1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

[Bob M.]

I came across a '63 Owner's Guide being offered by a paper dealer at a small, local swap meet. He was a pleasant, mature person and was convinced that the Guide was authentic. He said he had acquired the manual in a collection of literature purchased from an older man who had worked for a number of years at small Chevrolet dealership in northern Colorado.

My knee-jerk reaction was that the manual was a copy, but even though the Guide was marked lightly in pencil "$125" on the back cover, the dealer came down to a price that wouldn't allow me to leave it on his table for fear that it could be original.

I've read postings concerning originals verses copies verses "editions," etc., but have not acquired sufficient knowledge to allow me to judge one from the other with any confidence.

With this in mind, I have scanned the cover of mine and sized it at 1,000 pixels in width. I'm hoping that this image is sharp enough that some conclusions can be drawn. If anyone has a known original and could scan it at the same resolution and post it on this thread for comparison purposes, that would be great.

I'm willing to provide additional scans (headlight buckets photo?) if that would allow us to come up with some characteristics that would enable one to make an intelligent decision on whether a copy at hand is authentic or not. In general, copies of anything are never "perfect," and identifying a couple of imperfections should assist in distinguishing reproductions from originals.

My copy does not have any cards in it, so I cannot speak to that variable.

Let's figure this out! Thanks...

[William C.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

If no cards, there should be either a flap where the card was removed or it could be a book ordered over the service counter.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

Bob;

Thanks for bringing this up. I went to my big book (3 ring binder with all my documents, etc.) to look at the Owner's Manual in the envelope there. I realized I had my $12.00 repro in my document book rather than in the glove box. Had the Vette out for a ride and checked the one in my glove box which turned out to be my original.

I don't know how I can help you as my scanner doesn't want to communicate with this computer, but I can describe it or answer any other specific questions. Like Bill said, it should have a card flap in it as does mine, which I tore off in 63 to send in for my pin, patch, I.D. card and subscription to Corvette News. That is the first item in the stitched pages. The last tab of the flap is then just before the inside of the back cover and is only about 3/4" wide. Mine shows "Part No. 3821497 SECOND EDITION" on the bottom of the Contents Page, and "Part #3821497 Litho in U.S.A." on the bottom of the back cover. All the half tones are clear where as in the repor they are muddy. The colors on the cover of the original manual are much more brilliant and sharp than the repro. Also, my repro has "Reprinted by The Franklin Mint with permission" on the back cover bottom.

Stu fox

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

Just an FYI. In the early 70's, reproductions were made of the 63 Owners Manual. They were in full sharp color and had all the foldouts. They did not have the stamp on the postcard as I recall.

Current reproductions are black and white. I believe I saw a current color repro, but that was easy to spot as the color was not sharp and the images/pictures were also not sharp.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

I know we kicked this around before about First Edition vs. Second Edition, but I don't recall the consensis. I always assumed mine being a July build corresponded to what might be a Second Edition. Guess one could check the archieve.

Stu Fox

[Kenneth S.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)


Ken

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

The paper stock used on the cover of my original is an off white, whereas the repro is more pure white. Now, obviously some of the difference may be due to age, but my old publications experience tells me there is a definite difference. It is obvious I never used the owner's guide too much as there are only a few finger smudges on it, but my service manual shows a different story - lots of greasy prints and smudges. Shows you what I thought the best information source was.

Stu Fox

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

The cover picture of the repo is also slightly cropped. If you look closely, some parts of the image are missing from the edges .

[Reba W.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

Here comes the old English teacher in me--is the original really missing the aapostrophe in owner's?

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

Here comes the old English teacher in me--is the original really missing the aapostrophe in owner's?

Reba -

Yes - also missing on the cover of the '64 and '65 manuals; the apostrophe didn't appear until '66 and '67. Not many English teachers at Campbell-Ewald in those days, I guess.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1963 Owner's Guide/Manual - Original vs. Copy (picture)

Here's an original 63 manual from my car for comparison.