1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

[Tom H.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Hi Syd !

Poked around a bit and came up with this info. Doesn't help much but it established a timeline and confirms the dealership as well as the addition of Buick.


Current Entity Name:BOB FRANKLIN ENTERPRISES, INC.Initial DOS Filing Date:APRIL 02, 1929County:OSWEGOJurisdiction:NEW YORKEntity Type DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATIONCurrent Entity Status:INACTIVE - Dissolution by Proclamation / Annulment of Authority (Dec 27, 1995)
Information to reinstate a corporation that has been dissolved by proclamation or annulment of authority by proclamation is available on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website at www.tax.state.ny.us keyword TR-194.1 or by writing to NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Reinstatement Unit/Bldg-8, Rm #958, W.A. Harriman Campus, Albany, NY 12227 or by telephone at 1-800-972-1233

Selected Entity Address InformationDOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)(1ST DIR.) HARRISON R. FRANKLIN
NO STREET ADDRESS
PULASKI, NEW YORK, Registered AgentNONE
*Stock Information
# of SharesType of Stock$ Value per Share0Capital Stock50000
*Stock information is applicable to domestic business corporations.

Name History

Filing DateName TypeEntity NameFEB 08, 1980ActualBOB FRANKLIN ENTERPRISES, INC.SEP 22, 1966ActualFRANKLIN CHEVROLET OLDS BUICK, INC.JAN 25, 1966ActualFRANKLIN CHEVROLET OLDS INC.APR 02, 1929ActualFRANKLIN CHEVROLET, INC.
A Fictitious name must be used when the Actual name of a foreign entity is unavailable for use in New York State. The entity must use the fictitious name when conducting its activities or business in New York State.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Syd !

Poke around this site for a little bit. Sometimes when a town doesn't have an historical society, you have to expand the search to the county. Pulaski is in Oswego county. This site has some info that might turn up some leads on the dealer. Check it out.

http://www.nnyln.org/archives/oswego_county.html

Check the library for any old ads from the period. I have also found old high school yearbooks often contain dealer ads in the back. many times they will have a salesman's name included. Never know where the clues might be. never give up !!

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Thanks Tom!

Great advice. I've got a lot more homework to do now that there are 2 possibilities for my 63's origin.

It was confirmed to me this morning that if the Data does read Zone 48 - (NY) as opposed to Zone 40 - (KY), the Dealer Code is still 163 which I'm told is clearly legible.
So I guess that the Dealer Code must have changed for Pulaski Chev between 1963 and 1976 when William bought his car.

Syd

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Hi all,

I spoke today with the former owner of Franklin Chevy in Pulaski, NY, the same Bob Franklin who signed off on Williams '76.

Mr. Franklin was extremely nice and seemed sincerely happy to get my call.
As soon as I mentioned my '63 Coupe, he said: 'you mean the Gold Split Window'.
Wow, that was pretty easy!

Turns out he remembers the car well. He said he's almost certain this was the only '63 he had that year and he told me the persons name, original owner, who bought it. Unfortunately, he told me that the person passed away just 1 month ago but he also gave me the name of his son who he says made dad order the Coupe back in '63.

He went on to say that the original owner used the car for about 3 years and then traded it back to his dealership for a new family car. He couldn't recall who bought the car from him after.

If this is indeed the historical information that goes along with my car, what would be the proper way of recording it?

Mr. Franklin does not have any old records from the dealership so I presume he would not remember the vin.
He does remember the car though and and mentioned that the original owner ordered it with few options. When I mentioned the leather interior he confirmed it.

(Do you guys think I should be starting a new thread with heading NY instead of KY)?

Syd

[William N.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Syd,
I would suggest asking Mr. Franklin to write down his rememberences and sign the note and send it to you for a history of the car. Also citing the original owner's name. If you could get it notarized that would be even better. Then I would also ask him if he recalls anyone in town who might have taken a picture of the car when it was new, given it may have been the dealers only car. Good luck with the original owners son!

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Thanks Bill !

Surprisingly, I just received a call from the relatives of the dealership's owner in Wayland KY. These people are so nice it's unreal.

The relatives told me that they lived across the small street from the Wayland dealership and recalled every Corvette that came through there but NOT a Saddle Tan split window.
They described how they would wait for and then watch as the cars were unloaded, sometimes in the middle of the night!
These people owned a number of Corvettes including a 66, 74 and 80 and all were bought at cost from Fraley-Dearing Chev in Wayland KY.

