61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

[Mike E.]

I have become friends with the gentleman who ordered 61 #2090 brand new. He went digging, and found his original dealer invoice, and made a copy for me. (see attached)

I asked him "what's the deal on the hardtop being backordered?" I hadn't ever heard anything like that.
His response was this: "I ordered the hardtop, but the salesman told me they were backordered. Unbeknownst to me, they had a honduras maroon hardtop in the back room that they had removed from a trade in. So they were putting that used hardtop on my car and selling it to me as new. But a 1960 hardtop didn't fit my 61 at all, so they had to order a new top, pay for the shipping, and then paint it to match."

Typical dealer type of stuff. That dealer exists today in the same location.

FWIW.
Scan_20220512.jpg

[Steven B.]

Re: 61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

Thanks for that Mike. I never heard of that backorder. I ordered my '76 August 6 1976 with sport mirrors and YJ8 al. wheels, both out of inventory at St. Louis. Instead of backorder I was advised I could have the order delayed or go ahead and get the car and the dealer would order through parts, which I did. I got both within a few weeks as the wheels were expedited as the dealer, now deceased, ordered stating my YJ8 wheels had been stolen. 😀 The dealer was near Concordia, Crumback-Symons in New Haven.

[Mike E.]

Thanks for that Mike. I never heard of that backorder. I ordered my '76 August 6 1976 with sport mirrors and YJ8 al. wheels, both out of inventory at St. Louis. Instead of backorder I was advised I could have the order delayed or go ahead and get the car and the dealer would order through parts, which I did. I got both within a few weeks as the wheels were expedited as the dealer, now deceased, ordered stating my YJ8 wheels had been stolen.  The dealer was near Concordia, Crumback-Symons in New Haven.

[Steven B.]

Re: 61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

Oops! I meant ordered my '77 August 6, 1976. I went to Crumback's with a friend to pick up his '68 Z-28. He still has it. My friend who I bought my '57 still lives a mile or so past Concordia. I haven't been back in years, need to do so. Congratulations on 52 years! If all goes well and I don't mess up too bad Nancy and I will have our 40th this October. 😊

[Roy S.]

Re: 61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

If I was a betting man and I am not, I would bet that the dealer screwed up on the initial order and failed to order the hard top when the initial order was placed with the factory. Then when the vehicle arrived and they realized no hard top was included they marked their paperwork as back ordered and planned to have the parts department order a top.

I cannot imagine the issues the assembly plants would have had to deal with had they allowed true backorders.

[Dan A.]

Re: 61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

A little easier on the neck.

10867S102090 Sales Invoice w-backorder.jpg

[Gary B.]

Re: 61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

And easier on the eyes.

1709D097-69E0-4116-BF66-8B2BB2BF1252.jpg

[Tom B.]

Re: 61-62 hardtop backordered from the factory?

Crumback-Symons Chevrolet is still there on US30, now state road930, in the new building they moved into in the '70s. I never see any Corvettes on the lot though, new or used.

Tom