How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

[Barry M.]

I am new to the forum and just purchased a 1959 corvette and am looking to determine factory options. Is there anyway to determine what the car came with based off of the vin? I apologize in advance if this is a commo question that has been previously answered....I am somewhat new to the forum. Thanks!

[Keith B.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

The vin won't tell you anything beside the obvious. But it will tell you approximately when it was built. To determine if the options are original to your car is a little tough

[Barry M.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Thanks Keith. I thought there was a service you could subscribe to that would provide vehicle specific information based off of the vin but tha may have been for later models (c2/c3's). I am trying to get the car as close to original as possible and am trying to avoid purchasing parts that are not correct for the car (i.e purchasing a 4sp trans when the car was an automatic). Thanks for your help.....grealty appreciated.

[Terry D.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

In a word no. What does your car have as options now? Do you have the NCRS Spec Guide? Is it a numbers matching car? There really weren't that many options to begin with. With a spec guide you can start eliminating the obvious, such as power windows or power top or heavy duty brakes.

[Barry M.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Thanks Terry. Car does not appear to have any special options. I do have the NCRS Spec Guide. It is not a numbers matching car but would like to get it as close to factory specs as possible. Possibly get it judged in future. The previous owner told me it was a fuel injected car but I have no supporting documentation other than the "Fuel Injection" emblems which does not carry too much weight. With that said it sounds like I can put any numbers correct trans (auto, 3spd, 4spd) and correct number engine (single barrel, two fours). Thanks again for your help!

[Jerry K.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Does the car have it's original engine? This will give you a bit of info as to what might have been order on the car. The engine stamp has letter stamps that tell what kind of transmission etc. Example: 1962 has a RD code for a 300 HP 4 speed, RE for a 340 HP 4 speed, RF for a 360 HP, and SD for 300 HP automatic trans. 1959's could have different codes but check the Corvette Black Book for your engine codes for 59.

[Barry M.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Thanks Jerry. No the car does not have the original engine....I wish. I was looking to purchase a 283 with correct casting number and build up from there. I was hoping there was a way to link the vin to the car build specs (paint, trans and engine options)....does not look like that is possible. Thanks for your help. It looks like I am the 8th owner so tracing it back to original owner may be a challenge. I will see if that is a possibility.

[Frank D.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

You can try to look it up on www.c1registry.com by the VIN; a long shot. Hard to determine options but a few hints are around....if it has deck lid mount points for a hardtop (and a soft top) it was probably a two top car. Sometimes the body color is etched in crayon behind the seats on the bulkhead and scraping off some paint with a coin may reveal that ... you may also find an "H/T" script that means hardtop. If you have a high RPM tach (6.500 RPM redline) it may have come with a high-performance engine but tachs can be swapped out. There are other signs to determine if the car was a fuelie, etc.. Of course, most cars were bought with a radio, 4-speed and deluxe heater (all options back then).
If you find a circuit breaker on the top of the firewall in the engine bay the car may have had power windows, a power top, or both.

Windshield washers were an option back then IIRC along with a parking brake dash warning light (these became standard in '61).
You can determine if its positraction by jacking up the rear at the differential housing, releasing parking brake and spinning one rear tire...if the other tire moves in the SAME direction its a posi. IIRC there should also be a large letter "P" on the rear end case.
Without the original engine you can't determine if it was a two four barrel car.

GM didn't keep detailed records back then other than gross numbers for total cars delivered with certain options.
Billy Gould at www.autoancestry.com can help trace the history for a fee...

[Barry M.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Thanks Frank.....alot of great information there! I have some checking to do now....thanks!

[Michael W.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Thanks Keith. I thought there was a service you could subscribe to that would provide vehicle specific information based off of the vin but tha may have been for later models (c2/c3's).

Not that his helps directly but there's no such service for C2 or C3 cars either.

[Nicholas L.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

If the car has window washers and is fuel injected then the washer tank would be on the passenger side rather than the drivers side.

[Joe R.]

Re: How to determine vehicle options for C1 (1959)

Barry,

Do a Google search for St. Louis NCRS, go to newsletter page. Look in the index, there is a two part article on 1960 forensics by David Dawdy that should help.