Noland Adams and The Restoration Guide

[Joe R.]

First let me say that Noland Adams has created two of the most knowledgeable publications in the history of the Corvette. Also, I am proud to count Noland Adams as a great friend of mine and we have spent many hours via mail and the phone discussing our favorite subject.
Secondly, there are many valuable pictures in his books that would have never saw the light of day without his contacts at GM. For that we owe him a debt of gratitude.
When Noland Adams was researching these books he took thousands of pictures at swap meets and judging meets to illustrate some very specific part or installation of that part. That does not mean that the whole Corvette was factory correct. What it does mean is that he was trying to illustrate that one part!
I believe that the most vaulable pictures in the books illustrate the chassis as they were being built at St. Louis. You can take those shots of the undercarriage to the bank!
While these books are the greatest bank of knowledge that exists on Corvettes we must be careful using every picture like they were taken in the factory at St. Louis.
Again, thank you Noland Adams, we are in your debt,

JR

[Roger W.]

Re: Noland Adams and The Restoration Guide

I agree 100%. I used Nolan's book to identify many of the missing parts on my 59.

[Terry M.]

Re: Noland Adams and The Restoration Guide

First let me say that Noland Adams has created two of the most knowledgeable publications in the history of the Corvette. Also, I am proud to count Noland Adams as a great friend of mine and we have spent many hours via mail and the phone discussing our favorite subject.
Secondly, there are many valuable pictures in his books that would have never saw the light of day without his contacts at GM. For that we owe him a debt of gratitude.
When Noland Adams was researching these books he took thousands of pictures at swap meets and judging meets to illustrate some very specific part or installation of that part. That does not mean that the whole Corvette was factory correct. What it does mean is that he was trying to illustrate that one part!
I believe that the most vaulable pictures in the books illustrate the chassis as they were being built at St. Louis. You can take those shots of the undercarriage to the bank!
While these books are the greatest bank of knowledge that exists on Corvettes we must be careful using every picture like they were taken in the factory at St. Louis.
Again, thank you Noland Adams, we are in your debt,

JR

JR
What you mention about photographs is the reason there were few photographs in the versions of the 1968-69 and 1970-72 TIM&JGs that I was responsible for many moons ago. We used line drawings because those could and did focus on exactly the part(s) we were describing in the text. With the advances in printing technology and the advent of digital photography quality photographs are now more easily obtained, but the risk of incorrect ancillary components continues and it is next to impossible to identify all of those before publication. Then there is also the issue of getting clear images in the end product at a reasonable cost, but that is another issue entirely. Noland's books were printed on glossy stock using a process that is much more expensive than what is used for the judging manuals.

[Troy P.]

Re: Noland Adams and The Restoration Guide

Noland cautions that even the factory photos may be preproduction for parts fit up or testing. As you say, the assembly line photos are the best source.

[Ralph T.]

Re: Noland Adams and The Restoration Guide

Could not have done a proper restoration on my 61without Noland's guide! The proper factory tags and paint smears he outlined were must have information. Thanks Noland much aloha and big mahalo!