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Topic: Searching for History on a car

in Forum: C3 General Discussion


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Searching for History on a car (1/11)
 7/12/11 12:39am
Wazgards
Former Member

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, - Australia

Vette(s):
1974 L82 Silver with black interior. Factory M21, Power windows & steering. Side pipes just because I can.


Joined: 7/11/2011
Posts: 18

Hi All,
 
Just new to c3vr and looking for some direction in researching history on my new purchase (and first) C3. I wanted to find out things like where it was originally delivered too etc and anything else that may help me.
 
Any advice would be most appreciated
 
Cheers,

Warwick.
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Searching for History on a car (2/11)
 7/12/11 8:10am
eboLifetime Member
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker


Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4421

Warwick Welcome to the site, it will take you a bit to sift through all the great info and tools here but start with this first https://www.c3vr.com/VINDecoder.asp
Also please post some pictures of your Vette for us to see. Is it a Right hand Steering wheel Vette? If so would really like to see some pictures of the interior.
Also search out https://www.c3vr.com/MemberMap/Real-Time-Member-Map.asp  We have a few of your mates on board with us from time to time.
Swim around a bit and enjoy, if you like what you see join up, this way when I get my dream vacation trip down under I have a place to stay!
Cheers!!
Evil Smileebo


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Evil Smileebo
Searching for History on a car (3/11)
 7/12/11 8:37am
manget1Lifetime Member
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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible


Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2418

This is a very common question here (car history).  If you look around, there are a number of threads on the topic, but the short answer is, the info probably can't be found.
 
Unless...  The best source of information on your car may (and this is a big "IF") be on your car.  The Build Sheet (also known as the tank sticker) was placed on virtually every one of these cars when they were built.  They were glued to the top of the gas tank (hence, tank sticker) but some have reported them tucked away in other locations - behind the dash, inside seats, etc.
 
Most people, if they are able to reach the area, are not lucky enough to find this document, or find it in such poor shape that it's worthless.
 
I was fortunate enough to find mine, and while difficult to read, it did have all of the options listed, as well as the name and address of the dealer it was originally shipped to
 
The unfortunate truth of the matter is that either GM didn't keep good records during most of the C3 build timeframe, or the records were destroyed, or...???
 
Regardless, welcome to the site.  Check the VIN decoder as mentioned by Mr ebo above, and if, by chance you find a build sheet, please share it with us and we'll be glad to help!
 
 
manget12011-07-12 05:39:33

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Searching for History on a car (4/11)
 7/12/11 8:28pm
Wazgards
Former Member

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, - Australia

Vette(s):
1974 L82 Silver with black interior. Factory M21, Power windows & steering. Side pipes just because I can.


Joined: 7/11/2011
Posts: 18

Thanks guys - I'll be exporing all area's on this!
Don't worry ebo ill be joining the site forever as soon as my beast arrives - they say its going to take 6 weeks to ship here in Melbourne, Australia... not sure how im going to be able to handle the wait! I bought it from Pennsylvania last week - and there is no need to convert it to right hand drive - Australia has just ammended the law, you can drive left hand drive cars on our roads now as longs as they're pre 1980. In fact, that very law has now de-valued right hand drive vettes here; because originality is most important in retaining value... interesting huh.
 
I have always been into Australian muscle cars Holden (GM) Torana GTR XU1 & Ford's XY GT (1970-1973) are our two 'hero' cars but local values have gone crazy here between $100K-$300K for rare ones!
 
Therefore I see these awesome American muscle cars for a quarter of the price look cheap! And the Aussie dollar is buying $1.07 Green back...!
 
Never been a better time to buy American Muscle!
 
Photos of the new girl will be posted as soon as I get her...
 
Warwick.
Searching for History on a car (5/11)
 7/12/11 8:47pm
CCasey
Former Member

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New Albany, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Coupe / Snowcrest White / L48, 350 / Comp Cam / Edelbrock Heads / Cyclone Intake / Holley Carb / Holley Fuel Pump / Patriot Headers / Dual Exhaust / Magnaflow Mufflers / 1964 Coupe / Riverside Red / L76, 327, 365hp


Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173

Another good source is the GM Media Archive.
 
