latest Jim M. Chevy records rumor

[MotownMadman]

I have the new Muscle Car Review magazine with the two articles on the documentation project, I dont have a scanner, but if anyone does have a scanner who can post them here I can fax a copy to that person.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[Verne_Frantz]

Motown,
I was referred here from another site because of the discussion regarding the build sheet (potential) availablity for Chevys.
I had to register because this topic is very close to my heart. Specifically, your comment about Jim trying to clean up the hobby really touched a chord I've been playing since '82.
I currently operate a Documentation Service through our local club for '58-'64 Chevrolets (full size). I believe we have the best method available today to document the originality of one of these cars. We did it without any help from Chevy. We did it painstakingly by "interviewing" many original cars (mostly in junk yards, because we found those cars tell no lies.)
If you want to know more about our project and the service we offer, there's a story about it on our club web site: jerseylategreats.com
I hope Jim is successful, for the good of the hobby. In the meantime, I'll keep trying to do what I can for the "good" in the small "passenger car" part of the hobby.
I'm glad I found this site. Please don't view this thread as a solicitation for our service - merely an introduction.
Verne.

[Mr70]

Welcome to this website Stranger...........I mean Verne.
Glad to have you aboard. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Belair62]

Well you just answered a question I posed in another thread....these New Jersey folks worked their butts off trying to figure out the tag codes for big Chevies...correct me if I'm wrong but '58 to '64 Verne ? I was in Late Great Chevies for many years until they started combining with a bunch of other clubs.I read about their work many times.If anyone has questions about big Chevy trim tags I would think Verne would be the one to contact. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[MotownMadman]

Verne,
Welcome. I dont think anyone here would view your post as a solicitation, I would think everyone here would agree that the efforts of you and your club is something that should be recognized and congradulated. Personally, in my opinion, solicitation is something trying to be advertised or sold that is really not needed, which in your case is as far from solicitation as possible since your efforts are not only needed but very much welcomed with open arms. Your efforts are no less important then Jims, if his project is successful there will probebly be gaps in relevant information that will be sorted out through the data of many individual and group efforts around the country, such as yours, Camaro Research Group, COPO Connection, Yenko Deuce Registry, and others to name a few. Complete success in cleaning up this hobby will be had when everyone involved comes together with all the relevant data, be it a group or an individual, any amount of information gained through research will undoubtedly help to fill in the pieces of the puzzle. Knowledge is power, the combined knowledge of the members of this board alone has helped a great deal in sorting out the truth, when considering all the other groups such as this board, many that intersect with each other, much of the origins and history to these cars has already been sorted out, add that to the existing successes that Jim has had through Pontiac Historical Services, and the possible success that Jim and his dedicated group may have with Chevrolet and it is only a matter of time before truth will prevail over the fraud in this hobby. So Verne, consider this an open note of thanks to you and your team for the work accomplished on the big Chevys. The total is a sum of the parts, by specializing in one area you have a better chance of nailing down more facts then if your resources were spread too thin. Send me a PM with your phone # and I will give you a call.
Thanks,
Matt [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[Verne_Frantz]

Matt,
Thank you for your kind comments (and Belair62 as well).
'58-'64 Chevrolet Passenger cars were assembled at a total of 18 different assembly plants over those model years (three of which were Fisher Body "only" locations, with no Chevrolet final assembly line attached). I think one of the greatest assets toward the "good" of the hobby is the fact that there was very little uniformity in the cowl tag coding methods used at the different plants. I even have evidence of option codes changing during one model year at the same plant. This inconsistancy makes it harder for someone to know what to have stamped on his "reproduction" cowl tag.
Jim's efforts should yield better results than our project can provide, since he is collecting build sheets. The build sheets contain information on every option, where our information is based on what was stamped on the trim tag. Unfortunately, not all of the options were coded on those tags. In the earlier years, very few were coded. And even in the later years, some plants only coded for one or two. Most plants did not code for the engine. So, Jim's efforts are really targeting the holy grail - undisputed evidence - the car's birth certificate, while our documentation is derived by "deciphering" of cryptic information based on a sample size to be statisically valid. But many build sheets contain those cryptic codes as well, rather than a simple "X" next to the option, or the actual RPO number, so it is possible that a combined effort will produce many more completed verifications of the originality of the Passenger cars. Please let Jim know that I am 100% in favor of combining efforts for the good of the hobby. That has always been my motivation since the beginning of our project.
If Jim needs any help with his "treasure hunt" regarding the Passenger car plants, I am offering my services (donated, of course).

Verne.

[Belair62]

Hey Verne..I have a builsheet out of a 64 Impala SS 327-300 4spd....can you use a copy in your records ? I don't have a trim tag rubbing of it but remember colors etc...