Brass Hat?

[D S.]

I've seen a reference to a Corvette or Corvettes as being 'Brass Hat'. I'm not familiar with that term. What is that? An award? A place in Corvette history?

Thanks,
Scott

[John H.]

Re: Brass Hat?

Scott -

The term "Brass Hat" car was typically used to describe a car that started its life ordered by and assigned to a GM executive as his assigned company car. After 3000 miles, those cars were either sold at a significant discount to an employee who had "tagged" the car, or they were wholesaled to a dealer (or sent to a wholesale auction if nobody was interested).

[Dick W.]

Re: Brass Hat?

Have bought many of those cars John. Usually a better car after 3,000 miles than one off the showroom floor. The Zone Manager that would order the car was very particular. The slightest imperfection either went to the dealer or the Zone Tech Center for repair.

[Jack H.]

Re: Brass Hat?

Different words for different manufacturers, but pretty much the same thing: Brass Hat, Program Car, Demonstator. Essentially, the car was built and used by a key employee or by a dealer for test drives making it not new. You get a healthy discount and balance of any remaining factory warranty.

That's all I had to drive as a kid (cars from the executive lease program at Chrysler) and our family went through 4-6 each year. Basically, you couldn't keep the car more than 6-months or put more than 6K miles on the clock.

When the vehicle was turned in, anything that was beyond 'normal' wear and tear was repaired and the repair charges (at Chrysler's COST) were invoiced back to the exec. The program was SO GOOD and cost effective, you simply couldn't contemplate actually buying a car!

When the returned vehicles were disposed of (the exec had first option on purchase, but had to retain title in his/her name for +1 year to thwart 'dumping' and making money on the side) the rule of thumb was to take the window sticker and cut it in half! These cars are still out there even though the Big Three have changed the terms and conditions of their programs over time.

I've bought several from local dealers since by deciding what I wanted and making a list with the WIDEST range of colors/options. Then, circulate the list to as many local dealerships as possible with a note to the effect: "Don't call me unless you've got a real McCoy brass hat/exec/program car to talk about).

Some will try to contact you with a 'real deal' on a 1-2 model year old inventory car off the lot, but they simply can't crank the price down enough to compete with the pre-existing depreciation the mfgr already ate on a bona fide brass hat/exec/program car... Within six months, I've always gotten a call that turned out to be a 'deal maker'.

[Dick W.]

Re: Brass Hat?

You have to be careful today. Some dealers have taken liberty with the Brass Hat, exec car, moniker. They are calling off lease cars these names. Caveat Emptor