 
You can get the Vintage Vehicle Info for free.  I checked for the 1972 Vette and there are 163 pages.  You can print this off or save it as a pdf file.
 
You can also get the Vehicle Invoice for $50 and the Build Record for $50.  The VI will tell you where the car was originally delivered and the options it had on it.  It will also give the MSRP and  Dealer Invoice price.


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Chuck

Searching for History on a car (6/11)
 7/13/11 7:07am
Wazgards
Former Member

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, - Australia

Vette(s):
1974 L82 Silver with black interior. Factory M21, Power windows & steering. Side pipes just because I can.


Joined: 7/11/2011
Posts: 18

Thats brilliant - I will def have a look through this - would have NEVER have found it without your help

Many thanks for your time

Waz
Searching for History on a car (7/11)
 7/16/11 12:39pm
persico
Standard Member
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Long Valley, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1972 454 Coupe, 4 speed, Targa Blue with blue interior, luggage rack 2019 Grand Sport Coupe, M7, Ceramic Matrix Gray with gray interior


Joined: 3/21/2007
Posts: 292

Hey guys just wanted to point out that I checked the GM Media Archive site (thanks Chuck) and indeed you can get the "general" info on 1972 cars (163 pages) for free but the build records and vehicle invoices are not available for 1972 ;-(  !    I didnt order yet but the NCRS (www.ncrs.org) offers a shipping data report that will tell you the dealer your corvette was shipped too, but not much else.  The cost is $40 but you must be an NCRS member which is another $35 USD.  Has anybody used this service?
Mario

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Mario

Searching for History on a car (8/11)
 7/16/11 1:44pm
CCasey
Former Member

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New Albany, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Coupe / Snowcrest White / L48, 350 / Comp Cam / Edelbrock Heads / Cyclone Intake / Holley Carb / Holley Fuel Pump / Patriot Headers / Dual Exhaust / Magnaflow Mufflers / 1964 Coupe / Riverside Red / L76, 327, 365hp


Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173

Yea, I was able to get the Vehicle Invoice for my '80 but not the Build Record (tank sticker) from GM Archives.

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Chuck

Searching for History on a car (9/11)
 7/16/11 4:11pm
dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!


Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1958

Any information about cars built at the St Louis Plant are very had to find.  If you cannot find the "tank" sticker on your car then it is next to impossible to find any info .
DanCry


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Searching for History on a car (10/11)
 7/16/11 4:28pm
CCasey
Former Member

Send Private Message

New Albany, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Coupe / Snowcrest White / L48, 350 / Comp Cam / Edelbrock Heads / Cyclone Intake / Holley Carb / Holley Fuel Pump / Patriot Headers / Dual Exhaust / Magnaflow Mufflers / 1964 Coupe / Riverside Red / L76, 327, 365hp


Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173

The really weird thing about it is that I did find a build sheet under the carpet but it wasn't for my car.  Along with the otherwise poor quality back then, they couldn't even get the right build sheet in the right vehicle.  I have made this offer before but - just in case - I have the original build sheet for the following 1980 Corvette.  If anyone knows who may own this car, I would be happy to send it to them.
 
VIN 1Z878AS408371.
 
My car is 408530.


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Chuck

Searching for History on a car (11/11)
 7/17/11 3:23pm
Bobbi's78Lifetime Member
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Coatesville, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1978 Silver Anniversary Paint w/Mahogany Interior


Joined: 3/17/2007
Posts: 368

[QUOTE=Wazgards] I bought it from Pennsylvania last week - [/QUOTE]
darn - if I had only known...I could have been a stowaway  LOL 
Found my tank sticker - most of it was illegible, but we were able to find that it came from a dealer in Lancaster, PA.  Good luck on your search Warwick - Let us know what you find out.


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