DEALER INVOICES AND TITLE WORK

[nova7579]

I received a call from the son of a former Chevrolet dealer that I met at his Dads estate sale the other day asking if I wanted to buy the old invoices from 65-89. He also has the original title work that goes along with them. This was not a known high performance dealer but I am sure he sold some big block cars and some Corvettes. He was fishing for a number and threw out $1000 for them all. I not sure that I could make any money on these???? I thought about suggesting that he donate them to the NCRS in memory of his father or ????? Please give me your thoughts on this as he also stated that he may just destroy them and I do not want that to happen.
ThanX
Brian

[WILMASBOYL78]

I would see if he will let you take them and work on ways to perhaps monetize them or help the hobby...if they turn into money, just agree to share it with him...you do the work and he benefits without breaking a sweat. Of course, this all depends on what kind of guy he is...you would be the best judge of that. Or maybe offer him $500 and agree to split any profit above that...make a deal!

good luck..wilma

[Kurt S]

There's guys that deal with these more that have a better guess on value.
But my first question is what type of docs? GMAC invoices or shippers are worth more than dealer docs.

And hi-po doesn't matter. Researchers and paper collectors just like original documentation. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif
Keep me in the loop - I'm curious &amp; interested.

[scuncio]

I think even at $1000 you could break even by selling 5-10 of them assuming enough of those cars are still around.

[MosportGreen66]

As someone who spent thousands of dollars reuniting the protect-o-plate, dealer invoices, service receipts and photos of my '66 Corvette and just about as much money reuniting the original order form and all dealer receipts with my LT1, trust me when I say its a lucrative business. We could debate to the end of earth the ethics and morals involved in separating the documentation from an original car, but that may not be the point of this thread. You'd make a small fortune assuming the owners want the docs, the cars exist and the VIN is present on the paper.

Dan

[TAR6569]

I'd be interested in the 65-70 stuff for at least fullsize and Corvair.

I collect the paperwork from these cars for my research. I've been collecting this stuff for 15 years. I've got the complete binders of dealer invoices in the past.

I've reunited some Camaros with their docs. Have some fullsize matches but haven't located the cars.

I'd be interested in acquiring all of them from those years and maybe up to 72. I have thousands of docs in my collection. Always helps to see more.

I'd also share the Chevelle and Camaro ones with the two guys I know who research those cars. The information will be put to good use.

Check your PM's, I'm going to send you one.

Warren

[ds1]

I know a former Plymouth dealer that kept that info if the first purchaser did not want it and when he would see one of his old cars in Hemmings, he would call the owner and ask if they wanted to purchase the paperwork.

[PeteLeathersac]

I'd nab 'em up before he changes his mind or someone else beats you to the deal.
Besides selling docs, there may be desirable RPO's worth searching Vins for and purchasing cars to resto or sell as projects w/ original paperwork?
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[L78M22Rag]

Would it hurt to divulge the dealership name in this thread? You might get some quick feedback that tells you its worthwhile.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

A friend got the invoices from a very small dealership in NE Pennsylvania (Horlacher &amp; Sherwood Chev) many years ago. He fished out the hi-po and 'interesting' stuff, and tossed the rest. I found the current owner of a '54 'vette that had been sold as a used car by this dealership. He paid right up, I think it was $200 / page.

I would suggest that you take a look through them first, and keep $100-$200+++ / page in mind - it could turn out to be good for everyone.

[TAR6569]

Marlin, did you find the photocopies you had of the new car invoices for the 67 and 69 Impala SS427's?

[resto4u]

I would be interested in all camaro invoices and shippers.

[William]

I have dealer paperwork for six '66-'69 Corvettes; the VINs have been posted in Driveline several times. Not a peep. Also have a pop from a '69 L78 Camaro. The car had current registration when I sent the owner a letter; never received a response.

We make a big deal of paperwork but many less involved owners of '60s muscle just don't care. Paperwork for non-muscle cars has little value. Most '60s cars were scrapped years ago; locating and contacting owners of the cars that still exist is difficult and may well be impossible with today's privacy laws.

I believe the value of old paperwork is greatly overstated.

[Kurt S]

Over the past 15 years, I've helped connect probably a little over a dozen cars with their paperwork. Out of over a thousand docs.
Lots of cars just aren't out there anymore. Or they are pro-mod and don't care.
One or two could pay for the whole deal, but you need to connect to those one or two.

[hvychev]

I TOTALLY agree with Kurt and William. Some of you guys know about or remember the Fencl Tufo paperwork. I spent a lot of time contacting current owners and believe it or not a few weren't even interested. Some hunted ME down, so that's just how it goes. There was even a current Yenko Deuce owner in that group that wasn't even interested in his paperwork!

Here is one for the books. I have a friend from my gym who is 76 years old. We got to talking about cars one day and the next time I see him he amazingly brings a zip lock bag filled with pictures and two invoices/bills of sale with RPO codes, etc. of a 57 T-bird and I believe a 59 or 60 Corvette that he bought BRAND new! I was shocked and the pictures were KILLER. I had someone here help me track the cars and amazingly we found the Corvette! I wrote the guy a letter and he called me. The Vette was red convert, white cove, small motor, 283 I believe, I forget at the moment, with an auto. The guy told me that he paid $60,000 for a dual quad 4 speed. I said sir, I am sorry to tell you, but this car was a single carb auto. He literally swallowed a lump in his throat and was NOT happy. I told him that the paperwork and photos were for sale and that the original owner would LOVE to talk to him. Tony the original owner is a 76 year old guy who's in the shape of a 30 year old, the guy is a genetic marvel (his mother is 98 and still around), anyway he has a mind like a young guy and had a million stories about the car. Basically I told the guy that the odds of a Corvette owner being called and told that your 55 year old car's owner is still around with pics and the original invoice/BOS on your car and they contacted YOU is like being struck by lightning twice in the same spot. I think we told him $1,000-$1,500 for the package and he was NOT interested. I think that he was so distraught that the car was not originally what he thought it was that he was thinking that the paperwork would cause him more harm then good. Moral of the story is that you never know when it comes to paper on an old car.

[TimG]

I had a similar case with a fellow I met that owned two ’63 fuelie Corvettes within two months of each other. He had both original window stickers.
It turned out that the first fuelie was rolled by the shop boy on a joy ride during lunch. The dealer ordered an identical one for him. I have wonderful pictures of the first one after being rolled. The owner of this car was devastated as he thought he had a wonderful survivor ’63 fuelie. I searched out the owner of the second fuelie and he had no interest in the original window sticker on his car.