Pilot Car

[James V.]

For many years I have heard people use the term "Pilot Car" when apparently referring to the very early cars produced during a given year. What is the correct definition of a "Pilot Car" ?

[Tom H.]

Re: Pilot Car

Other members might be able to shed more light on this, but a pilot is kind of like a "practice" car. It is a car that the factory uses to test the build, fit and performance of a certain vehicle.

Pilot cars are still used today. They are driven by engineers, shown at shows and often tested over the road.

Pilots are also used to test new options and equipment. Often they are hand built.

Like I said, John Z and the others can comment better on the pilot cars of the 60's.

[James V.]

Re: Pilot Car

Given a regular serial number and sold to the public?

[Tom H.]

Re: Pilot Car

Given a regular serial number and sold to the public?

Today they are, now in the case of the 09 ZR1 pilots, a unique serial number was issued to them, but eventually they were sold to the public.

I remember in 97, many, many Corvettes were used in the pilot program. They had regular VIN's. We got several of them from GM at the time.

I think the older pilots had a regular VIN and were probably sold as company or exec cars. I would think fewer piots were built back then vs. the modern day pilot.

[James V.]

Re: Pilot Car

I am specifically interested in the 1963 1964 time period.

[Tom H.]

Re: Pilot Car

James, might be some names and info that would interest you in this link.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...pilot&uid=9730

[Loren L.]

Re: Pilot Car

I've seen the # of 1963's stated to be 25 a number of times. My own definition would be the # of early cars built to find out how the line has to be changed to accomodate the manufacture of the new model.

[James V.]

Re: Pilot Car

Lauren/ Tom...Thanks very much...I have owned 1963 Coupe #54 for many years. A recent visitor to my shop who was looking it over made the comment that it was a PILOT car... so I was a bit curious....
Thanks again....
Jim

[Tom H.]

Re: Pilot Car

Can't say for sure if #54 would be considered a pilot or not. It is sure an interesting one though,with a low VIN like that. Do you have any history on the car ??

Maybe you should order the delivery info now offered here if not. Might be interesting to see what dealer was lucky enough to get such an early Stingray !!

Check this out if you haven't already.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...80543&uid=9928

[Wayne M.]

Re: Pilot Car

I've seen the # of 1963's stated to be 25 a number of times. My own definition would be the # of early cars built to find out how the line has to be changed to accomodate the manufacture of the new model.

FWIW, the earliest Canadian-delivered C2 Corvettes (per GM-canada shipping records) are:

1963: VIN 00014, convert
1964: VIN 00052, coupe (might be some earlier)
1965: VIN 00029, convert
1966: VIN 00005, coupe

1967: VIN 00005, L36 C60 coupe (not in records but used as a travelling promotion at dealers across Canada --- definitely pilot in some respects (carpet, parking brake handle). Saw a '64 that had bolt-ons, at a meet in British Columbia, in the late '70s, and the owner said they were off that '67 # 5 car.

[Dan A.]

Re: Pilot Car

Saw a '64 that had bolt-ons, at a meet in British Columbia, in the late '70s, and the owner said they were off that '67 # 5 car.

In the early 80's I spoke to a fellow from the London Ontario area that had owned '67 #5. He said that he found parts that were stamped with the car #5. The parts I remember were the steering column and the wheels. I was some what surprised when he said he sold the wheels separate of the car.

[Tom H.]

Re: Pilot Car

I was some what surprised when he said he sold the wheels separate of the car.

That would not have been the thing to do.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Pilot Car

In the early 80's I spoke to a fellow from the London Ontario area that had owned '67 #5. He said that he found parts that were stamped with the car #5. The parts I remember were the steering column and the wheels. I was some what surprised when he said he sold the wheels separate of the car.

Hi Dan -- here's a pic of the trim and VIN tags on '67 #00005. Notice the S1 (first St.Louis '67 coupe) I'd like to see how the trim tag date K13 (June 13th) would judge. With the current atmosphere, it would be hauled off the field at the end of that judging day, whether or not it was the last day of the event, and sent to the crusher .

[John H.]

Re: Pilot Car

In the 60's, Pilot cars were run to validate both the parts and the production assembly process and tooling, about 4-5 months prior to start of production. Program rules called for the parts to be off production tooling, but most were hand-finished to print specs and not necessarily representative of the parts the plant would see at startup (which complicated analysis of the root cause of assembly and dimensional problems).

Pilot units were contained within GM, and were used for Engineering evaluation/test, show and display, advertising photography, and magazine PR use.

I ran many Pilot programs on several car lines from the late 60's to the late 70's, and they were always an "adventure". In those days many Pilot cars were sold out of company service after regular production started, but the advent of federal MVSS and DOT/EPA certification requirements in the 70's-80's resulted in most Pilot cars being crushed, as it was too costly and tedious to rebuild them with 100%-certified production parts in order to legally sell them.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Pilot Car

John - has not changed one bit, other than the record keeping.