Help identify this door

[Keith R.]

I've been hauling around this door for over 40 years now and I pulled it out of storage to try and identify what year it is. A distinguishing feature is the recessed area around the door lock pull mechanism. Is it a 59-60 or perhaps a 1961? I know that 1961 and 1962 doors were about an inch longer. This measures about 32" along the top of the door along the reveal area from front to rear.

[Curt R.]

It has no holes for spears, so it's either a '56 or '57 door.

[Keith R.]

It has no holes for spears, so it's either a '56 or '57 door.

Hey Curt! Thanks for chiming in. Was the '59 you're working on a COPO? Did it come with spears in the doors? 1960_chevrolet_corvette_1960_chevrolet_corvette_19d8320b-0749-4f85-962b-c0b20d85faca-TTh9oD-16826-16827-scaled.jpg

[Curt R.]

Brain F..t sorry !

[Gary C.]

Keith,

Look for rivets on the underneath side of the door. Late '57's added metal re-enforces to keep doors from saging.

Gary
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[Gary C.]

Keith,

1957 door mid year before anti sag metal reinforcements added.

Gary
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[Richard M.]

Keith, This thread(below) over at CF talks about that door latch on a 61, which cannot be removed without cutting the rain cover(half moon).

Can your latch be removed?

Also in the thread, there are photos of the rain guard of various years, shown from the inside. It may help identify your door.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-in-place.html

[Keith R.]

Keith,

Look for rivets on the underneath side of the door. Late '57's added metal re-enforces to keep doors from saging.

Gary
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It definitely has the rivets Gary and the metal reinforcements inside. C1door13.jpg

[Keith R.]

Another notable difference is the area behind the door release stem is located. On the photo of the '57 door you posted, the fiberglass cut-out behind the stem is rectangular with no recess. On mine, it's a larger, more oval shape and is recessed.C1door6.jpg

[Richard M.]

Keith, Can you get a few photos of the backside of the rain guard behind the latch. Compare it to that thread I referenced, which is a 61.

Rich

[Keith R.]

Keith, This thread(below) over at CF talks about that door latch on a 61, which cannot be removed without cutting the rain cover(half moon).

Can your latch be removed?

Also in the thread, there are photos of the rain guard of various years, shown from the inside. It may help identify your door.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-in-place.html

Keith, Can you get a few photos of the backside of the rain guard behind the latch. Compare it to that thread I referenced, which is a 61.

Rich

Thanks Rich. I took some photos of the interior of the release mechanism and the rain guard and looked at the other photos on the CF thread particularly of the '59 and '60. I presume that my door is a '59 or '60 as it has the release mechanism mounted lower than the '57 or '58 as noted in other posts and it is shorter than a '61 at approximatly 31 1/2" as measured along the window garnish line. Of interest is the photo of the '61 showing the final photo. It almost appears that there is a flange around the rain guard when compared to mine which might suggest that the rain guard was installed from the outside of the panel before being bonded to the door. Attached are photos comparing the two. C1door6.jpg 61 door release.jpg

[Keith R.]

Here are the photos of the rain guard and release mechanism as taken from the inside of the door. Doorrelease1.jpg Doorrelease3.jpg Doorrelease2.jpg

[Richard M.]

Keith, That 61 photo, appearing like the guard was attached from the inward side of the door, is a optical issusion.

Here it is after he cut the hole to remove the lever. It was bonded on the inside.
20250310_112535_copy_6ef220a4c7290a7c278f7ce2853e3f69da0189d0.jpg
If you can remove your lever assembly, it is either 59 or 60. 61/62 requires a hole cut to remove it.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Here are '59 doors(March build)

Pass side
P9270006.jpg

Driver side(blurry, but best I had) Notice the oval hole for the lever. Much smaller than yours.
P9270007.jpg

Here is your door.(Driver side) I don't think it's a 59 door.
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59 and earlier doors had upper reveal retainers for the outer garnish moldings. Small screws held the molding from the inside.(window must be removed to attach the moldings to the retainers) Does your door have these retainers, or evidence of them previously installed? Later doors didn't use these retainers, as different molding were used with 2 T-bolts to hold the outer garnish.
P1210009.jpg

P1210010.jpg

[Keith R.]

I didn't realize that the '59's had a different method of retaining the garnish molding - my door does not have the retainers in place but I will look for evidence that they may have been installed. From the photos you posted, it appears that the March '59 door didn't have a rain guard installed either. I wonder when they began installing them? I'll try to remove the door release assembly and see if that can be done easily. I think that the most distinguishing feature is that my door is not as long as the '61 which I understand measured approximately 33 1/2" long. So at this point, I know that its not a '57, '58, '61 and certainly not a '62 but we're narrowing it down. Thanks again for your inputs Rich.