Not the "Holy Grail" but maybe a piece of history

[Jack U.]

I just finished the restoration on my 1963 SWC "fuelie". I'm fine tuning the
F.I. unit. (I believe it may have a vaccuum leak but that's another story
I'll save for another post if I can't figure it out.)

I went over to a fellow '63 SWC "Fuelie" owner's home to pick up his F.I.
manuals for additional assitance. (He restored his back in the middle 1970s.)

In with his pile of papers is a document that was NOT printed on a home
computer with the title "1963 Corvette Serial Number Registry". I took it
with me to make a copy. I scanned the document and sent it to Rob Musquetier
since he is one of the maintainers of the C2 Registry.

It contains about 500 VINs with options listed in tabular form. No owners
names listed. No date on the document.

The author was Larry D. Brooks, Rt. 1, Box 537-C, Hickory, NC. 28601.
There is no phone number. There is a disclaimer about accuracy.

Does anyone know about Mr. Brooks or this document? Is any of this information
valuable to the Corvette world?

[Rob M.]

Re: Not the "Holy Grail" but maybe a piece of hist

We are planning to incooperate the information in the electronic registry but this will take some time; in the meanwhile I've included the scanned version in the download section (Others) of the site.

greetings,
Rob.




Download section of the C2 Registry

[Kevin M.]

Re: Not the "Holy Grail" but maybe a piece of hist

Humm #2436 delivered in primer, 3605 unusual color 6208 loaded Z-06 8476 Z-06, 4037 factory Air, 15249 built for Harley Earl. Lot's of Z-06's and radio deletes. Cool long list.

Kevin

[Dave Morris]

Re: Not the "Holy Grail" but maybe a piece of hist

It was a survey taken in the late 70's. He mailed a copy to all the people who sent in their information. I still have mine somewhere.

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: Not the "Holy Grail" but maybe a piece of hist

------I knew Larry H and would count him as a friend. He owned a junkyard in Hickory,NC back then. I bought several Corvettes from him over the years. He once put an add in The "really old" Vette Views with a picture of a huge # of original KOs. Ill never forget it. I once bought a really nice black/red leather 66 300hp convert from him and when I came up from Ft.Liquerdale to pick it up I think I ended up buying 2 sets of KOs (10) and managed to get them all in the car or on the factory luggage rack. It was a wild trip home. I would love to know how he is doing.....Oh,,,, didnt even known he did this registry..........Bill S

[Loren L.]

A note of caution

I have had my copy of the survey for some time and can only advise against accepting everything therein as accurate. For example, #14128 is shown as a Wonderbarb radio - it is not. It was ORDERED as a Wonderbar in Oct 62, but the dealer stipulated that the sale was VOID unless delivered with A/C, so the car was delayed until only AM/FM was available.
#1753 on my chart has this note: "Orig, owner chg'd to AM/FM".

[Sydney G.]

Re: A note of caution

Hello,
I have to agree with Loren regarding the accuracy of quite a few entries on the Larry Brooks '63 Registry from the late seventies.

I have been compiling a list of '63 cars for over 13 years and was lucky enough to have Dave Morris forward the Brooks list to me several years ago. I added the Brooks data onto my list noting each entry that came from Larry's research. Since that time, I have come across many cars that were recorded by Larry but with incorrect data (colors etc.).

On the other hand, I have also seen a number of examples where Larry listed some entries as being 250 hp or 300hp cars and now mysteriously thay have reappeared as FI cars or even in one case, a Z-06!

By the way, my '63 list now exceeds 10% of 1963 production (2,165 cars and counting) though I suspect that this must pale compared to Loren's data.
One thing that I do not record is the radio option though (unless it is radio delete), as it seems that many were replaced by owners over the years who opted for am/fm.

Again, anyone with information regarding a '63 car, past or present, please feel free to contact me so that it can be added onto the listing.

Thanks Dave Morris and all!
Syd

[Rick A.]

Re: A note of caution

Syd,

good to see you post every-now-and-again! would it be possible to get an updated list of your research?

[Jack U.]

Caution Noted

I totally agree.

My reason for mentioning the list at all was to possibly help those trying to
track down any history on their vehicle. Even if the data is wrong it may give
someone a starting point where to search if their VIN shows up on the list.

I wouldn't want to give anyone any false hope.

I'm also interested in your list to see if any other cars were equiped like
mine.

I don't need to know names or locations for privacy reasons, just the VIN would
be interesting.

Jack

[Sydney G.]

Re: Caution Noted

Rick and Jack,
My initial interest for starting this '63 list was to try and acertain an approximate estimate of the paint totals for the year as only 3 out of 7 paint totals are known.
I also thought that I might come across the cars built alongside of mine and perhaps be able to compare them.
Also, as most everyone else is, I was interested in finding out an idea of how many cars existed to this day.

As my resources grew so did the the list. I figured that once I hit 5-10% of '63 production that I would somehow release this data for all to learn from. The problem is that the list just keeps growing and the pace has actually increased! My goal is now 15-20% of '63 production.

I have had a few people ask me for copies of the listing (now close to 50 pages long). I would prefer to wait, as suggested to me by several members, and see if the influx of newly discovered cars ebbs some before trying to figure out just how to release this data for all.

Jack, I do not record names or locations unless special or overseas on the list.
Syd

[Philip C.]

Re: A note of caution Loren Iam ????

Hi Loren A/C was able to be ordered as early as Oct 62 and the dealer knew the AM/FM was also beening offered and had to be ordered with the A/C and they delayed the car!!! hard to believe when would you say that amfm changed over from am Thanks Phil 8063

[Rob M.]

Re: Caution Noted

Hi Syd,

I'll be more than willing in making an effort of importing your list in the 63 section of the C2 Registry (ofcourse with you as the source mentioned).

greetings,
Rob.




The C2 Registry

[Michael H.]

AM/FM And C60 A/C Release

Phil,

The very first time any ordering/price info on the AM/FM radio option was sent to the dealer was 6 February 63. Prior to that date, the dealer was unable to order the option. For a short time after the 6 Feb announcement, both AM and AM/FM radios were available. I would think that at least two weeks would pass before any AM/FM radios actually went out the door at the St Louis plant. The lead time from order to assembly was at least that long.

On 12 October 1962, GM released information to dealers on the scheduled C60 air conditioning option for Corvette. However, no details or order info/pricing was known at that time. The bulletin stated that release info would be posted as soon as it was known. There is no further discussion or price/ordering info of the C60 option at least through 8 February 63.

[Loren L.]

Re: A note of caution Loren Iam ????

On a copy of the original order form ONLY wonderbar was shown.

The first shipment of 73 AM-FM radios went from Delco in late Feb 63
and it was the understanding at Delco that the Wonderbar radios (and the Wonderbar orders) would be used up BEFORE any AM-FM radios were installed,

A total of 9,133 AM-FM radios were shipped to St Louis in the 1963 model year. Recall also that a number of other items had to be changed when the change came; a different top shield with a provision for the rear clip as an additional ground to the tach cable, etc.

[Philip C.]

Thanks Mike so April

we would be seeing the am/fm I thinking and mixed am radios also. Thanks Phil 8063