Corvette Order Copy, Window sticker, Protecto plate w/warranty pamphlet, Dealer Sales Invoice sheet, original Illinois title and the Uniform Invoice - Transaction Reporting Return sheet from the State of Illinois Department of Revenue. The dealer did discount this car $1261.80 on the invoice to make the purchase price an even $6200.00 instead of the sticker of $7461.80.

The dealership was Holsapple Buick-Chevrolet in Salem, Ill.

On a US map, it appears to be a straight shot west from the St. Louis plant.

[Rich G.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

I have a 68 that the original owner told me he picked off a list of cars that "was coming in." He went to the dealer in late may of 68 to order a car, but they were not taking new orders, so they showed him a list of what was coming and he picked the only big block. On the order copy (tank sticker) there is an order number and an expected build date, although they are barely legible, there is something there. This car has an odd (I think) combination of options, so it may have been a customer order that later fell through, or the indication that the dealer was trying to order a car with appeal to 2 different sectors at once. It is an L71 coupe with 4:11 gears, F41 suspension and power steering and power brakes. I guess the power steering was so it was easier to turn at the end of the 1/4 mile. :-)

Rich Giannotti

[Warren F.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

Great story.

At first, I presumed that maybe the dealer discounted the price of the car to the prospective buyer to 'move it'. It was purchased rather quickly, after it was delivered though.

The date of order received at (St. Louis?) was 04/03/71 on the Corvette Order Copy sheet. The engine assembly date was 04-06 and the body build date Apr 20. The date of purchase on the Dealers Sales Invoice and Protecto plate/warranty pamphlet is April 26.

It appears to be more like an ordered vehicle...customer wise? But why such a large discount, made the LS6 option of $1220.70 cost, practically free to the buyer!

The car was ordered with the following options: Power steering

Power brakes

Tilt-telescopic column

Rear window Defogger

M22 special 4spd trans

3:70 special axle ratio

[Rich G.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

My speculation:

Could this dealer have had a hot prospect (or a relative or good customer) for an LS6 and when he conveyed that to the factory he got lucky as they were building one for some other dealer who no longer needed it? Or maybe this was a dealer swap, where the selling dealer searched and found a car he could have diverted to him. After so many years, we can only speculate.

I also enjoy trying to unravel these things. Sorry I can't help with any facts. I'd be interested in hearing what you find.

Rich Giannotti

[Warren F.]

Will check into it....further

A prospective buyer of my car, prior to my knowledge of it's for sale status, told me that he had spoken with the original owner about the car, when he was debating on whether to purchase it (not from original owner).

Some interesting history about this car is that when I acquired it, I think there had been several 'collector' owners prior to me. Don Jerie had gotten into the high roller circle of corvette owners back in 1988 or earlier. He acquired this car and two other LS6's. All three cars were featured on the front cover of VETTE magazine in the July 1988 issue. The article stated that Jerie was going to sell the set of Patriotic Powerhouses, and contacted Mike 'The Corvette Power Broker' Kitain for handling the transaction. Two of the cars (the blue & white coupes) were acquired by John Gardner, they were later sold to someone else, who sold or traded it to another person, who I believe did a trade to my friend Charlie Lillard, from whom I purchased the car from.

What's interesting is that no one ever changed the ownership title from the original owner, who signed off the certificate of title in 1986! Making me the second legal owner in 14 years!

I would imagine that the original owner was contacted several times, by subsequent owners, wanting to know " the history " of the car and such, so I have not bothered to contact, not wanting to annoy this individual.

The cars mileage virtually stopped in the year 1974 at 33,975. In 1980 it showed 34,861 and in 1985, it was 35,786. In 2000 when I acquired the car it showed 38,156. So, since 1974 the mileage has increased approximately 6,115 in the last 29 years.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Corvette Order Copy question

mrs clem worked for a dealer who sold lots of corvettes. when corvettes were "hot" you needed a customer name to place a factory order,no orders for "stock" and when corvettes were "cold" GM would call the dealer and ask how many he wanted. they do not want to shut down the lines because the line workers contract calls for 95% of there wages when layed off. i remember during the C-4s mrs clem called me and wanted to know if i wanted a corvette because GM was having a fire sale and i could get one for $8000 under sticker.i did not buy one because i hated the the C-4s because they had a bad case of steering wheel and cowl shake. i wanted a ZR-1,i loved the engine but hated the car so i never bought one.