As desired versus as delivered

[Philip A.]

Thinking about the dealer info now available and the possibility of obtaining documentation, if you own an early model corvette (with no paper work), equipped as you desired, in the future would you want to have the paperwork that shows it is not how it came?

[Joe R.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

Real paperwork is only desired by honest people! If the car is a fraud the paperwork is usually a fraud also. Then again, you could buy the trim tag on E-bay and make a car to fit the tag.

JR

[Jim C.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

I'm not too worried about that. My 1966 came with zero paperwork. It's a basic 327/300 that came with a radio, a four speed, a hardtop, and not much else. So if my car's original paperwork magically appeared one day, maybe I'd find out it had other options that I'm not aware of, like a tinted windshield. I have no fear of "desired" or "delivered." Actually, I'd really like to know. Now, if I had a high and/or rare option big block car, maybe I'd feel differently if I didn't have the original paperwork.

Jim C.

[Chuck S.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

If they are intelligent, those that build fraudulent cars and matching paperwork should always have a nagging doubt that the paperwork might turn up...just like the "sold to" dealer info that became available recently.

As far as knowing additional options your car might have started with that have been lost to time...probably not a lot of opportunity there. People generally add options rather than remove them; unless as you say, a cheaper or more available replacement is chosen. A tinted windshield without AC or all tinted glass would seem to me an unusual choice for most ordering an otherwise basic car. The four speed would make sense to most ordering a Corvette, but not all...date codes should confirm. In my opinion, the most likely option for having been added to your car later is the hard top and dates on the plexiglass could put that to rest.

I also own a base engine, albeit well-optioned, car...all the notable options were accounted for with actual marks on the car. Any options that were consumable, i.e. tires and battery, are history unless new data is discovered. For judging, it's also beyond question since judges don't have access to the data either.

[Michael D.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

If you like your baby as she is, would it make any difference if the documentation showed up?

I would like to have a paper trail on my 68, but honestly don't need to have the documentation to know how it was equipped.

[Chuck S.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

If you like your baby as she is, would it make any difference if the documentation showed up?

I would like to have a paper trail on my 68, but honestly don't need to have the documentation to know how it was equipped.

Would I like to have had the tank sticker? Absolutely. Order copy?...You bet. Recovered the window sticker and saved the plastic covers from shipping?...Yep. Kept the brand new scent sealed in a jar...well, that probably would have been impractical. Even been the original owner?...Of course, but I probably would have changed the order with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.

Would it have helped me document the car?...Not a whit. As you suggest, the car is it's own best documentation. I would like to have known the specific tire option (white letter, white stripe), and if it possibly had the HD battery option. But...since nobody else knows, I now have flexibility to put whatever repro tires and battery I want on it.

[Ronald L.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

Philip, Where were you headed with your question?

Yes - documents are a wonderful thing, for all but - those involved in taking and making cars what they were not as they left the factory.

[Jim C.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

the most likely option for having been added to your car later is the hard top

Actually, I'm certain my hard top is not the one that "may have" originally come with my car. The guy who owned my Corvette back in 1977 told me that when he purchased the car, it came equipped with hard top hardware on the rear deck, however, the hard top itself was long gone. Consequently, he went out and purchased another hard top, and it's been with the car ever since.

It makes sense that my car probably came from the factory with a hard top. Like I said, the hardware for a hard top was on the car at least as far back as 1977, and it appears to be original and unmolested, right down to the screws. I also learned via the NCRS delivery data service, that my car started out in New Jersey. I guess it's very possible that my Corvette was initially optioned with a hard top for purposes of driving in the cold weather. Who knows for sure without the original documents?

Would I like to have some old original documents pertaining to my Corvette? Definitely "YES!!" I'd be very happy to have that information even if it proved that my hard top was not an option ordered with my car. Like I said in my original post, I have no fear of "desired" or "delivered." I'm pretty confident in the originality of my Corvette. Still, I'd like to know for sure. It's not like my car currently has AC, power windows, power steering, power brakes, side pipes, head rests and leather seats. I have a radio, a four speed and what I suspect is hardware from an originally optioned hard top. Original documents...... Sure I want them!!

Jim C.

[Jim L.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

Hi All Go to OldChevyDocumentation.com This site will change your mind about even "ORIGINAL" documentation. I like my 66 SB heavily otioned roadster just fine with no docs' JMHO Thanks JR

[Paul J.]

Re: As desired versus as delivered

Thinking about the dealer info now available and the possibility of obtaining documentation, if you own an early model corvette (with no paper work), equipped as you desired, in the future would you want to have the paperwork that shows it is not how it came?

Phillip, if you're trying to defraud someone, either intentionally or inadvertantly (like if you're a dealer selling a fraudulent car unknowingly) you obviously would not want the real paperwork. But if you have a car that you like and it does'nt match the original paperwork, who cares? I want to say that it would bring less money if proven not be factory correct, but in fact, we've seen a trend where custom and none original cars bring more money than factory correct cars.

I am hoping to eventually find some of my original paperwork to prove that my car is what it was. Having the original paperwork seems to be very important for some cars, like BB C2s, and this is one way to alleviate some of the fears of potential buyers.

Paul