78 billboard proof ?

[Jim S.]

What Have I got here ?

A friend of mine , knowing I am into corvettes , gave me what he thinks is a "proof " of a billboard ad for the 78 pace car . He recalls a friend of his giving it to him in 79, and thats all he knows.

As you can see from the pictures , I unfolded one sheet which is about 6 foot by 3 foot ,(thats a king size bed underneath it ) and I have 7 more sheets to unfold yet. Some even larger and some a little smaller. It certainly is big enough to be a billboard ad , or at least I think it is , but I don't have enough space to unfold it all !

So I am now the proud owner of what exactly ? A rare piece of history or a usless , if not huge, poster ? Any enlightenment would be appreciated !

Thanks,

Jim

[William L.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

What you have is an actual bill board. I also have one. Back in the day you could buy these. I don't remember who was selling them.

[Michael W.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

I have a friend that's been in the outdoor advertising business for most of his career, I'll ask for his opinion.

[Jim S.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

What you have is an actual bill board. I also have one. Back in the day you could buy these. I don't remember who was selling them.

William,

Is that how they do billboards , hang them like wall paper, one sheet at a time ?

How much were they when they were for sale ?

Do you have the same one , a 78 Pace car ?



Michael,

That would be great .


JIm

[Michael W.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

Follow up: My buddy confirms what Bill has said- it's a production version of an outdoor billboard. They're still made the same basic way today typically with two horizontal rows of five sheets each.

[Tom H.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

What you have is actually the 78 Silver Anniversary billboard. They were used along the roadside like we still do today. They were all alike with the exception of the dealer name that was ordered. If you open a few parts of yours up, I bet you will see the gray and silver car. The Pace Car version said "We Set The Pace". See the picture on my garage wall. You can see how big it is next to my Impala SS under the cover.

The next photo shows a billboard in its original shipping wrapper. You can see where they came from. They were neatly folded and wrapped in plain brown paper.

[Jim S.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

Thanks Guys !

As always this board is a font of information !

Now the only question left is ; should I put it up in my garage , or is it too valuable to ruin by unfolding it and taping or nailing it up ? I guess what I am asking is, are they a dime a dozen , or collectable items ?

Jim

[Tom H.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

They are a pretty nice collector's item, but not a priceless one. Silver Anniversary ones can be bought from 100.00 to 200.00. They can be found if you ever need another one. They look great on a garage wall.

[Jim S.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

They were all alike with the exception of the dealer name that was ordered.


Thanks Tom ,

I guess that explains why I don't have A-B-C-D-E as listed on the top of the middle picture.

Jim

[William L.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

William,

Is that how they do billboards , hang them like wall paper, one sheet at a time ?

How much were they when they were for sale ?

Do you have the same one , a 78 Pace car ?



Michael,

That would be great .


JIm

I think it's a 78 Anniversary. My wife says she thinks it cost $75-$100 and we are not sure where we put it. It's one of those things I had to have and never used. I'm sure I'm the only one that does that.

[Steven B.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

I have two SA billboards I ordered through CN. One is still in the wrapper, one out. Those have no dealer info. I believe they were $50.00 each, I will check my records.

Steve

[Tom H.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

I think it's a 78 Anniversary. My wife says she thinks it cost $75-$100 and we are not sure where we put it. It's one of those things I had to have and never used. I'm sure I'm the only one that does that.

Put it on the living room wall................. You'll never lose it there !!

[Kenn S.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

What is "CN"?

[Terry M.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

What is "CN"?

Corvette News Used to be one got a free subscription with the purchase of a new Corvette. Then as the years went by one had to pay for it, then it became Corvette Quarterly, and now there is nothing.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 78 billboard proof ?

I put one up on the outside wall of my first building. Long gone now.