Info Wanted on 1962 Corvette Daniels Motors Colorado Springs

[Edward M.]

I am trying again to locate any information related to a 1962 Corvette.

I do not know the VIN number. This is what I do know:

Car was ordered by Air Force Academy Cadet Ralph Jefferson Hornaday. Hornaday took deliver on Dec 16, 1961, just prior to Christmas break.



Known information based on the above:

1. VIN sequence is 20867S1xxxxx = where xxxxx is the five digit sequence #.
2. Delivered to customer on 12/16/61, so estimate arrival at dealership on 12/15/61. That would make the latest possible date of production to be 12/14/61.
3. The last car built on 12/14/61 was 04092, so the VIN must be between 00001 and 04092 (worst case).
4. More likely is that the car was built 10-14 days prior to arrival at dealership. Also possible that the car arrived at the dealership as early as 12/11/61.
5. 14 days prior to 12/11/61 is 11/27/61.
6. This first car build on 11/27/61 is 03244, and the last car built on 12/14/61 is 04092. So, the "likely" range for the VIN number is between 03244 and 04092. That is a total of 848 cars.

Is there anyone that has any ideas on how to narrow this search down some?

This is a labor of love, trying to locate, or at least identify the status of a deceased veteran's Corvette for his veteran brother.

Any and all suggestions for idea / assistance are greatly appreciated.

Ed McComas

[Tom S.]

Re: Still looking for info on 1962 Corvette

Ed, you helped me once with some PG information so here goes. If there were any hopefully original numbers on the block, tranny or frame (tough to see easily) that would get you a Vin # Everything would start from there. Failing that try looking up your range of numbers 3244-4092 on the C-1 registry to see if any of your known characteristics appear. Red With Black interior should be fairly common and might shed some light. I will have a look tomorrow morning when I'm a little fresher and maybe think of another option.

[Edward M.]

Re: Still looking for info on 1962 Corvette

Tom;

We do not have a the car or know where the car is, so we have no numbers from the engine or trans to check. I am hoping someone has an idea I haven't thought of about cars delivered to Daniels Motors in Colorado Springs, CO. I have already tried DMV in CO, FL, and GA with no results. Thanks for the ideas Tom.

[Mark E.]

Re: Still looking for info on 1962 Corvette

I don't know how many C1 and 1962 registries there are, but as Tom suggests researching those may give you a hit.

How long since the car was last sighted?

[Tom S.]

Re: Info Wanted on 1962 Corvette Daniels Motors Colorado Springs

I am trying again to locate any information related to a 1962 Corvette.

I do not know the VIN number. This is what I do know:

Car was ordered by Air Force Academy Cadet Ralph Jefferson Hornaday. Hornaday took deliver on Dec 16, 1961, just prior to Christmas break.



Known information based on the above:

1. VIN sequence is 20867S1xxxxx = where xxxxx is the five digit sequence #.
2. Delivered to customer on 12/16/61, so estimate arrival at dealership on 12/15/61. That would make the latest possible date of production to be 12/14/61.
3. The last car built on 12/14/61 was 04092, so the VIN must be between 00001 and 04092 (worst case).
4. More likely is that the car was built 10-14 days prior to arrival at dealership. Also possible that the car arrived at the dealership as early as 12/11/61.
5. 14 days prior to 12/11/61 is 11/27/61.
6. This first car build on 11/27/61 is 03244, and the last car built on 12/14/61 is 04092. So, the "likely" range for the VIN number is between 03244 and 04092. That is a total of 848 cars.

Is there anyone that has any ideas on how to narrow this search down some?

This is a labor of love, trying to locate, or at least identify the status of a deceased veteran's Corvette for his veteran brother.

Any and all suggestions for idea / assistance are greatly appreciated.

Ed McComas

Ed,
Finally got back around to your dilemma and searched the registry. There are 50 entries between your ranges and 2 possibles that meet your criteria Vin # 3634 & 4071. of course there could be many more not registered out there. That's on the car part. Unfortunately on the people part your trying to find somebody's grandfather that worked at the known places you have I.E. USAA insurance, part of the Fleet at the Academy etc. It took me 5 yrs on and off to find the son of my original owner 57 FI V.V. Cooke car.
Much more difficult in today's Privacy Law and Covid environment but with some luck and diligence it can be done. Valdosta Ga. seems to be the most recent by date and maybe some OLD timer corvette shop could yield a clue. Extremely difficult without a Vin #. How about any old Archive files at USAA with a retired staffer who is a car nut. Just a thought. Tim Gould used to do this but since retired. Kevin McKay has a service that does the digging for him. Good luck.
//Tom

[Edward M.]

Re: Still looking for info on 1962 Corvette

Car was traded into a GM new car dealership in Valdosta for a station wagon in 1967, just before the owner went to Vietnam. No one can remember the name of the dealership it was traded into. The station wagon was either a Pontiac, an Oldsmobile or a Buick station wagon.