C3 Tank Sticker

[Jack Corso]

My 68(coupe)still has the tank sticker still in place. I have removed the filler neck boot and can see it. Is dropping the tank the only way to get to it without damaging it?

[Dave S.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

Jack,
The only way to see it is in fact to drop the tank. It is not a difficult job. I personally don't agree with the removal of the tank sticker from the tank once dropped. I would get some high quality photos of it while on the ground and reinstall it as is. You could put some sort of clear plastic over it as an option to possibly better preserve it.

[Jack Corso]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

Thanks, I like your idea to leave it on after the photos.

[Warren F.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

Jack:

That tank sticker (Corvette Order Copy) is made of very poor quality paper. It will be very fragile. Depending upon the climate the car has been subject to, the printing may be completely unreadable or still somewhat legible. If it is indeed in good shape, I would most definitely remove it, carefully so that it can be preserved, for it is an extremely important piece of documentation to verify the cars history!

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

Sorry, Warren...I have to agree with Dave on this one (we are a minority). What additional steps can be taken to preserve this fragile document once it has been torn from the tank? Will the owner place it in a glass display case filled with nitrogen?

Unless some REAL rare document preservation techniques are used, the document is just as safe on the tank as it would be inside a safe deposit box. The conditions in a safe deposit box will be only slightly different from those on the tank; little less dust, little more/little less humidity depending on the climate. If the tank sticker lasted thirty-something years on the tank, how long will it last being handled and exchanged between buyers and sellers, owners and heirs. Once the sticker is separated from the tank, the risk of loss and damage is increased in my opinion.

A fringe benefit of leaving the sticker on the tank, is that it remains an integral part of the vehicle, and in my opinion, is a better confirmation of the provenance of the vehicle than removing it. I am a sucker for a sticker just visible on the top of the fuel tank, but if you hand it to me, then it's not quite the same: I have to satisfy myself that it's the one that came with the car (fakery abounds).

If you HAVE a tank sticker to remove from your tank, it's there for you because all the previous owners ahead of you LEFT IT THERE. JMHO

[Warren F.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

Chuck:

Would you also leave the window sticker attached to the side window, only to be slowly destroyed by the window going up and down?

If Jack is fortunate enough, to have additional forms of documentation to rely on, GREAT!

The process of the Corvette Order Copy document deteriorating can be slowed down significantly by carefully placing it in archival, acid free document sleeve, and can be handled and viewed whenever desired.

[John Fowler]

[Warren F.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

John:

That's terrific that your copy was/is intact(good condition). If most of us were/are fortunate enough to acquire a car that was gingerly taken care of during its life, more than likely we would have a readable document.

However a lot of owners back then did not think of these cars being the collectible objects that they have become in the last several years.

As my signature states, I have owned several early shark models, all of the "tank stickers" except for one, were in very poor condition, mostly due to exposure from the elements of every day usage of the cars( not a bad thing for sure), just a fact.

I have no problem with those who wish to leave these documents where they were attached, when the cars were assembled new. Those owners who are looking for some kind of documentation to prove theirs cars provenance (as Chuck stated) may not have any other source than the "tank sticker", it would be ashame to lose the information, options, etc that can be found on this document. As Dave & Chuck expressed their reasons for leaving it, so have I for it's removal.

[Craig S.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

I think it depends on how you use (or not) your car. My 67 L79KH had the sticker present, and I removed and sealed it. But I drive my car, it is not a trailer queen, and never will be. Granted, I drive it on nice days, but it still get's washed at the local wand type car wash, and I didn't want any more soakings of the sticker. It came off much better and was in far better shape than my 74 which was in pieces. I may place a copy of the original on the original tank when I reinstall, but the original is safely stored in an envelope....Craig

[Patrick T.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

Here is my '67 tank sticker on the tank. I took several pictures like this, along next to the rear of the car with the license plate visible and my business card on the tank. I took it off with a one blade razor, lubed the blade up a bit with WD-40. Now it's encased in Lexan and kept in my safe deposit box.

[Brian McHale]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker

That's a nice sticker.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker - Optional Seats?

I like that you have the headrests on the bench seat. Great option, that bench seat.

[Patrick T.]

Re: C3 Tank Sticker - Optional Seats?

That's for the headrests...I don't know why it says "bench seats".