Jan Berry's Corvette

[Wayne Womble (5569)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Mark and Michael. How are you determining that it is a BB core? If you are going by the hole theory, you might want to look at a 66-67 core support. They both have the holes on the upper rail in the same place. The picture that Mark posted was of an earlier 64-65 type support. The only difference that you could see from this angle and quality of picture, would be the wheather it did or didnt have the bolts installed. A Big Block would have had the bolts installed at the outer positions for the straps. A Small Block wouldn`t.

[Michael Hanson (4067)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Wayne,

I think you may be correct on this. I suppose the hood support was on the left side because the car was AC? The AC condenser is pretty obvious.

[Wayne Womble (5569)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Yes, many 66 AC cars had the hood support on the LH side.

[Philip Castaldo (8063)]

Re:No its one of Eddie Wass's restoreables.. *NM*

[Mark Milner]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

That is something I forgot. I thought the underhood bracing looked like it is too far back for the big block hood. It had to run forward of the bulge to clear the air cleaner, so you can notice those who put a big block skin on a small block hood frame instantly.

And you may be right on the holes being what we see, not the bolts. And the bolts in the center may have disappeared in the lighting.

Seems odd to think of Jan Berry driving a small block though. You'd think he'd have something with as much power as he could get. It wasn't like he was hurting for money when he bought it.

Too bad there wasn't a source to let us know.

[Mark Milner]

Re:No its one of Eddie Wass's restoreables..

Don't go picking on Fast Eddie. We'll be seeing him in a couple of weeks and we don't want him sore at all of us.

[Kevin Muldoon (35046)]

(Message Deleted by Poster)

Message Deleted by Poster

[Kevin Muldoon (35046)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

This it?

[Kevin Muldoon (35046)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Don't know what's going on but I'l try again.

[Kevin Muldoon (35046)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Right can't be no bumpers.

KEvin

[Joe Lucia (12484)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Harry-----

Yes, I understand that. However, what I was saying is that the plates cannot be transferred in California (which, of course, they can be in many other states). So, any information from the site you posted would likely be trivial (like this was Jan Berry's car destroyed in an accident). I've found that these sort of "information" sites often try to entice one to join or pay a fee for one-time information by "dangling a carrot". They say that they've come up with all sorts of information, but they don't tell you what it is until you join or pay a fee. After you pay, you usually find out that the information is pretty worthless.

[Joe Lucia (12484)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Wayne-----

There's no way that the car could have been a 1966 Corvette. The license plate number pretty much rules that out. The "RIY" prefix plate would have been issued sometime during the 1965 model year for a 1965 (or, earlier) model car.

In California, the license plates are issued to vehicles on, basically, a sequential basis. The 63 series plates, which this car had, would still have been in the "R" first character range by the end of the 1965 model year. It may have been up to the end of the "R" (like, "RZZ") by the end of the 1965 model year, but I don't think that it even got that far. I had a 1966 Chevelle SS that I purchased new and registered in California in about January, 1966. It had 63 series plates with the prefix "SGF". I think that most, if not all, 1966 model year cars registered in California would have had a plates beginning with "S", although I would not rule out the possibility that some very early ones had very late "R" series plates. However, there's no way that I could see an "RIY" series. That would have been issued mid-1965 model year, or even earlier, perhaps even during the 1964 model year.

So, assuming that the license plates in the picture actually belonged to Jan Berry's car, I don't think that it is possible that the car could have been a 1966 model.

[Michael Hanson (4067)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Joe,

If you are correct on the letter sequence on the license plate, and I'm sure you are, then I have to think that the plate is not the correct plate for that car because the holes in the upper outer rail of the core support clearly indicate that at least that part of the car is a 1966. I would guess that this may have been an early production 66 built some time in the last quarter of 1965 which may have been the reason for the RIY plate.

[Andy Florence (41128)]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

I have had an interest in Jan and Dean for their car music. Both Jan and Dean drove Corvettes in the 1960s...Dean later converted to Porsches. But I have a video from a J&D TV show pilot called "On the Run". There are several scenes at the beginning of the show with Dean driving a red 66 big block coupe, with knock-offs...no side exhaust. The license plate on that car is RWG 505. Jan's Corvette in the picture was a blue 66 coupe, probably a BB too. The license plate is RIJ 775 if that make any difference.

[Philip Castaldo (8063)]

Re:No its one of Eddie Wass's restoreables..

Hi Mark I know were your coming from, its in fun. Did you know that I named him Fast Eddie I have been friends with him for years. last year at carlisle I put a sign on his 64 AS SEEN ON CON AIR Phil 8063 I know it got a few chuckles I hope this one too.