Dealer installed items

[Michael H.]

Re: Dealer installed items

a better source than "the Vette Vues Fact Book," or my memory, would be the Chevrolet Accessories booklet for each year.

Terry, I have a 68 and 69 Chevrolet "Dealer Accessory Book" and both show;

MAT, CONTOUR-FRONT-CLEAR VINYL..............987441.

By the way, the set sold for $8.90 list price.

I always thought the black mats showed up some time during the 1970 model run?

One of my X wives had a low mileage 68 and the old aged/yellowed mats were still in it.

[Michael H.]

Re: Dealer installed items

Yep, that's dead nuts on! The only caveat is when the that dealer installed item falls on the list of dealer exclusive accessories. Then, it's supposed to be covered by Rule 8 in the JRM which precludes judges from taking a full deduction...

...

If the JG doesn't specifically state that, how would a judge know it. Shouldn't that information also be in the JG?

And how would some judges know which items are genuine GM accessories and which are actually aftermarket?

I have a feeling the vast majority of owners/members would likely prefer the original method of a full deduction for items, such as the gas cap, that could not have been installed at the assembly plant.

[Jack H.]

Re: Dealer installed items

Bless you, Pat! I think I'm alone on this one and don't understand why Rule 8 in the JRM seems to be 'new' information to so many who are respected and experienced judges...

On Dick Whittington's comment that the locking gas cap failes to comply with the matrix scoring policy (Finish, Date, Installation, Configuration and Completeness), I agree with him 80%...

But, the preamble given in Rule 8 essentially says we're setting aside our traditional judging rules in this specific area (Dealer Accessories). We do that in other places too, like the provision for NCRS window sticker, fire extinguisher, and battery cut-off switch.

Then, there's a set aside for safety items (like seat belts being present prior to their factory adoption) and other Federal/State mandates. The last is how the Australians and New Zealanders judge Corvettes that have been converted to RH drive...a MAJOR change for factory original configuration!

Last, on those older C1 cars where the stamp pad was painted at the factory, we require owners to deviate from that aspect of factory original configuration and clean any paint off the pad so judges can assess the pad's broach marks.

So, there are exception(s) to the rule of 'as the car was built by the factory'. This issue of the locking gas cap is simply another of those set aside/exception items...

[Jack H.]

Re: Dealer installed items

Well, judges are supposed to be conversant in the NCRS judging rules. Some, are referenced in the Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide (even with specific NTL guidance that some say can be set aside), and others are published in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual.

The difference is the JG applies to a specific 'division' of Corvette and it's a 'guide' (intended to supplement the judge's personal knowledge). The JRM is a 'manual' that's published by the National Judging Chairman and it's intended to be firm crossing all model years and 'divisions' of Corvette.

Like I've said several times, there are 'holes' in the rules; places where one rule contradicts another without a mechanism of precident for the judge to decide which rule governs. But, we've gotten along pretty well for +30 years with that 'problem' and I can see why the effort to fix/clean continues to fall below the line.

Maybe there will be some progress in this direction with the release of the 8th Edition of the JRM... How many years did we attend judging schools at National/Regional levels where we received training from John Woods in the matrix scoring system? There's still no mention of this policy in the JRM...

Plus, Michael/Terry, you're dead nuts on... How does a given judge know which items are legitimately classed as Dealer Accessories without some help/guidance from the NTL in the JG book? And, I agree with Terry...is MF Dobbins a legitimate source????

Dobbins doesn't cover C1 cars and Rule 8 applies to all the Corvettes we judge... I did do an on-line search and found a handful of C1 era Chevrolet Accessories books are in public domain....

But, it takes a trained eye to read through the various entries and decide which are applicable to Corvette vs. passenger car/truck. So, just having the source book(s) isnt' the full answer...

[Roger S.]

Re: Dealer installed items

How does the judging go for TSB items? For 1973 there were 2 TSB's issued in relation to the A/C system. One for the refrigerant line routing and shield and the second for the addition of a fitting in the high pressure line between the condenser and the VIR. Are points deducted for Chevrolet inspired changes/safety improvements?
Roger

[Jack H.]

Re: Dealer installed items

See your copy of the NCRS Judging Reference Manual, Section 4, Standard Deductions, Rule 9...