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1953-1959
Corvette owners manual Reprint Identification


THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU DETERMINE IF YOUR CORVETTE OWNERS MANUAL IS ORIGINAL OR NOT, OR WEATHER THE MANUAL YOU ARE THINKING OF BIDDING ON IS ORIGINAL



♦ FIRST THERE ARE TO MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING SCAMMED INTO PAYING UP TO $100's FOR FAKE / REPRINT SO CALLED NOS / ORIGINAL CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS

♦ I WILL BE UPDATING THIS GUIDE SOME MORE AS DAYS GO ON.

♦ PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF MY GUIDES, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I KNOW IF EVERY ONE WANTS ME TO WRIGHT MORE. I PLAN ON GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO 1972 WITH THE CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS

SOME KEY HINTS IN CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS, THIS GOS FOR ALL YEARS 53-72.




(1) EXCEPT FOR THE 1ST EDITION 1953 IF THE MANUAL DOS NOT SAY WHAT EDITION IT IS IT IS A REPRINT

(2) CHEVY DID NOT USE WHITE PAPER IT IS OFF GRAY.

(3) ALL CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS EXCEPT FOR 1953 ALL CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS HAVE THE PART NUMBER ON ONE OF THE FIRST 2 PAGES OR THE BACK COVER, IF NOT IT IS A REPRINT

(4) ALL CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS 1953-1972 EXCEPT FOR THE 1ST EDITION 1953 & 1ST EDITION 1956 HAD WHAT EDITION THEY ARE ON ONE OF THE FIRST TWO PAGES,((( IF IT DOS NOT SAY WHAT EDITION IT IS IT IS A REPRINT ))).

(5) THE COVER IS ALWAYS THICKER THAN THE INER PAGES

(6) (((ALL))) CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS 1959-1980 CAME WITH A REMOVABLE POST CARD IN THE FRONT OF THE MANUAL BEFORE PAGE #1. COMMONLY CALLED CORVETTE NEWS CARD. IF THERE IS NO CORVETTE NEWS CARD OR THE STUB THAT HELD THE CORVETTE NEWS CARD IT IS A REPRINT!!!!!!!!! YES ALL!!!



WHEN LOOKING FOR ORIGINAL MANUALS, IF THE MANUAL YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS ABSOLUTELY MINT (((BEWARE))) THE MANUAL IS XX YEARS OLD IT IS VERY VERY VERY HARD TO KEEP A MANUAL MINT FOR 30+ YEARS NO MATER WERE IT IS KEPT!!!!




Grandpas Grandpas
DASH VS CIRCLE PERFORATIONS


WHAT IS A CORVETTE NEWS CARD?


♦ A CORVETTE NEWS CARD IS A DETACHABLE POST CARD THAT WAS IN THE FRONT OF EVERY CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS FROM 1959-1980
♦ ((( 1957 & 1958 IT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE OWNERS MANUAL)))
♦ YOU COULD DETACH THE POST CARD AND SEND IT INTO GM AND YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ONE OF THE FALLOWING ((( CORVETTE OWNER'S KITS )))

♦ FROM 1957-1966

YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN:
· A 10K GOLD HAT PIN.
· A FELT JACKET PATCH.
· A FREE 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO CORVETTE NEWS MAGAZINE.
· & A OWNERS IDENTIFICATION CARD.

♦ FOR 1967

YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN:
· A FELT JACKET PATCH.
· A FREE 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO CORVETTE NEWS MAGAZINE.
· & A OWNERS IDENTIFICATION CARD.

♦ FROM 1968-1973

YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN:
· A FREE 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO CORVETTE NEWS MAGAZINE.
· & A OWNERS IDENTIFICATION CARD.

♦ FROM 1974-1980

YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN:
· A FREE 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO CORVETTE NEWS MAGAZINE.



Grandpas Grandpas

1953 TEMPORARY MANUAL




♦ THE 53 TEMPORARY MANUAL WAS (((ONLY))) GIVEN OUT WITH 1953 CORVETTES BELIEVED TO BE ONLY THE FIRST 150 OR SO.

♦ THIS MANUAL WAS PUT INTO THE CORVETTES DUE TO A PRINTING FLAW IN THE OWNERS MANUAL MAKING THEM NOT READY TO ISSUE TILL LATER ON THAT YEAR.

♦ THERE ARE TONS AND TONS OF REPRINTS OF THIS MANUAL OUT THERE, THEIR ARE PROBABLY NO MINT ORIGINAL MANUALS LIKE THIS ONE ANY WERE.

