Jack Knudsen's 1956 production data

[Edward M.]

While I am on a roll...

The late Jack Knudsen, who worked at the Corvette assembly plant in 1956, apparently recorded the last serial number of the 1956 Corvette that rolled off of the line at the end of EACH DAY.

He did this on his own, and in a personal notebook(s).

That data, as of May of 2010, was in the possession of one of his daughters. The family was planning to "do something" with it one day.

I offered (in May of 2010) to publish that data, using my sole proprietor publishing company, and agreed to give all of the profits to the Knudsen family. I just wanted to get the data out.

I spoke with Jack's widow at that time, and even sent her a copy of my Lime Book, trying to convince her that the data needed to be accessible. I also suggested that the family consider donating the data to the National Corvette Museum.

She replied that the family was busy with children, etc. and didn't really have time to deal with it right then.

I got nowhere.

Maybe it is also time for us (NCRS) to approach the Knudsen family with a financial incentive to provide the information to us.

Unfortunately, during an NCRS events that Jack Knudsen was attending, there was a disagreement between Jack and one of the people attending the event. That issue apparently turned Jack Knudsen against NCRS in general.

Someone on the forum has a business card from Jack Knudsen that Jack wrote the production day of that person's 1956 Corvette on the back of.

Even if Jack Knudsen's info is hand written, unverifiable data, it is still important data. We should see what we can do about retrieving that data as well.

I have contact information for Jack's wife Barbara, as of May of 2010. She may no longer be with us.

Time is slipping by....

[Mike E.]

Re: Jack Knudsen's 1956 production data

Ed,
I appreciate your thoughts. I talked with Jack in St. Louis early in that meet. I saw the book and notes he had. He was kind enough to look up the build date of my 62FI car #3390. He was very accomodating. I am glad to say I was not the individual he got crossways with.
His data would be extremely helpful.
Anything appropriate than we can do to acquire and communicate that info would excellent.

[James G.]

Re: Jack Knudsen's 1956 production data

I have the MIKE HUNT daily production vin data. I wonder if Jack was his source? Rich Mozatta recently printed the web source pages.

[Edward M.]

Re: Jack Knudsen's 1956 production data

I have the MIKE HUNT daily production vin data. I wonder if Jack was his source? Rich Mozatta recently printed the web source pages.

Jim;

Apparently Jack Knudsen recorded the last VIN of each car to come off of the assembly line on a DAILY basis.

I asked Mike Hunt about his numbers many years ago, and he told me they were rough estimates, particularly for 1956.

Jack Knudsen apparently recorded this data as late a 1967, if I understand correctly.

1956 is, of course, the year in question. Perhaps Jack recorded even earlier years (1953-1955) data.

The numbers in Mike's RPO 56-57 reports were the ones he sent out if you ordered his reports.

PS: I have made contact with Kettering, and I am pursuing the acquisition of Mike's data. Kettering is still doing an inventory of it.

[Loren L.]

Re: Jack Knudsen's 1956 production data

I contacted Dave Dawdy, who lives in the area and knew Jack, and passed on this thread. He was going to check in and get back.....