Top Flight using original or reproduction 54 tire jack?

[Gary H.]

Re: Top Flight using original or reproduction 54 tire jack?

Slightly off topic as far as the date range...but how does a c3 jack score in judging without a date? I know that they made widebody original jacks that were not always dated. Do you automatically lose points for not having a date stamp even though many left the factory this way?

I personally had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth after the whole judging process, as the untouched original condition of almost everything under the hood of my car yielded a loss of points that would not have been lost with freshly replaced reproduction parts.

Gary

[Michael W.]

Re: Top Flight using original or reproduction 54 tire jack?

Slightly off topic as far as the date range...but how does a c3 jack score in judging without a date? I know that they made widebody original jacks that were not always dated. Do you automatically lose points for not having a date stamp even though many left the factory this way?

I personally had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth after the whole judging process, as the untouched original condition of almost everything under the hood of my car yielded a loss of points that would not have been lost with freshly replaced reproduction parts.

Gary

If it's true that some factory installed jacks had no date, then there would be no deduct.

For your other point, let's say there's two virtually identical cars presented for judging each with a full compliment of original parts. One has the usual signs of typical wear and tear, the other doesn't. Should they each end up with the same net score since the goal of FLIGHT judging is to present a car that looks as fresh as the day it was delivered to the first owner?

Bowtie Judging would be a better choice for a true original car.

[Terry M.]

Re: Top Flight using original or reproduction 54 tire jack?

Slightly off topic as far as the date range...but how does a c3 jack score in judging without a date? I know that they made widebody original jacks that were not always dated. Do you automatically lose points for not having a date stamp even though many left the factory this way?

I personally had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth after the whole judging process, as the untouched original condition of almost everything under the hood of my car yielded a loss of points that would not have been lost with freshly replaced reproduction parts.

Gary

We judge for typical factory production. Are the C3 jacks typically dated? If the answer to that is yes, (and I believe it is) then a lack of date yields a 20% originality deduction.
If you can convince the judge(s) that the answer to the above typical question is no, then there would be no deduction.
If the answer to the above question is "We don't know" then there is no deduction because the benefit of doubt goes to the car.

Them's the rules I was taught, and I don't know that they have changed.

BTW: I too know that some C3 jacks were not dated. Like you, I have seen them. My take is it makes no difference that there were some goof-ups. Stuff happens.
For 1968-72 the jack has 4 originality points. 20% is less than one point, so if you have other fractional point deductions the judge might round up. So all this angst is at most about 1 point out of 4510 points. A little perspective is in order, me thinks.

[Gary H.]

Re: Top Flight using original or reproduction 54 tire jack?

I know. I have waited it out for almost a year now for a correctly dated jack to pop up on the corvette forum or on fleabay. Went to bloomington last year and to the NCRS swap meet as well as turkey rod run in daytona (I was looking for other parts as well)

Jacks in original useable unrestored condition sit on ebay at $175 to $250 with no takers. Unfortunately...not correctly dated for my car...I need a 9D.

I posted a WTB ad on the CF and have had 4-5 responses from people with the 9D jack and they want anywhere from $400 to $850...just doesnt seem like the market will dictate these prices as other 69 jacks in the same condition with different dates are avail on ebay for half the price.

Gary

[Terry M.]

[Eric F.]

Re: Top Flight using original or reproduction 54 tire jack?

Chris,

The differences for the tire jack are dependant upon the manufacturer. Some of the common differences are the rivets/fasteners used to attach the individual sides of the scissor pieces, the thread type of the main screw, the base (cast versus stamped), identification stampings, lifting saddle shape, overall color and finish.

I vaugely remember reading an article about jack identification years ago; I think it was in the restorer but I wouldn't swear to it. You can get a pretty good idea of an original jack by reading the Technincal Information Manual & Judging Guide (TIMJG); look in the trunk section.

Eric