♦ THE COVER IS TAN NOT WHITE THE INSIDE OF THE COVER IS WHITE

♦ EVERY ONE OF THIS MANUAL WILL HAVE A STAPLE HOLE IN THE COVER (HELD THE POST CARD)

♦ THIS MANUAL NEVER CAME WITH A 1954 OR 1955 CORVETTE

♦ THIS MANUAL IS ((( NOT ))) DATED!!!
(1) IF THE TOP OF CONTENT PAGE READS 1953 1954 1955 SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT IF THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTENT PAGE READS 1953 IT IS A REPRINT
(1) IF THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTENT PAGE READS 1953 SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT

1953




♦ THE COVER IS ORANGE WITH 2 POLO PLAYERS IN THE BACKGROUND,THE ONLY WORDING ON THE COVER IS "YOUR CORVETTE OPERATIONS MANUAL", DOS NOT SAY THE YEAR.



♦ THIS MANUAL WAS MADE FOR 1953 AND NOT FOR 1954 OR 1955

♦ THE 53 MANUAL DID NOT COME WITH THE FIRST 150 OR SO CORVETTE DUE TO A PRINTING FLAW

♦ THE FIRST 150 OR SO CAME WITH THE 1953 TEMPORARY MANUAL AND A POST CARD TO SEND IN FOR A OWNERS MANUAL WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED LATER ON IN THE YEAR.

♦ THERE ARE 2 EDITIONS 1ST & 2ND THE FIRST EDITION IS NOT MARKED YEAR OR EDITION THE SECOND EDITION IS MARKED ((2ND)) ON THE FIRST PAGE UP ON THE RIGHT HAND TOP CORNER OF THE PAGE.

♦ THE LEFT OVER OWNERS MANUAL WERE OUT INTO THE 1954 CORVETTES UNTIL STOCK RAN OUT

THEIR ARE REPRINTS OF THIS MANUAL GOING AROUND BUT, HERE SOME KEY TALE TELLS ARE



(1) THE PAINT ON THE POLO PLAYERS IS OFF.

(2) IF THEIR IS A HAND IN THE PHOTO ON PAGE 45 ( FIG.70 ) AND THEIR IS NO (( 2ND )) ON THE FIRST PAGE.SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(3) THE FIRST EDITION HAD NO HAND, THE SECOND EDITION HAS THE HAND.

(4) ON THE BACK COVER THE FIRST EDITION THERE IS ONE LINE THE SECOND HAS TWO LINE (( NO LINES MEANS REPRINT )) IF THEIR IS ONE LINE ON THE BACK COVER AND THEIR IS A 2ND ON THE FIRST PAGE.SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(5) IF THE WHOLE COVER IS ORANGE CAR,SKY,GROUND,POLO PLAYERS EVERY THING. SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(6) IF THE CORVETTE ON THE COVER LOOKS LIKE IT HAS DIRT ON THE BODY THROWN UP BY THE FRONT WHEEL


1954




♦ THE 1954 CORVETTE DID NOT HAVE A OWNERS MANUAL OF ITS OWN, THE FIRST SO MANY CORVETTES CAME WITH THE LEFT OVER MANUAL FROM 1953.


1955




♦ 1955 DID NOT COME WITH ANY OWNERS MANUAL.

♦ THEY DID COME WITH A POST CARD TO SEND AWAY FOR A SUPPLEMENT CORVETTE SHOP MANUAL.

♦ A SUPPLEMENT CORVETTE SHOP MANUAL WAS NEVER PRINTED OWNERS WERE SENT A SUPPLEMENT 1955 PASSENGER CAR SHOP MANUAL.


1956




♦ THE COVER HAS A RED CORVETTE ON IT AND OPERATIONS MANUAL ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE (((ORIGINALS DO NOT HAVE THE YEAR 1956 ON THE COVER))).

♦ ON THE SECOND PAGE ALONG THE BOTTOM IT SHOULD HAVE 1956 ON THE LEFT AND THE PART NUMBER (3726900 1ST) (3737520 2ND) AND EDITION # ON THE RIGHT. **THE FIRST EDITION DID NOT SAY FIRST EDITION ON THE MANUAL

♦ ON THE FRONT COVER THE FRONT TIRE SHOULD NOT BLEND IN WITH THE BACK ROUND OF THE COVER

♦ 1956 CORVETTE FINALLY CAME WITH A OWNERS MANUAL WITH OUT ANY DELAYS.