So.....it does look as if my '63 did originate from Franklin Chevy in Pulaski NY. By the way Bill, Mr. Franklin had kind words about your father!

Mr. Franklin asked that I send him a picture of my car and I'll ask him to write a letter for me.
Are there any other specific questions that I should ask him or ask the original owners son if I am able to find him?

Thanks again!
Syd

[Deborah B.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Awesome Sydney !

It is so fun to see when progress is made on the history of everyone's cars.

How about asking what the sale price was.

Deb

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Thanks for the kind words and your help Deb!!
I used the phone # for the dealers owner that you had forwarded to me.

Asking what the original selling price was is a good question and I'll be sure to ask.

The people who called me yesterday from KY said that they got all their Corvettes and cars at dealer cost from that location as they were relatives.
They told me that they would look at the dealer invoice as the car arrived.
As an example, they said that for their '66 390hp Coupe, the dealer sticker price was about $5,100 and they paid about $4,100. Pretty neat!

Are there any other suggestions of what to ask the original dealer or the son of who is probably the original owner of my '63?

Syd

[Tom H.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Are there any other suggestions of what to ask the original dealer or the son of who is probably the original owner of my '63?

Syd

I would see if any old pictures of the dealership exist. Might see if any memorabilia like keyrings, stickers, etc. might have survived !

Might see if the family of the original owner might have the owner's pin and patch if you don't have it.

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Hi Tom,

Great idea.
I asked the old dealers owner briefly yesterday if he had anything and he said all he thought he had was a set of '78 pace car stickers. I'll try asking again.
Maybe now that my call from yesterday has sank in with him he'll remember more.

Finding the owners pin or patch would be fantastic to say the least as would the original warranty book or owners manual, or maybe the original jack and other parts as well.

As promised, I'm going to send Mr. Franklin a picture of my car today.
What else should I plan for??

Syd

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Deborah Barger (51043)

It is so fun to see when progress is made on the history of everyone's cars.
How about asking what the sale price was.
Deb
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Deb,

I'll go one better....
I CAN tell you that My '63 Coupe cost $4,850.

I now know this because yesterday, I called and spoke to the son of the original owner of my '63!

It was an amazing experience and I think that he was more excited and touched than I would ever be. We talked for close to an hour and I heard all kinds of great stories about my car and yes Bill, it did draw lot's of crowds back then.

The doctor who ordered and bought the car was annoyed looking out the window of his office everyday and seeing a bunch of people around the new split window.
He used the car year round driving it through the winter including making house calls on rural upstate NY roads.
His son went on more than a couple of these call with his dad.
Hard to imagine driving the '63 through a Northeast winter, especially considering that Pulaski NY is said to be one of the snowiest places as it sits on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario.

I still need to 100% prove that this is in fact the same car with some documentation but in my mind the original dealer and original owner for my '63 have been found.

There were a few other stories I heard from the owners son including a letter sent to the senator of Michigan when the Doctor was told after waiting 3 months that he would not get a '63 Coupe due to the great demand. The senator replied and the good doc got the car within 5 weeks!

My new friend is searching this weekend for documentation he knew existed about 15 years ago including possibly the dealer invoice and the letter sent to the senator. He also said he has a few pictures to share.
Unfortunately, the original owner passed away just 1 month ago so he is worried that his mother might have thrown these papers away.

Thanks again and again to the NCRS and all you guys!
I'll post more soon as things develop.

I hope this unfinished story and my long posts encourage more members to realize the significance of the discovered Shipping Data history to the Corvette hobby and ncrs community!!
This stuff is way !!

Syd

[Michael W.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Syd,

I've been following your saga quite closely. Glad to see you've found the missing links!

Mike

[Norm B.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Congratulations Syd, keep us posted. It gives me some hope to keep trying on mine. So far I have not received any responses, even including this board. I still have a few more avenues to explore so I am not giving up yet.

Norm

[Greg W.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Syd, What a great turn of events. I hope the information keeps coming for you.

Greg

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Coupe Shipping Data - KY

Thanks for all the kind words guys !

The original owners son of my '63 has yet to come up with any documents but he assured me that he is on the lookout and that there are still lot's of boxes to go through so my fingers are crossed.
He did find some original slides of the car from back in the day so I'm excited to get a copy or two!

I also spoke again with the retired owner of Franklin Chevy and he says he will be glad to write a letter for me. He also mentioned that he thought he still had a license frame from Franklin so I might get a hold of that too.
My Coupe presently sports a California black plate from '63 on the front but I'll be searching for a nice '63 NY Empire State plate.

Syd