GM midyear parts catalogs

[Wayne M.]

I refer often to my dog-eared GM 1953-1970 Corvette Parts Catalog (P&A 30 - green pages; Revision 1-1-70; reprinted in its entirety, Effective Jan, 1970). and use it to identify individual numbered parts shown only as "assemblies" in the factory final assembly manual, as well as to show which part COULD have been used for several years running, as of 1970. My question: can anyone tell me what the dealers used for counter parts manuals for (say) periods ending in '65 to '69 ? I've never seen these at swap meets. If a 1953-1966 catalog existed, it would be more accurate for identifying 1965 parts numbers than the 1953-1970 issue.

[Joe L.]

Re: GM midyear parts catalogs

Wayne----

The first year that GM published a Corvette-only parts catalog was 1969. In fact, I have that catalog which is dated October 1, 1969. I bought it brand new from GM in 1970 as a result of finding ordering information which appeared in one of my first copies of Corvette News. I still have the GM invoice for it dated 6/16/70 in the amount of $3.00! Prior to the publishing of the Corvette-only parts catalog, Corvette parts were shown only in the combined passenger car and light truck parts and accessories catalog, which was updated annually from 1938.

Over the years, I have added to my reference library the 38-64, 38-65, 38-66, 38-67, 38-68, and 38-69 passenger car parts and accessories catalogs. In addition to the 53-69 Corvettes Parts and Accessories catalog, I have also acquired the 53-70, 53-71, 53-72, 53-73, 53-74, 53-75, 53-76, and 53-82 Corvette catalogs. Yes, that's quite a shelf-full(actually many shelves)but its just a small part of my overall Corvette and GM library.

[Jeff]

Re: GM midyear parts catalogs

Amazing how many mid-year pns had already been superceded by replacement parts numbers as early as 10/69 but if you knew or could find the correct pn in an earlier book you could often still get the original part.

Best line in that book though is Pg 15, line 11. Woulda been nice, eh? ;)

JP

[Jack H.]

Re: GM midyear parts catalogs

Counter folks used printed parts books very similar to your Covette parts book that were issued annually. Difference is these books covered n-tuple Chevy car/truck lines (VERY handy if you want to know where you might find this/that on another vehicle in the scrap yard!).

Since these books were automatically obsoleted with each new MY, most got pitched. But, you can still find 'em at swap meets and/or by automotive folks that specialize in vintage support literature (check out listings in Hemmings Motor News).

Be prepared to bend over on price, because these are out of print vintage books that are NOT mass reproduced in volume. You're absolutely right -- having a parts book that's at your MY or maybe one year behind your MY helps a bunch because it eliminates the "same as" substitution effect of later parts that were designed to be downward compatible.....