Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

[Deborah B.]

Who wants to take a swing at this?

I received my letter from NCRS and was given the following for our 1963 coupe:

Production date 8-29-62
Original Dealer Code 0
Zone 39
Chevrolet Zone Vehicle
Phoenix Branch

I've traced owners back to Phoenix 1972. I expected to find my letter saying our car was delivered to the GM Tech Center in Warren since it is one of the 25 pilot line cars. Now I'm suspect it spent all it's time in Arizona until being bought and trailer to South Dakota.

Any suggestions on where I can look to search this out?

thanks
Deb

[Terry M.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

Could it have spent time at the Mesa Proving Grounds? That might seem appropriate for an early car. Any chance it has air conditioning?

I am just kind of thinking out loud here.

[Deborah B.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

It does not have A/C. When I traced owners to Arionza my thoughts were that it was sent to the proving grounds too.

I did find a story on the GM site last night under their history catagory and it told of the Firebird III and how it was sent to GM Phoenix for Motorama filming. The big shots flew there from Detroit and met up with the Hollywood producers and other photographers. I know these pilot cars were used for many purposes. Including photos, films, magazine promotions etc. I just don't know where to start down there.

db

[Monte M.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

Deb,
If I am not mistaken, it was used for cars that went to GM big wigs. I grew up in Fremont, California where there was a GM plant. The neighbor across the street was a big wig at the Fremont Plant. Every year he was given a number of new cars to drive around for a while. They were typically early production numbered cars because these people drove them around to show them off. I am sure it was part of their pay package as well. From what he told us, these cars were used as show cars or cars that were taken somewhere and tested, and that type of thing. This usually put a few miles on the cars. Even if it was only a few miles, the cars were no longer new and could not be sold as new. They never went to a retail dealership and were sold off second hand.
In late 1966 my parents bought a 1967 Chevelle Super Sport from him. He got the car, but he had to drive it for at least 90 days before he could do anything with it. Then he would sell the car off at a major discount. Once again he would get another new car and start all over.
This is how my parents bought a few of our cars over the years. I only saw two Corvette's over there. A "63" and a "74". I knew what a "63" SWC was because my uncle had one (300 HP).
My mom ended up selling the Chevelle off for $300 in 1979. It was in excellent condition and all original (Blk/Blk/Gold). I was 19 and just out of High School and very much into GTO's. She wanted to give me the car, but OH WELL!!
I hope that helps.
M

[Randy C.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

From what I have read, it appears to me that you have a car that was destined for a Zone office manager. Back in the day, autos driven by Zone office managers were called "Brass Hat" cars. They were originally titled and licensed to the Chevrolet Division of General Motors and then assigned to one of the managers in the Zone office. Your car most likely had a standard Arizona license plate when it was new.

As described previously, Zone office cars were driven until they had about 3000 or so miles on them. A dealer fortunate enough to have some kind of "in" with, and/or request to, the Zone office for a particular car would receive the car and then sell it, as stated before, as a used car (at a real good price) because it had been previously titled and licensed under the ownership of Chevrolet. These cars could be assigned to a Zone office at most any time during a production year - I know of one (not a Corvette; it was an Olds 442) that had a production date in early April.

I speculate at this point, but I'm pretty sure that once the Zone office car was sold through a dealership, the new owner would not receive a protect-o-plate because the car was considered used at that point.

Also note that a Zone office car, titled and licensed under the ownership of Chevrolet, was different than a car that went straight to a dealer and might have been used as a demo for a short while. The demo would still be considered new when sold because it did not have a previous owner, whereas a Zone car was technically previously owned.

Randy C.

[Deborah B.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

Thanks guys,
All this is very helpful. I wonder though. My letter says zone 39 which was El Paso at the time and also says Phoenix Branch.
Well, there was no branch/zone in Phoenix until like 1973.
What is your take on that?

Deb

[Rick A.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

ALL,

Zone 39 included the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas

[Randy C.]

Re: Chevrolet Zone Vehicle-Phoenix Branch

Is it possible that the Zone office was in El Paso and that there was a separate branch office in Phoenix?