GM reissue protecto plate??

[Dave E.]

Inspected a 1968 Corvette today and the protecto plate that the current owner says that Chevrolet reissued to him when he purchased the car in 1970. The normal warranty booklet has "Reissued" stamped in black ink on the cover and although the scalloped edge metal tag is there, it does not have the expected info on it....instead it has the owners name, address, and the car's serial number stamped on it.... but no engine or trans or other car option info. There is no mylar like strips of tape with the owner's name on it - instead his name is actually stamped/empossed into the metal tag itself. The current owner says he was given this warranty booklet because there was still some warranty time left on his 68 when he bought it in 70. Any of you guys seen this before?? Thanks, Dave

[Louis T.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Hi Dave,

What an interesting story. What seems a little odd to me - weren't warranties typically only a matter of months in those days, or was this car sitting on the dealer lot (or in the showroom) or being used as a demo car all that time? And why would the warranty booklet and POP have been reissued? Were the originals lost, or was there a failed sale to another purchaser that, e.g., backed out of the deal, but they already had filled out the original booklet and POP? Did the dealer stamp the trim tag with a date? That might help corroborate the story.

Louis

[Terry M.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

When the car changes owners within the warrantee period the PoP was re-issued. The format Dave describes is typical of a re-issue PoP. We see many of them in the 5-year/50K miles era.

[Pat M.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Dave - I've heard of and seen many apparently legit examples of exactly what you describe, i.e., a reissued POP, with less info, to transfer the remaining warranty to a new owner. I think others will concur.

[Louis T.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Thanks Terry and Pat for the clarification. I'm still curious - what would have been the warranty period during that era? Furthermore, has anyone ever written an article examining how the warranties changed/expanded throughout the Corvette's history?

Louis

[Terry M.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

I don't know when it started, but 5 years/50K miles was the warrantee in 1970. John H has posted about it a couple of times when the question of CE stamped blocks comes up. Those were sometimes warrantee replacement cylinder cases.

To the best of my knowledge no one has written such a story. Are you familiar with libraries? Many of the larger papers -- Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and LA Times -- are available on microfilm. Those papers will contain automobile advertisements usually a larger number in either Saturday or Sunday editions. Those ads will tout the latest in warrantee coverage. Look in the late summer early fall for the new car introduction issues. Or the annual auto show issues. Go for it.

[Jim T.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Louis do not know what is specified for 67, but do know that the 68 and 70 Corvettes had motor, drive train warranty of 5 years and 50,000 miles.
The 68 Corvette also had a 24 month 24,000 mile all vehicle warranty coverage, this was transferable to only the second owner if purchased before the the 24 months and 24,000 mile had been reached.
After the 24 months and 24,000 miles of a original owner car, a subsequent owner could purchase the 5 year 50,000 mile warranty on drive train but only if it was before 25,000 miles or before the 25th month. This was in the event the second owner had not obtained the 24/24 warranty.
The 1970 Corvette had only a 12 month 12,000 mile all car warranty.
1970 was the last year for the 5 year 50,000 mile drive train warranty.

[Pat M.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Rick Bizzoco's book "1969 Stingray Guidebook" has got great and exhaustive closeup pics of just about every original part you can think of, including a second owner POP:

[Rich G.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

I am the second owner of my 68. The warranty book is original and has the original owners name in it and some entries very early in the car's life. The POP is ALL stamped in metal, including the original owners name and address. The other info is complete and correct. When I asked about this on the board a while back, I was told the POP was probably a replacement issued to the original owner because it was lost. The original owner is not available to answer any questions these days, but a few years back I did learn he bought the car as one that was "available" at the dealer late in the 68 model year. I wonder if the car was ordered by somebody else and prepared for them, then the deal went away.....but I guess the dealer could have just re-issued a POP. Very strange.

Rich G

[Ralph S.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

1967- 1970 had a 5year 50,000 mile warranty on the power train i worked at Luby Chevrolet in Boston during those years. And have many good memories of driving all those cars when they were new!

[Jim T.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Rich G. your 68 POP is different from my original owner 68's POP. The owners name is not stamped in the metal POP. The owners name and address was imprinted on the special tape with the GM logo and is applied to the metal POP. Purchased in March 1968.

[Rich G.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Jim

Thanks for the reply. I knew that the dealer issued ones are like yours. I just wish I knew why mine is like it is. I guess the most likely answer is it was a re-issue from the factory. The original owner had this car from 1968 until around 1990, but it had not been on the road since 1973.

Someday I'll have a Time Machine and will be able to solve all these mysteries.

[Dale S.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

Correct me if I am wrong, but I remember my new 67 big block having a 3 year, 36 month Warranty. Is my 73 year old memory falling me. Dale

[Mark R.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

What a great thread ! Tune in the TDB and learn about the cars we own and love. Thanks to all for sharing your experience and knowledge so freely !

Mark

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: GM reissue protecto plate??

When I purchased my '69 in Feb. '71 it was still under warranty and I paid $25 to have the POP changed to my name and then had a $25 deductible on warrantee repairs. This was only available to the second owner.
Jeff