Tank sticker designation

[Michael J.]

I am curious if anyone has any ideas about details put on a tank sticker. My '67 tank sticker has a "PLS RUSH" line just below the last option in the list on options. I have looked at many on the boards here and did not see any others that have that line or designation. I guess it means "please rush", thus a rush order, but who would have been able to do that? Would it have been for a special dealer or person or an executive order or something? Thanks for any opinions.

[John H.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

I guess it means "please rush", thus a rush order, but who would have been able to do that? Would it have been for a special dealer or person or an executive order or something? Thanks for any opinions.

Mike -

Somebody knew someone at the Zone or Central Office who could give it a "push"; no way to know who it was.

[Michael J.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Thanks John. I also wonder how many Corvettes, say in '67 or that era, were custom orders from individuals rather than dealer stock type cars. When I ordered my 2010 Camaro about a year ago, the dealer looked at me like I was from outer space when I told him I wanted to order one to my specs, and he wouldn't do it, even with my check for the full price in his hand. So I had to call my friend who was a senior VP at GM to get the Chevy zone manager to handle it. I guess I assumed back in the day, most all Corvettes must have been custom individual orders, what do you think?

[Terry M.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Thanks John. I also wonder how many Corvettes, say in '67 or that era, were custom orders from individuals rather than dealer stock type cars. When I ordered my 2010 Camaro about a year ago, the dealer looked at me like I was from outer space when I told him I wanted to order one to my specs, and he wouldn't do it, even with my check for the full price in his hand. So I had to call my friend who was a senior VP at GM to get the Chevy zone manager to handle it. I guess I assumed back in the day, most all Corvettes must have been custom individual orders, what do you think?

My 1969 Corvette was ordered by a customer (not me), but my 1970 was ordered by the dealer for "stock." My 2008 was ordered by me almost the way I wanted it. Despite my best efforts Chevrolet wouldn't build what I really wanted.

[Michael J.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

My 1969 Corvette was ordered by a customer (not me), but my 1970 was ordered by the dealer for "stock." My 2008 was ordered by me almost the way I wanted it. Despite my best efforts Chevrolet wouldn't build what I really wanted.

You mean they wouldn't put that 600 HP, supercharged V8 in it?

[Terry M.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

You mean they wouldn't put that 600 HP, supercharged V8 in it?

No I could have got Reves Caloway to do that. They wouldn't make me (or anyone else) a blue interior.

[Michael J.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

No I could have got Reves Caloway to do that. They wouldn't make me (or anyone else) a blue interior.

That's the odd thing about cars today. The old standards of red on red, blue on blue, etc. just don't exist anymore. I also asked about a blue interior when I ordered my 2004 Corvette LeMans commemorative with LeMans Blue exterior, no dice. That is one thing I liked about my new Camaro, Inferno Orange exterior and interior. GM should do more of that.

[Mike M.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Michael,
Is there a numeric entry in the box at the extreme upper right corner of the Tank Sheet?
HaND

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

That's the odd thing about cars today. The old standards of red on red, blue on blue, etc. just don't exist anymore. I also asked about a blue interior when I ordered my 2004 Corvette LeMans commemorative with LeMans Blue exterior, no dice. That is one thing I liked about my new Camaro, Inferno Orange exterior and interior. GM should do more of that.

I agree. All one can get as far as interior is gray & tan on most cars/trucks. Can anyone tell me why you can't get red,black,blue,green ETC like the old days. I would not buy a new corvette because of the lack of interior choice's.
KEN

[Mike M.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Same here,
I went to the dealer to buy, or, order a black car.
They, all the way to the top, said they would not do it, black was not available in that model and refused to do anything about it.
Wonder why they are in trouble.
HaND

[Michael J.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Michael,
Is there a numeric entry in the box at the extreme upper right corner of the Tank Sheet?
HaND

No, nothing in the COPO/F&SO box.

[Jack H.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Your experience, as well as that which Terry recounted, is interesting. Back when the NCRS National was held in Galveston, I had a husband/wife come Stateside from England (UK Chapter members) to drive with us from Denver to the National on the Road Tour. At that time, Corvette was actively being sold in the UK and they were interested in buying a factory new car for European delivery.

It was model year change over and they wanted to pickup US versions of the Corvette sale brochure. They contended the European equivalent publications were 'watered down' with less techincal/spec content and more emphasis on style/feature-function.

We stopped at a small dealership outside Denver (Purifoy Chevrolet) where the owner happens to be a member of the Corvette Dealer Council. Rollie, gave them a sneak peak at the new brochure (it was MY change over time) and they chatted on what might be an 'unusual' car configuration.

Mike (the buyer) decided a 'Union Jack' Corvette would be quite unique (Electron Blue exterior, Torch Red interior, with white soft top). But, alas, that wasn't within the 'recommended color' matrix that year. The dealer, Rollie, pointed to the small print in the brochure that read to the effect, "While color combinations are recommened in packages ANY/ALL regular production colors are available upon buyer request".

Rollie said that had ALWAYS been the Chevy policy. So, when Mike returned to England he trotted over to his local Vauxhall Dealer to order his new Corvette. He was told that color combination could NOT be manufacturered. He esclated his request and got the same response from higher ups on the European continent where Corvettes were delivered and final country by country conversion details were executed.

