53 #003 What is the story?

[Roger A.]

Can anyone direct me to the real story or history of #003? Did the tag get seperated from the frame when Ed owned both cars? What frame does car #003 have under it? So is car #003 a "REAL" legal car? Thanks!
Roger

[Eric J.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

This is a long story.... Nutshell:

003's frame was replaced after it was tested on the Belgian Blocks in 1953. Frame #003 was discovered under a 55 corvette years later. The frame under 003 is blank. Believed to be a GM service relplacement. 003 now owned by Ressler, is a real car. 003 was titled and complete (other then a frame replacement) since 53. Frame 003 was not titled as 003 it was titled as a 55 Corvette. Eric

[Dick W.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

This frame was displayed at a couple of Corvette meets in the '80's. The 003 frame is/was co-owned by a gentleman in Piney Flats, TN and an attorney in Florida. They tried to sell the frame to Amgwert, Bieri, and Kirsch when they were restoring 003. Apparently he was not successful

[Roger A.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

So GM TESTS #003 in Detroit, pulls the frame, puts in a service replacement, and sells the car. They pull the frame for tests and don't cut it up after or during the tests? Then frame #003 makes its way back to St. Louis and ends up under a 55? You have got to be kidding me!!! This deal gets STRANGER with every new detail I read. Thanks!
Roger

[Dick W.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

This is not the only car in that era that has had the frame replaced. Another well know mule car (55) has a documented frame replacement and the frame from under it is titled in CA by the mule VIN. VIN's were not as big a deal 50 years ago as they are today. Many cars were titled by the motor number, not the VIN

[Eric J.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

Roger, I don't think we know for sure how the 003 frame ended up under 55 #312. Remember that the Corvette program at that time was very small. Parts were reused and parts availability was limited. They used the Motorama show car's body for a fire test etc.. A more likely scenario is:

In 1953 #003s frame was repaired and available as a usable part.
In 1955 55 #312, was used by Chevrolet as a test vehicle and the frame was damaged or destroyed.
They then put #003 under it to make it saleable to the public. at that time the 003 frame was just an available part

55#312 was in Michigan as early/late as 1970. I don't think it is as convoluted or suspicious as you may think. If you really want to scratch your head look into the history of EX122. Eric

[Art A.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

"Then frame #003 makes its way back to St. Louis and ends up under a 55?"

Roger, first of all, the 003 frame was NEVER in St. Louis and wasn't "sent" back to St. Louis to end up under a 55.

The story of just gets changed by people that don't know what they are talking about.

The re-framing of 003 and the 55 in question, was ALL done at the GM Tech Center and the GM Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan via GM Work Orders for various testing reasons. There was an article written by John Amgwert in the Restorer that gives details.

[Eric J.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

I bet Terry wished he new #003s frame was under it...

Eric

[Patrick H.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

I bet Terry wished he new #003s frame was under it...

Eric

LOL!!!

Ya gotta love this ad.

Patrick

[Loren S.]

Re: 53 #003 What is the story?

The 003 frame is for sale on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-1953-CORVETTE-FRAME-003_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6168QQihZ010QQitemZ200214881266QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW