1970 corvette bronze quantity

[Kenn S.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Oh, I'm sure you're right. I know this is a '70 brochure because it lists Laguna Gray for Corvette, which is also a '70-specific color.

Rather, I believe the orange was probably planned to be offered and was then yanked, as mentioned in this thread. The brochure was printed who-knows-when, but prior to yanking the color. There would have been some lead time for printing dealer booklets.

I just thought it was an interesting piece of history. Personally, I'd go for the bronze too.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Kenn

I can tell you that Ontario Orange was not used in 1970 but did become available in 1971 and 1972. If you go to this Paint chart for Corvettes it will show that Ontario Orange is not listed.

http://www.corvettepaintcodes.com/

Here are some photos of the standard in sun light. The dark outline in the plate is my head it is rather large.

Paul 18046

That is what my dealers albulm looks like & my origional paint 70 did also. There is no way anyone would call it orange.I think there was alot of flake in the paint in 70. Maroon can look red to dark maroon in different light. 006 was orange & dose not look anything like the paint chip or my car.
KEN

[D S.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

I understand Terry. I actually located another one in south jersey just last nite; im going to check it out next week. I've also heard about that ZR1, but i dont know many details about it. I appreciate your input, thanks for responding.

Bill, that 1970 ZR-1 coupe in 993 Corvette Bronze is listed on the 1970 Corvette Registry as being owned by someone in Bountiful, Utah, VIN 13925. Another 1970 ZR-1 coupe was built on that same day or the day after, it being Bridgehampton Blue, VIN 13994.

Scott

[D S.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

All, I posted this on a new post this morning but to get increased exposure I will add it here, too. I emailed the owner of 00006 1970 LT-1 in Ontario Orange and this is his reply:

Hello Scott

The car I have is the 1st LT1 built. It is the LT1 pilot car. The car was used for media photos, manufacturer new car shows, etc... Also, my paint code is 991 which was Ontario Orange. Even though the color option was listed in the dealer brochures, this color was not available for 1970 because the manufacturer of the paint could not get the metallic orange paint to flow. Therefore the 991 was canceled. If a customer wanted the 991 color for their new 1970 Corvette the dealer would advise the individual that Ontario Orange was not available, but another color was available called 993 Corvette Bronze. Actually the bronze color was first offered in 1968 and the paint code then was 992. I have seen a 1968 427 convertible in this color at an NCRS show. Is my car equipped with factory power steering? Absolutely. It is believed to be the ONLY 1970 LT1 equipped with the power steering option. Find an old issue of CORVETTE NEWS Feb/Mar 1970 issue and read the article. That issue is dedicated to introducing the new option for Corvette, the LT1 engine. The car on the cover sitting in the snow, is my car. The car on the back cover parked in front of the ski lodge is my car. The article was written by Karl Ludvigsen. Google his name and you will see that Mr. Ludvigsen is a well known author in the auto industry. I have talked to Karl regarding my car and have confirmed that the pilot LT1 he tested in January of 1970 is my car. Not only is the car equipped with N40-power steering it also has the following options; J50-power brakes, A31-power windows, 403-deluxe leather interior, N37-tilt telescopic steering column, UA6-factory alarm system, U79-AM/FM Stereo. Don't forget, this is a pilot car used for display and Chevrolet wanted to show the car with options at the Detroit New Car Show, New York Auto Show, New Car show in LA, and all the others. Go to vettefinders.com, scroll down to the bottom to Site Resources find Corvette 101, go to model year specs and click on that. then the model years will pop up and click on 1970. The car in the photo representing the 1970 model is a 1970 Ontario Orange LT1, my car. Another interesting fact about my car is that I just received information from the GM Archive Center in Milford, MI clarifying the shipping data of my car. It was never shipped to a dealer. Dealer Zone: 0, shipping address: Chevrolet Division Vehicle, Detroit, MI. The archive center was also kind enough to send me 20+ photos of the car they had in their files. Some of the photos are of the car being road tested, some are of the car on display, etc... This is a COPO car. Did a little history research. The 1970 model did not start production until January of 1970. The reason, GM went on strike for almost 60 days starting at the beginning of June of 1969. The President of Chevrolet Motor Division advised that the 1969 production to continue to the end of the year, December 1969 and after the Holidays the factory would retool for the new body style. The dealers did not receive the cars until February of 1970. My car's build date is October 23, 1969. Some of my body panels are dated July 1969. There were NO 1970 Corvettes regular production cars built prior to December 31, 1969.

Barry
NCRS member #30076

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Bill, that 1970 ZR-1 coupe in 993 Corvette Bronze is listed on the 1970 Corvette Registry as being owned by someone in Bountiful, Utah, VIN 13925. Another 1970 ZR-1 coupe was built on that same day or the day after, it being Bridgehampton Blue, VIN 13994.

Scott

Scott 13994 was the day after 13925, but I don't have 13994 as a ZR1 -- but then maybe I missed that detail.

[Carl N.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

It's nice to hear about some of the other "bronze beauties" that are out there. Mine is an all original 350/300hp auto coupe that is fully loaded except for the leather interior. I bought it from a the 2nd owner who had it for 23 years in texas. I shipped it to NJ this past spring.

Bill,

Did it come out of Amarillo, Texas? If so I may have some history on the car.

Sounds like one I bought in California in 1985 or 1986 brought to Amarillo and resold. I never transfered the California title to my name. I did take it to a Colorado Chapter Meet and it received a high second flight.

PM me if you think it might be the car.

Carl

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Here is the car Pat is referring to:

993 code with saddle interior..... Delivered new as a Los Angelos Zone Car per the shippers report.

300 hp base motor with automatic and with California emissions. Has all options: A/C, PS, PB, PW, alarm, tilt and two tops.

Everyone always ask if that was an original color....

B. Como # 42793

Brady, Does it have the NA9 emissions still intact. This would consist of a carbon canister and aluminum plate under the carburetor, and a paper label on the windshield certifying the emissions output.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Bill,

Here is some more food for thought courtesy of Ralph Spears. For those who don't know NCRS history Ralph was 1968-69 Team Leader back in 1987 or so when I became 1970-72 Team Leader. I can't remember how long it was that he and I served together, but it was a long time.

All of these, combined with the dealer paint booklets already mentioned, might lead one to conclude that Corvette Bronze was not available at the beginning of 1970 production. As with most running production changes we should let the cars tell us the complete story, and if we get information from enough cars the real story will become clear. Right now we are like the blind man describing the elephant.

[Brady C.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Yes, has all except the windshield sticker still intact.

[D S.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Bill,

Did it come out of Amarillo, Texas? If so I may have some history on the car.

Sounds like one I bought in California in 1985 or 1986 brought to Amarillo and resold. I never transfered the California title to my name. I did take it to a Colorado Chapter Meet and it received a high second flight.

PM me if you think it might be the car.

Carl

If a 1970 Corvette was purchased in California and brought to and sold in a non-smog state would it be expected to have the smog equipment on it when being NCRS judged or does it matter when the car is owned in a non-smog state?

[Warren F.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

That certainly brings back stories I was hearing back in 1987 when I first joined NCRS. 1970 model Corvettes ordered as caramel bronze (Ontario Orange) were changed to corvette bronze (code 993) the reason I was hearing - problems with the paint.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Very nice. I am going to save that photo.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Scott,
Back when I was surveying 1970-72 Corvettes for the 1993 Judging Manual (before they were called TIM&JG and before Al Gore invented the Internet ) more than half of the NA9 systems I saw were originally delivered to non-California owners. In some cases the NA9 system was not listed on the window sticker even though parts of the system were installed.

The theory is that if delivered to California originally the NA9 system was supposed to be installed, but it is unclear what actually happened (it is clear what was supposed to happen) regarding emissions if a car was destined for delivery in another state and was dealer traded into California.

Remember these emissions rules did not just apply to Corvettes, or even just GM vehicles. They applied to ALL new cars delivered in California in 1970. Other car manufacturers may have had other methods of complying with California's rules in 1970. Corvette, being such low production, may have been different. I am not sure of the larger picture in this regard.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Bill,

Here is some more food for thought courtesy of Ralph Spears. For those who don't know NCRS history Ralph was 1968-69 Team Leader back in 1987 or so when I became 1970-72 Team Leader. I can't remember how long it was that he and I served together, but it was a long time.

All of these, combined with the dealer paint booklets already mentioned, might lead one to conclude that Corvette Bronze was not available at the beginning of 1970 production. As with most running production changes we should let the cars tell us the complete story, and if we get information from enough cars the real story will become clear. Right now we are like the blind man describing the elephant.

My 70 Bronze Corvette is SN 7601
KEN

[Bill B.]

Re: 1970 corvette bronze quantity

Ken,
What options do you have on your bronze vette? I'll add it to the registry. Thanks, Bill