Topic: Looking for a lost 74 Vette
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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Matt, I have this feeling your Dad is guna help you out with this one 
ebo
You just keep moving forward, he'll keep opening the doors.
Yes keep us posted, this is guna be a cool journey 
ebo
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20229
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Production averaged about 125 cars per day, so if the car has a VIN that is under 125 or so, then it prolly was assembled the first day of '74 production.
The problem here is going to be attempting to determine how many L82, manual trans, Silver Mist with black interior cars were built in '74, period. There are NO records to show any paint quantities, and GM didn't keep any statistical records of how many L-82 cars had automatics or standards, or how many black interiors, or anything else, other than totals for the production year.
Many people have searched for over 30 years for the info...so far, none have found anything. It either never existed(doubtful), or it was destroyed, which is most likely. GM wasn't in the business of keeping records...they were in the business of selling cars.
Your ONLY hope of ever tracing the car is with the VIN #. Without that, the best you can do is find another L82, manual trans, Silver Mist with black interior car that may or may not be the one you are searching for.
The Bowling Green plant will not have any info on any cars older than '81, so that's not gonna help. There are other services that can get you copies of the original build sheet, but so far, the ones I've seen can only go back to '77. Even so, you still need to know the VIN of the car, so that's where the search will need to start. Once you have a confirmed VIN, search the Registry data here...ya never know, the car may be or may have been registered here. Cars get painted, so looking for a silver car may not turn up the one you're looking for if it has been painted red, so the search MUST start with the VIN.
Good Luck on your hunt! I love a good mystery!
The problem here is going to be attempting to determine how many L82, manual trans, Silver Mist with black interior cars were built in '74, period. There are NO records to show any paint quantities, and GM didn't keep any statistical records of how many L-82 cars had automatics or standards, or how many black interiors, or anything else, other than totals for the production year.
Many people have searched for over 30 years for the info...so far, none have found anything. It either never existed(doubtful), or it was destroyed, which is most likely. GM wasn't in the business of keeping records...they were in the business of selling cars.
Your ONLY hope of ever tracing the car is with the VIN #. Without that, the best you can do is find another L82, manual trans, Silver Mist with black interior car that may or may not be the one you are searching for.
The Bowling Green plant will not have any info on any cars older than '81, so that's not gonna help. There are other services that can get you copies of the original build sheet, but so far, the ones I've seen can only go back to '77. Even so, you still need to know the VIN of the car, so that's where the search will need to start. Once you have a confirmed VIN, search the Registry data here...ya never know, the car may be or may have been registered here. Cars get painted, so looking for a silver car may not turn up the one you're looking for if it has been painted red, so the search MUST start with the VIN.
Good Luck on your hunt! I love a good mystery!
Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
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Reston, VA - USA
Joined: 9/8/2009
Posts: 4
Vette(s): 2008 C6-Z51-3LT Black on Black
RadarB8,
Trust me I know when to eat a little crow, and I'm no stranger to "Jedi mind tricks", but this is one of those instances where I hate to say that avenue is futile. (and Im typically the guy pushing the rock up hill, and not giving up).
Mathematically I feel the odds are truely in my favor, its a small production window and there couldnt have been to many cars ordered like that.
Work has been a bit busy today, but this evenings project is to track down the county tax office of Doniphan County, KS and and to check with my mom on how they paid for that car. There is a chance that the small town bank in Bendena could have financed that car. It's the type of bank where if they loaned my dad $20 to buy a 10-speed bike... they'd still have a record of it.
The search for the VIN continues.
Matt
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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