54 owner's manual

[Billy B.]

Exactly what does a "real" 54 owner's manual look like? I have seen manuals touted as original but that look like a repro to me. How can I tell?? What other, if any, papers, tags, etc. should my 54 VIN 3137 have? Thanks.

[Gary C.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Billy, easiest way is the two lines on the manual cover on originals are separated and reproductions are almost one line. Photos in originals have very good clarity and are sharp. Gary....

[Chuck G.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Here's a pic of the back of an original.

The 2 lines that delineate the polo field are BOTH continued on the back.

Repros have just ONE line.

Pictures inside the originals are more "gray tone", where as repros are more "black and white tone".

Chuck

[Randy G.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Something that has always amazed me...If you go to all the trouble to repro something, why would you go the extra mile to make it WRONG?

[Chuck G.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Something that has always amazed me...If you go to all the trouble to repro something, why would you go the extra mile to make it WRONG?

To the best of my knowledge, those manuals were reproduced back in the early 1970's.

Now that I posted the "2 line manual" picture, I'll raise some controversy.

I've seen some 54 manuals that I believe to be original that have just one line on the back.

"Conventional wisdom" has always been 2 line vs. 1 line differentiates original from repro.

There are also some difference in the pictures on some of the pages between the 2 line manuals and the 1 line manuals, one I recall shows the car with the 3 single air cleaners, the other shows dual pot air cleaners.

Early vs. Late? Maybe. I honestly don't know.

What I'm saying is that JUST MAYBE some single line manuals are original. I can say that ALL double line manuals are original.

Chuck

[Art A.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Chuck, I have a known original and it has two lines front and back.

BTW how do you tell a 53 OM from a 54 OM?

To the best of my knowledge, those manuals were reproduced back in the early 1970's.

Now that I posted the "2 line manual" picture, I'll raise some controversy.

I've seen some 54 manuals that I believe to be original that have just one line on the back.

"Conventional wisdom" has always been 2 line vs. 1 line differentiates original from repro.

There are also some difference in the pictures on some of the pages between the 2 line manuals and the 1 line manuals, one I recall shows the car with the 3 single air cleaners, the other shows dual pot air cleaners.

Early vs. Late? Maybe. I honestly don't know.

What I'm saying is that JUST MAYBE some single line manuals are original. I can say that ALL double line manuals are original.

Chuck

[Billy B.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Thanks for all the input ( and keep it coming). But I want to throw a wrench in the gearbox. I have a 54 owner's manual that I absolutely know to be a repro ( my Dad bought it in the 1970's) that has two lines across the back.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Thanks for all the input ( and keep it coming). But I want to throw a wrench in the gearbox. I have a 54 owner's manual that I absolutely know to be a repro ( my Dad bought it in the 1970's) that has two lines across the back.

OOPS. That's something I've never seen.

Chuck, I have a known original and it has two lines front and back.

BTW how do you tell a 53 OM from a 54 OM?

53 (late) has its' own owners manual...more like a booklet. White pages with black print.

Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: 54 owner's manual

Chuck, I have a known original and it has two lines front and back.

BTW how do you tell a 53 OM from a 54 OM?

Art.

Here's a link to an EBAY auction for a repro 53 Manual.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corvette-1953-Owners-Manual-Informative-Reroduction-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ360238682845QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories