Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

[Don L.]

I am looking to learn how many of the white plastic license plate mounting nuts (GM 3907444) came with the car from the factory.

1972 AIM; UPC 14/sheet A3 shows only one for reference. I am hoping someone out there can say whether there were 2 or 4. See attached photo. I have 4 on mine, however, I have no confidence that it's TFP. Also, being as the nut is drawn and the part number is included in the AIM, I assume that the nuts were installed at the factory and not in the bag with other license plate hardware, right? Based on my archives search, it looks like C2's had them packaged in with the envelope. Anyone?

[Edward J.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Don, I prep many chevrolet cars is my days as a gm line mech. and you would think I could remember just how many screws and retainers where in those bags. anyway if you give Dave Strickland a PM he has a 71 car that the bags are not open from the factory.

[Lawrence M.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Don, I do not have an answer for the 1972 models. However on page 71 of Mike Muellers book The Corvette Factories is a picture of a 1969 coupe coming off the assembly line. The picture clearly shows only 2 white plastic nuts on the front plate mount. The nuts are in the 2 upper holes.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

I am looking to learn how many of the white plastic license plate mounting nuts (GM 3907444) came with the car from the factory.

1972 AIM; UPC 14/sheet A3 shows only one for reference. I am hoping someone out there can say whether there were 2 or 4. See attached photo. I have 4 on mine, however, I have no confidence that it's TFP. Also, being as the nut is drawn and the part number is included in the AIM, I assume that the nuts were installed at the factory and not in the bag with other license plate hardware, right? Based on my archives search, it looks like C2's had them packaged in with the envelope. Anyone?

Don -- FWIW, here's some pics of '72's on the dealer lot in Toronto Ontario, in the fall of 1971 (see window sticker). Looks like the two at the top.

[John D.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Wonder how many conditon points those cars would lose in judging with all that flat paint, wavy panels and orange peel ???

[Don L.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Thanks guys. What a helpful tool this board is! Looks like it was 2 for sure.

One note - the Ontario Orange convertible looks to be pre-dealer prep, however, aren't those B.F. Goodrich Radial TA's on it? The lettering seems to say so but the tread doesn't look like today's Radial TA.

John - never mind the point deduct for paint, we have a major (NTFP tire) deduct before it was even bought/delivered! Is this a NEW mystery?

[Edward J.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Don, I was seeing the same thing, and was wondering if canada cars were shipped with a different make tire. I don't believe those BFG tires were in the JM . ??? They appear to be a radial tire, I though the appeared in 73. I just noted the serial no on the one w/ the sticker shows it being a very late car.

[Don L.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Don, I was seeing the same thing, and was wondering if canada cars were shipped with a different make tire. I don't believe those BFG tires were in the JM . ??? They appear to be a radial tire, I though the appeared in 73. I just noted the serial no on the one w/ the sticker shows it being a very late car.

The Mike Antonick Black Book states "Radial tires were first used with Corvettes in 1973."

They look wider than F-70's too. Oh boy.

Wayne, come on. Think. You remember that car, right?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Don, I was seeing the same thing, and was wondering if canada cars were shipped with a different make tire. I don't believe those BFG tires were in the JM . ??? They appear to be a radial tire, I though the appeared in 73. I just noted the serial no on the one w/ the sticker shows it being a very late car.

You guys have sharp eyes; no, Canadian Corvettes didn't come with radials. All I can figure is that this dealer had a hard time selling his quota and as fall '71 turned to spring '72 he started to put "lipstick" on them. Tell me what other adder you see; car shown below also has BF Goodrich radials and still has the window sticker in place.


BTW, that white one with the window sticker is a (sort of) early car, # 8130. Pic below is about 5 months later, on one of my many return visits to the dealer to get items repaired on my convertible # 8196.. Have the Canadian-delivered microfiche on about a dozen cars shipped north ranging from #8058 thru 8229.

[Don L.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Wayne, thanks so much for these GREAT old photos! For sure, the tread pattern on BFG Radial TA's has changed over the years. I'd much rather have the old tread pattern than the current one. They were much more comparable to the bias ply tire look of 1968-72.

I'm looking for a nice set of "retro" radials with a raised white letter and a "mild" tread like that. I prefer an OEM brand, but a major brand would be fine since I have a set of bias ply tires/rims for judging. Ideally, I'd love a set of the old Goodyear Eagle ST's in 215/70 X 15. I can't find 'em and they've apparently been out of production for > 15 years. If I can't find some nice RWL radials, I might have to resort to the WSW. I'm just afraid the car will look like an "old person's" car with a white stripe. Can't have that. Thoughts?

[Keith L.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

The window sticker says white letter tires and the white car has white walls.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Notice how "flat" the paint looks.

I believe that someone previously mentioned with regard to these photos that the particular dealer in question "always" swapped the tires on the Corvettes, and that these tires were not typical factory tires.

Patrick

[Wayne M.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Notice how "flat" the paint looks. ....I believe that someone previously mentioned with regard to these photos that the particular dealer in question "always" swapped the tires on the Corvettes, and that these tires were not typical factory tires.....

Patrick -- I don't recall the tire swapping being mentioned for this dealer "Gorries" previously, but I'm sure it took place. Pic below is same dealer early in 1972; you can see the white car from a different angle. Notice the base tire equipment (as was my Steel Cities grey convertible -- not shown here).

As to flat paint -- yes, no comparison to a typical flight judging field, but bear in mind that these had been sitting outside for at least 2 months, 30 feet from a major thoroughfare.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

...I don't recall the tire swapping being mentioned for this dealer "Gorries" previously, but I'm sure it took place...

Yeah...I'm pretty sure it happened too, unless Canadian dealers had much higher ethical standards than US dealers. You nailed it, Wayne, "lipstick", or swap by another previous customer request, fer sure.

Very nice pics.

[Greg F.]

Re: Does Anyone Know? (Early C3)

Wheel weights on the outside.....?

You guys have sharp eyes; no, Canadian Corvettes didn't come with radials. All I can figure is that this dealer had a hard time selling his quota and as fall '71 turned to spring '72 he started to put "lipstick" on them. Tell me what other adder you see; car shown below also has BF Goodrich radials and still has the window sticker in place.


BTW, that white one with the window sticker is a (sort of) early car, # 8130. Pic below is about 5 months later, on one of my many return visits to the dealer to get items repaired on my convertible # 8196.. Have the Canadian-delivered microfiche on about a dozen cars shipped north ranging from #8058 thru 8229.