Do GM Records Exist?

[69L89396]

Does anyone know what happen to or did GM have the records on the first generation Camaros? Is anyone working on gitting this or did it ever exist?

[William]

I guess no one responded because this has been hashed out here previously. Chevrolet has never made a statement, I expect they could care less. Some Corvette guys were granted access to a storage facility and found records only back to the late '70s. It is a bit much to expect a Chevy to maintain hardcopy records on the millions of vehicles built in the last 35 years although I suspect the info could exist on mag tape. Just ferreting out the first-gen stuff (700,000 records) would be a massive, incredibly boring task.

[69L89396]

How did they get the Pontiac records and not the GM? If they exist, why won't they let someone sort through them?
I sometime wonder if they even exist! If they did wouldn't they have surfaced by now?

[x44d80]

Over at www.camaros.net a guy by the user name JohnZ who worked at GM said no records exist. He points out just how many cars were built and the warehouses GM would need to keep the paper. I often wondered if GM didn't transfer records to microfiche and store off site. I worked for a grocery chain in the early 80's and everything from mag tape was transferred to fiche and sent to a storage facility....

[69L89396]

Why would GM even spend the money and effort to keep records on cars that were sold? From their side it doesn't make sense to keep old records. What would be the purpose?

[JoeC]

Chevy did not keep the records on purpose but there may be some records that were put in storage and still exist simply because they were never thrown away. There may still be old storage rooms all over the country in old plants. Al Colvin found all the records for M22 transmissions shipped out of Muncie from 1965 to 1974. The records were in an area above the plant enclosed by chicken wire. He said there is also a similar area in the Central Office Records Retention Area.
How did Jim Mattison get all the Pontiac records?
Where did they find the old Caddy records?
I still have a little hope because I am amazed about old records that keep showing up on the Internet.
An example is Ellis Island in NY. More than 12 million immigrants passed through between 1892 and 1954 and they still have the records. They have them on a web site where you can search for your relatives names. I found some of my relatives on there and it even had the amount of money they declared when they arrived.

[MadMike]

I've heard - from someone I'd believe (was mentioned in this thread) the records, or some portion exists.
He believes the liability issue is the reason why chevy isn't falling all over itself to cater to us folks.
Imagine - as already mentioned, if every LS6 Chevelle and 68 Z28 owner, all 100,000+ of them start suing GM for the paperwork to verify their car? They'd need a new division just to deal with this headache.

The liability is just a guess. Maybe they're just lazy or don't care or the task to dig through this mess is not cost justifyable. The same person above said either he himself or an aquantance of his checked out a nova, where it was delivered and how it was equipped by making a phone call. He got his answer and was told not to call that number again.

Maybe chevy has their paperwork stored in a UFO? [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

The build sheet stuff is from Jody Prather, since it pertains to 2nd gens, I publicize the fact that he can dig these sheets up via my site (nastyz28.com). He's helped a couple of my guys get their build sheets.

[Mr70]

My feelings on this.
The records don't exist from Chevrolet because they didn't care enough to keep accurate records back then,and they don't today.
Why?
Because Chevrolet is making 100's of thousnads if not Millions in the restoration market today.
All those Clone cars and undocumented Muscle cars are having Brand new emblems and parts put on them today.And who sells the License for all these parts...GM.
So buy coming forward with records (If they do even exist) to show who's car is real and who's is fake,Chevrolet will be losing BIG money and making there sales market much smaller then it is today.
This has everything to do with good Business sense,and not about the Love of the Hobby with them.
If these records do exist Today, (God I am tired of this rumor every year) no matter what they Charge these owners today for that documentation,it will be a small profit for them compared to what they are making on parts now with all these Clown Cars being made.
Chevrolet didn't build this many LS-6 Chevelles! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[JoeC]

Don't give up hope on Chevy records. At least some still exist. You have the GM of Canada records, the Yenko records, and the ZL1 vin numbers and info.
There may be more out there somewhere.
NICB has the original dealer and date for many cars.
Some Hurst Olds records were found.
I read about a guy who bought records from a Mustang assembly plant and can document some cars built at that plant.
There is the Pontiac Historical Service that was started by Jim Morrison who is listed as a moderator on this site
here is a link to PHS

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/PHSInfo.html

a link about Jim M
http://www.yearone.com/leader_ads/jimmattison.html

this is from Caddy web site
"Cadillac for the first time is releasing archive records for the purpose of funding the historical Cadillac Museum. Cadillac is now expanding the range of documentation offered for 1903-1970 models, to include copies of Salesman's Data Books, Operation Manuals, Optional Specifications, etc. Sorry, 1968 record sheets are NOT available. A list of available additional documents for the car will be included or may be requested by mail at no cost.
To receive a copy of the original Build Sheet and Historical Package for your Cadillac or LaSalle Motor Cars 1903-1970, Send $50.00 payable by check or money order, along with your vehicle identification number, year, body number, and style number of your Cadillac or LaSalle To:
http://www.caddydaddy.com/cadhistpage.htm

[69L89396]

mr70,
I'm with you on this one that GM didn't care plus so many cars were built back then. I have always wondered from their stand point (GM) why would they want to keep these kind of records.

I find your option very interesting on the repro market. I have never thought of it that way.