Question about '57

[Robert F.]

I recently purchased a '57. The car has an ID plate located on the right front wheel well inside the engine compartment upon which it is stamped:
General Motors Continental Antwerp
Then there is what appears to be identification info for the car, which includes the VIN # (with a prefix of CA before the VIN), which matches the one on the plate located in the drivers front door well(except for the CA), and other info, such as an engine #, year, and release and trim info. A friend of mine inquired about this on the Corvette Forum, and the consensus is that this car was probably exported by GM as new for sale in Europe. It likely was shipped from St. Louis to a contractor in the Port of Baltimore who prepared the car for shipment. Has anyone seen a tag like this before? Any idea how I can find out more info about this? It would seem to be a rare car (how many of 6339 Vettes produced in 1957 were exported, and how many of these made it back to the States?). Your comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Rob M.]

Re: Question about '57

Hi Bob,

There is a picture of such a VIN in Nolan Adams book. I don't know the page by head and can't check it now since I'm at the office right now. Such a VIN surely indicate the car was exported to Europe, not neccesarily Belgium though.

Could you send me a picture of your VIN tag. I would like to study the way GM imported cars in those days a bit more in detail and all the background available is welcome...

greetings,
Rob Musquetier
The Netherlands

[Mike M.]

Re: Question about '57

Bob: contact Jim Oliverio, clarksburg, W Va . he currently ownes a 55 Vette that has the Antwerp tag like the 57 you just bought. jimmy has done research on the subject. good luck, mike. BTW, give us the data on the Antwerp tag

[Loren L.]

Dave Ferguson, the NCRS 53-5 Team

Leader, also has a Belgian delivery 55 with a full title tracing in Europe and records of delivery.

[Robert F.]

Re: Question about '57

Rob, Mike, and Loren,
Thank you all for your input. I will post the info from the tag later today, and try to get a digital image of it out to those of you that requested one.

A post on Corvette Forum (from JohnZ)was somewhat helpful. JohnZ commented..."The GM Continental tag was applied at the port of entry (Antwerp, Belgium) on GM cars exported to Europe and sold new there (European registration requirement). Antwerp was the GM European headquarters back then; these days it's Zurich, Switzerland." In another post, JohnZ commented..."Export cars were shipped from St. Louis to Mortensen's Warehouse at the Port of Baltimore; they were the contractor to Chevrolet who handled preparation for overseas shipping (oil spray underhood and on the chassis, heavy shipping wax on the exterior, et.). When they arrived at the Port of Antwerp, GM Continental affixed the required registration data and shipped the car to the delivering GM dealer."

More to come.

[Rob M.]

Re: Question about '57

Bob,

I know of one, originally delivered Dutch Corvette. I'll try to get a picture of the VIN of this car as well to further study this subject.

greetings,
Rob.

[Robert F.]

Re: Question about '57

The tag is stamped as follows:

GENERAL MOTORS CONTINENTAL ANTWERP
MAKE CHEV MODEL 2934
ENGINE NO F 1120 FH YEAR 1957
CHASSIS NO CA-E57S101194
RELEASE 64 PAINT
TRIM GVW PVA

I will try to attach a picture to a future post.

[Robert Willis]

Re: Question about '57

G.M. shipped the cars that were sold new to Europe and prossesed them through their Continental Motors Operations in Antwerp. Probably any mods that had to be made to make them street legal in Europe were made (if any) and the new registeration tag was added. CA = Continental Antwerp , This code was used from 57 till 68 .

Bob

http://members.kos.net/willisb/

[Robert F.]

Re: Question about '57

Thanks, Bob, everyone on this thread has been most helpful. I plan to research this further. It would be interesting to find out how many '57 Vettes were exported. And, maybe more important than that, they only built 6339 in '57, the rarity may be how many of those made it back to the States and, of those, how many still exist.