'63 sales brochure question

[Walter G.]

I'm no expert on mid-years, so I have a question on the '63 dealer sales brochures. From what I do know, there were two versions; one with a red coupe on the cover and the other one a black. Besides the cover cars, the knock-off wheels are depicted differently on the inside last page. The 'black' brochure has 3-bar wheels and the 'red' brochure has two-bar. The 'red' version has a R-1 code on the back page implying the first revision, whereas the 'black' has no code, suggesting it was the first printing. If that assumption is correct, wasn't the 2-bar the first version wheel and the 3-bar the second and more common one, used through '66 with some variation? If so, why would the brochure show the 2-bar on the second/revised printing? The '68 brochure with its' window control error has the corrected version marked as R-1, so assuming there is consistency within the GM system you would think the R-1 '63 piece would show the 3-bar wheels. Just looking for thoughts on this...

[William C.]

Re: '63 sales brochure question

You assume way too much about consistancy within GM. Advertising Brochure are not conducted with oversight of engineering, although they may be "Driven" by a major introduction of a new feature, the Sales Brochure is "Advertising" not something to be relied on as represent accurately of the car's evolution in it's pictures.

[Walter G.]

Re: '63 sales brochure question

Then why would they go through the trouble to produce a 'revised' piece if it wasn't at least intended to provide accurate information to prospective buyers? The original would have served the basic 'advertising' purpose adequately. The usual disclaimer about the information being correct at time of publication, etc. is present anyway, so not like they are held accountable for what is included. I just found it interesting that the revised piece was less 'correct' than the original, at least regarding the knock-off wheels. That was the point I was trying to make; we all have witnessed the inconsistency within GM, especially of late.

[Sydney G.]

Re: '63 sales brochure question

Hi Walter,

Perhaps the ad dep't were just taking advantage of the popularity of Riverside Red?
Still, it would make better sense that the RED issue was the original based on the KO's.

The BLACK issue shows the early long base mirror and what seems are non frosted hubs.

Syd

[John H.]

Re: '63 sales brochure question

I just found it interesting that the revised piece was less 'correct' than the original, at least regarding the knock-off wheels.

Walt -

All of those things were produced by Campbell-Ewald, Chevy's ad agency, and the cars they used for photography were usually whatever Sales or P.R. had handy to loan them, without any "expert" input on what was or was not "correct". There are lots of examples of cars in Chevy sales brochures whose details differ from production vehicles.

[Monte M.]

Re: '63 sales brochure question

I know this does not mean much, but when I bought my "63" back in the 80's, I was given some paperwork with it. The manual, window sticker, order form (not in very good shape) The Corvette News and Supplemental I guess he got for sending in the card and an original brochure with the dealership stamped on the front cover. It looks like regular ink stamping. My point in all of this is, I have a very early car (Week 2, Nov). In the brochure the 360 HP options are circled and have numbers and marks by them, and those are the options my car came with. Again, my point is the car on the cover is black. I know this proves nothing, but it makes me think that the black car has been around for a long time.
It would be interesting to know if the red car is a later brochure as my car is red and if the original owner had his choice of brochure he might have picked the red car on the cover over the black one.
Any ideas anyone. Or any similar situations?

[Michael H.]

Re: '63 sales brochure question

Any ideas anyone. Or any similar situations?

The very first KO nut (spinner) was indeed a three bar. It was not exactly the same as the three bar spinner that folks see on 64-66 cars though.
It was a one piece casting that included the center cap as part of the casting. There were also other differences.

I don't remember/know why it was held in production but I do know that the Corvair 2 bar nut replaced it very early in production. (and I'm not saying any were factory installed. Not getting into that debate again)

The three bar eventually replaced the 2 bar in 63 production. It was the same (and same part number) as the 64-66 nut.

I have the original part number for the first design 3 bar here somewhere.