Mike sent me an email with the bad news. I told him that, in Galveston, we'd been addressed by the Corvette Brand Manager at the NCRS Awards Banquet who had encouraged us to buy new cars and offered his assistance for any issues/problems.

Mike brightened up and sent him an email explaining why he wasn't able to purchase the Corvette of his choice in Europe/UK. It took something like a whole 72 hours before, he received a personal phone call from the Vauxhall dealership owner!

He apologized for the 'misunderstanding' and informed Mike that his new car order WAS approved by Detroit and the European's understanding of Chevrolet policy was now freshly understood! Yep, the 'Union Jack' Corvette was placed on order, built and delivered without any COPO form of authorization.

But, this 'special' WAS initially refused and it DID take a tops down directive to get its order submitted into the system...

[Michael J.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Your experience, as well as that which Terry recounted, is interesting. Back when the NCRS National was held in Galveston, I had a husband/wife come Stateside from England (UK Chapter members) to drive with us from Denver to the National on the Road Tour. At that time, Corvette was actively being sold in the UK and they were interested in buying a factory new car for European delivery.

It was model year change over and they wanted to pickup US versions of the Corvette sale brochure. They contended the European equivalent publications were 'watered down' with less techincal/spec content and more emphasis on style/feature-function.

We stopped at a small dealership outside Denver (Purifoy Chevrolet) where the owner happens to be a member of the Corvette Dealer Council. Rollie, gave them a sneak peak at the new brochure (it was MY change over time) and they chatted on what might be an 'unusual' car configuration.

Mike (the buyer) decided a 'Union Jack' Corvette would be quite unique (Electron Blue exterior, Torch Red interior, with white soft top). But, alas, that wasn't within the 'recommended color' matrix that year. The dealer, Rollie, pointed to the small print in the brochure that read to the effect, "While color combinations are recommened in packages ANY/ALL regular production colors are available upon buyer request".

Rollie said that had ALWAYS been the Chevy policy. So, when Mike returned to England he trotted over to his local Vauxhall Dealer to order his new Corvette. He was told that color combination could NOT be manufacturered. He esclated his request and got the same response from higher ups on the European continent where Corvettes were delivered and final country by country conversion details were executed.

Mike sent me an email with the bad news. I told him that, in Galveston, we'd been addressed by the Corvette Brand Manager at the NCRS Awards Banquet who had encouraged us to buy new cars and offered his assistance for any issues/problems.

Mike brightened up and sent him an email explaining why he wasn't able to purchase the Corvette of his choice in Europe/UK. It took something like a whole 72 hours before, he received a personal phone call from the Vauxhall dealership owner!

He apologized for the 'misunderstanding' and informed Mike that his new car order WAS approved by Detroit and the European's understanding of Chevrolet policy was now freshly understood! Yep, the 'Union Jack' Corvette was placed on order, built and delivered without any COPO form of authorization.

But, this 'special' WAS initially refused and it DID take a tops down directive to get its order submitted into the system...

Interesting story. I think the key here is the fine print which says "ANY/ALL regular production colors are available on request". I think that means if they are not offering say a red or blue interior color as a regular production color, you are SOL. You just can't get that. It seems all they have these days is a tan or black, or shades thereof, no blues or reds anyway.

[Terry M.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Interesting story. I think the key here is the fine print which says "ANY/ALL regular production colors are available on request". I think that means if they are not offering say a red or blue interior color as a regular production color, you are SOL. You just can't get that. It seems all they have these days is a tan or black, or shades thereof, no blues or reds anyway.

That was exactly my problem. Had they offered a blue interior I could have had it -- the problem was (and is) as so many have pointed out -- all they have been offering in Corvette, and most other cars GM and other makes, is shades of gray and black and tan -- in whatever name is the terminology de jour. Dick Copela knows about blue with a red interior, but alas that is a different can of worms.

[John H.]

Re: Tank sticker designation

Thanks John. I also wonder how many Corvettes, say in '67 or that era, were custom orders from individuals rather than dealer stock type cars. When I ordered my 2010 Camaro about a year ago, the dealer looked at me like I was from outer space when I told him I wanted to order one to my specs, and he wouldn't do it, even with my check for the full price in his hand. So I had to call my friend who was a senior VP at GM to get the Chevy zone manager to handle it. I guess I assumed back in the day, most all Corvettes must have been custom individual orders, what do you think?

"Back in the day", most Corvettes were ordered from the choices available on the pre-printed order form; occasionally a customer wanted a "non-recommended" interior/exterior color combination, and that was easily done by the dealer by requesting a "trim over-ride" on the order form, and the Zone approved it (that did NOT require a COPO). Non-recommended combinations were specified by Styling, as they didn't want "weird" combinations out there to sully their artistic reputation.

These days it's a similar situation, except the name of the game is to reduce parts proliferation and the number of possible build permutations by severely limiting the number of individual stand-alone options the customer can choose, and "packaging" groups of options instead in order to reduce the part count, engineering and development expense for potentially low-volume combinations of parts, and reduce build complexity at the suppliers and at the assembly plant.

That's the way it is, and I wouldn't expect it to change any time soon; the costs involved in developing and offering all the possible permutations of many unrestricted stand-alone options are incredible.