Owners Manuals

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Dave,
Thanks for the response. The question is were these over the counter OM's with the card reserve stock printed at the same time and with the same quality as the as shipped ones or reprints using photocopies of the original to do the reprint. The story behind these that I bought is quite interesting.
Jeff

[Edward C.]

Re: Owners Manuals

I don’t know about all the years but I am pretty certain all the 1969 Helm over the counter Owners manual did NOT have the cards. The OTC service manuals without the card had a separate part number ending in 550 for the First Edition and 551 for the second edition. The original manuals that came with the purchase of a NEW car and with the subscription card have the part number ending in 548 for the first Edition and 549 for the second edition. There is no reason they would have wanted to give out a free year subscription with the purchase of a service owners manual, as well as all the other items for just anyone that ordered a manual through Helm. That was a original buyers perk. The subscription card also asks for the vin number to get the Owners card and kit.

There are some early manuals that have both the service and original part numbers in them so they planned from the beginning to offer two different manuals, one number for the original owner, one for a replacement. These came with cards and the service number was crossed out. I’ve seen a few and have some pictures. It’s odd but they exist.

If you were just recently able to buy some originals that had the cards they most likely were left over from the original production run.

I don’t know any of this for certain, I was two years old in 69. I just don’t think it makes any sense for Helm to offer two part numbers/owners manuals without indicating that on the order form. Maybe you’ll get one with a card and free perks, maybe you don’t? I don’t see that.

[Jack M.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Jeff- I appreciate the added photo... unfortunately, different cameras/settingz/lighting/background colors/etc can change the overall look. For your CONTENTS photo, I'm on the seesaw and can't give you a good opinion... as all too often, they look different in-hand. I'm still hoping you scored well on your purchase.

Ed- You make some valid points for C3, but that doesn't correlate so well for all the C2 manuals out there. There are a vast number of manuals with the mail in card, and korrect part number... but have darker/poor images, and cheaper quality paper. The majority are 2nd Editions, so that complicates matters, and typically raises a red flag for me. Itz a big business on eBay, and too many are NOT assembly line original quality.

[Tom D.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Members: See the first pages (1964 AIM calls it Sect. 0) of your year's "AIM" or Assembly Instruction Manual. Look for a reference to the "Misc. Shipping List", which is on section 0, sheet 3, of the 1964 AIM (released 3/27/62).

For "LOOSE ITEMS SHIPPED WITH VEHICLE..." you are directed to Section 14 (using the 1964 AIM as example). In other years, you may be directed to other pages in your other year AIM...

For 1964, mixed in with the bumper brackets in Section 14... You will find Part number and part names listed for almost 20 "loose items" (more than just the glove box items). One of the items is "Booklet - Owner's Guide", with it's PN. Early in 1964, it's number was 3841542.

Some such items are only included with options. For example, with the P48 wheels, the plant included a "CARD - QUICK TAKE OFF WHEEL INSTRUCTION", PN # 3866414 in 1964.

Don't know about this 1964 AIM, but... Note that a second edition of YOUR YEAR owner's booklet might have had a different part number. Look at the change records that reference the page you found. For this example, 1964, the CARD # 3866414, mentioned above was added 4-20-64, by ECR 63377. I see no change (after 4-20-64) for the Owner's Guide, but who knows what didn't make it into this AIM before it got copied and sold.

DXT's copy came from Effingham, IL 62401 quite some time ago.

[Edward C.]

Re: Owners Manuals

Ed- You make some valid points for C3, but that doesn't correlate so well for all the C2 manuals out there. There are a vast number of manuals with the mail in card, and korrect part number... but have darker/poor images, and cheaper quality paper. The majority are 2nd Editions, so that complicates matters, and typically raises a red flag for me. Itz a big business on eBay, and too many are NOT assembly line original quality.

[George H.]

HELMS Manual Page.jpg
Owner's Information Packet.jpg

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

George,
Thanks for posting this. On my copy of the 73 manual, the Helms note says "Purchasers outside domestic U.S.A. ...". I can't quite make out the note on yours. Could you post a photo of what remains of the owners card?
Jeff

[George H.]

Re: Owners Manuals

I've taken a picture of the Corvette Owner ID card request (green insert page) and a close up of the NOTE on the HELM manual request page.That's the last page in the manual. Let me know if this is what you asked for. I'm note sure how to rotate the pictures after posting? Here is the wording on the HELM mail in sheet for additional manuals. It reads: Make check or money order (NO STAMPS) for this amount payable to HELM, Inc. Followed by, Note: Purchases outside domestic U.S.A. must add 30 cents to each publication for mailing expense. Funds MUST be payable in U.S. currency. Signature of Purchaser... Street Address.... City, State, and Zip Code. Please Complete Shipping Label.

ID Card wording.jpg

HELM NOTE.jpg

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Owners Manuals

George,
Yes, that is what I wanted to see. I interpreted your original posting to indicate that anyone ordering a manual needed to pay an extra 30 cents. But this confirms it is the same as what I have. The portion of the owners card you pictured also matches what I have.
Jeff