Owners Manuals

[Jeffrey S.]

Did GM print owners manuals that were shipped with new cars, in house or were they outsourced (Helms?)? I'm pretty sure that Helms published all the service manuals and over the counter owners manuals but I'm unclear about those that came from St. Louis. Thanks for any info you can share.
Jeff

[Mark H.]

Re: Owners Manuals

While the owners manual for my '76 has a Chevrolet copyright, if you wanted to order another one you sent for it from Helm, so I'm guessing Helm made them.

manual.jpg

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Mark,
Thanks for you response. I know that Helms did print manuals for over the counter sales at the Chevrolet dealer. I'm pretty sure that they also printed the manuals that came with the cars from St. Lous - why would GM print those in house and have a vendor print replacements? Besides that, why would replacements have the owners card included if these were intended for original owners to receive Corvette News? I ask this because I just came into a bunch of manuals that were purchased over the counter at Helms here in Detroit during the model years they covered, all with the owners cards. I had just intended to buy the '69 manual for my car but when offered a good deal for all, I went for it. These were still sealed in plastic with very old/deteriorated tape sealing the plastic. So I'm wondering if these were let over supply that was intended for the factory.
Jeff

[Jack M.]

Re: Owners Manuals

While I 'believe' Helms published the original in-vehicle manuals, I don't know for sure. As for the need of manuals 'with' the mail-in card... was that possibly related to the original owner losing/requesting another? Or more likely, was the vehicle traded in during warranty, so perhaps the new owner was also entitled to (or promised) the same benefits? There could be many scenarios, but the Helms replacements were typically of lesser overall quality... especially the interior paper.

There are many wayz to determine a replacement, but nothing is like an IN-HAND & SIDE-BY-SIDE examination, between a factory original -vs- reissue or reproduction manuals.

If you have a 1966 manual, check out the 'simulation' that follows:
The main image on the card is clear, as you can easily make out the different trees, the taillights, license plate, etc (1st image)...
While non-original manual images are typically much darker (2nd image):
1966-Corvette-Owners-Manual-01.jpg
1966-Corvette-Owners-Manual-02.jpg

And since the interior paper is of lesser quality, you can usually see THRU to the 'cars' on the opposite side (those on the next page):
1966-Corvette-Owners-Manual-03.jpg

Many internal page images are darker, and less 'sharp'... again, you can better see the difference when held side-by-side.
People purchasing online, can be the most problematic (I've been snookered in the past)... I hope you scored a good deal.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Jack,
Thanks for the information. Two of the manuals are '66 so I will use your images to compare. I did compare the '69 manual I got with the original that came with my car which has the complete card, and I could not find any differences. Maybe if I hold the pages up to the light? That is the only one I have a known St. Louis supplied manual. I did get a very good deal on all 35 even if they are reissues that are not exactly like the ones that came from St. Louis.
Jeff

[Jack M.]

Re: Owners Manuals

The 'see thru' image I posted was done with the book closed (not held up to the light)... itz would be clearly visible.
For C2 years, that CONTENTS page would be a good test.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

I will c heck mine tomorrow when go into my shop.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Jack,
I really appreciate the info you have posted. Here is a photo of the owners card and a sample of an interior illustration I have. Also, on you photo of the re-issue, the words "SECOND EDITION. JANUARY 1966 are not as sharp as the ones I have. Your original is also much sharper.
Jeff

[Dave S.]

[Jack M.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Jeff- Depending on individual years, the perforation section for the mail-in card could have dashed lines, or small circles.
This image came from my actual car... the original 1st Edition OM was sent to me in the early 90's, by the second owner:
1966-Corvette-Owners-Manual.jpg

If you count the dashed 'black lines' on my card, there appear to be many more on my card.
I see a similar look/count, on what I believe is an original 2nd Edition OM in my collection.
Does that mean anything significant... eh maybe, or maybe not. LOL

BTW- What does the CONTENTS page look like... can you easily see thru to the cars on the back side of that page?

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Dave,
Thanks for the input. I agree that Jack's info is real good. I will keep researching and get more of a handle on what indicates a re-issue as opposed to an as delivered manual. I do question the possibility that re-issues for over the counter dealer sales would have the owners card since, at least in the 66 I'm comparing with jack's photos, it specifically says "...as a new Corvette owner". This seems to indicate that only the owner of a new Corvette got the opportunity to get a free Corvette News subscription. That's just my guess and I'm probably off base.
Jeff

[Jack M.]

Re: Owners Manuals

OOOPS... I should open my eyes and see you had cropped your card.
It appears I'm long past my nap time... sorry.

[Jack M.]

'new Corvette owner' text and thought it could go a couple wayz.
Is the Corvette brand new (as in the 1st owner)... or was the person purchasing it, new to Corvette?
For any 1st time owner of a Corvette, it could easily have been a used car... especially if still under warranty.
The PR advantage of getting out more pins, patches, Corvette News magazines, etc... might be the deciding factor.
I see no reason why the PR department would hold back... the items showcased the brand, and increased buyer loyalty.
(NOTE: With the PR department now having owner info, the 'Gordon B. Miller' merchandising catalog could also be mailed out.)

[Dave S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Dave,
Thanks for the input. I agree that Jack's info is real good. I will keep researching and get more of a handle on what indicates a re-issue as opposed to an as delivered manual. I do question the possibility that re-issues for over the counter dealer sales would have the owners card since, at least in the 66 I'm comparing with jack's photos, it specifically says "...as a new Corvette owner". This seems to indicate that only the owner of a new Corvette got the opportunity to get a free Corvette News subscription. That's just my guess and I'm probably off base.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Jack,
I thought also that the wording is ambiguous. Also, if you read the 1st paragraph just to the right "...as part of the new Corvette Owner's Kit" it is also ambiguous. Does it mean New Corvette Owner's Kit or New Corvette Owner's Kit. Attached is a photo of the contents page. You can see a slight shadow of the reverse side but nowhere near what you second photo of this page shows.
Jeff