♦ THE PART NUMBER FOR THE 1956 2ND&1957 OWNERS MANUAL ARE THE SAME NUMBER.

(1) IF THE COVER HAS 1956 ON IT....SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT

(2) IF THE FRONT TIRE ON THE COVER BLENDS IN WITH THE BLACK BACKGROUND....SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT

(3) IF


1957




♦ 1957 SAME STYLE COVER AS THE 1956 BUT IT HAS A BLUEISH GREEN ((TEAL)) CORVETTE ON IT AND 1957 OPERATIONS MANUAL ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.(((THIS IS THE FIRST CORVETTE OWNERS MANUAL TO HAVE THE YEAR ON THE COVER)))

♦ ON THE SECOND PAGE ALONG THE BOTTOM IT SHOULD HAVE 1956* ON THE LEFT AND THE PART NUMBER 3737520 AND EDITION # ON THE RIGHT. *1956 FOR 1ST 2ND & 3RD EDITIONS 1957 FOR 4TH EDITIONS

♦ THE PART NUMBER FOR THE 1956 2ND&1957 OWNERS MANUAL ARE THE SAME NUMBER.

♦ THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE CORVETTE NEWS CARD.

♦ FOR 1957 THE CORVETTE NEWS CARD WAS AN EXTRA CARD STOCK POST CARD ((( NOT ATTACHED TO THE OWNERS MANUAL.)))

THE REPRINTS

(1) MOST 1957 CORVETTE REPRINTS ARE FORTH EDITIONS SO BE EXTRA SHARP IF BUYING A FORTH EDITION.

(2) LOOK AT PAGE 84 DOS IT HAVE THE PAGE NUMBER 84 ON IT? IF NOT SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(3) LOOK AT THE CONTENTS PAGE CAN YOU FALLOW THE DOOR SEAM ALL THE WAY AROUND ON THE MIDDLE CORVETTE? IF NOT SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(4) LOOK AT PAGE 4 CAN YOU SEE THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH ? IF NOT SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(5) IF ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS GREEN....SORRY TO SAY ITS A REPRINT

(6) IF THE CORVETTE ON THE COVER IS GREEN OR RED.... SORRY TO SAY IS A REPRINT ((( SHOULD BE TEAL )))


1958




♦ THE COVER CHANGED A BIT HAVING A BLUE BACKGROUND AND A BLACK AND WHITE CORVETTE LOOPING FROM LEFT HAND SIDE TO THE BOTTOM IT SHOULD READ 1958 OPERATIONS MANUAL.

♦ ON THE SECOND PAGE ALONG THE BOTTOM IT SHOULD HAVE ( 1957 FOR A 1ST EDITION ) ( 1958 FOR A 2ND EDITION ) ON THE LEFT AND THE PART NUMBER 3750352 AND EDITION # ON THE RIGHT.

♦ FOR 1958 THE CORVETTE NEWS CARD WAS AN EXTRA CARD STOCK POST CARD ((( NOT ATTACHED TO THE OWNERS MANUAL.)))

(1) THE FIRST PAGE OF ALL FIRST OR SECOND EDITIONS SHOULD BE A 50th ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF GENERAL MOTORS!!! IF THE FIRST PAGE IS NOT THE 50th ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE, SORRY TO SAY IT IS A REPRINT.

(2) IF THE FIRST PAGE IS THE CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SELECTION OF THE CORVETTE...SORRY TO SAY ITS A REPRINT

(3) IF YOU HAVE A 1ST EDITION AND YOU CAN SEE THE STEERING WHEEL ON PAGE 4.....SORRY TO SAY ITS A REPRINT



1959




♦ HAS THE SAME STYLE COVER AS 1958, HAVING A DARK RED BACKGROUND AND A BLACK AND WHITE CORVETTE, LOOPING FROM LEFT HAND SIDE TO THE BOTTOM IT SHOULD READ 1959 OPERATIONS MANUAL.

♦ ON THE SECOND PAGE ALONG THE BOTTOM IT SHOULD HAVE 1958 FOR 1ST 1959 FOR SECOND ON THE LEFT AND THE PART NUMBER 3758068 AND EDITION # ON THE RIGHT.

♦ THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE CORVETTE NEWS CARD IN THE FRONT OF THE MANUAL. AND ALL CORVETTE OWNERS MANUALS HAD THEM!!!

(1) IF THE MANUAL DOES NOT HAVE A NEWS CARD IT IS A REPRINT!!!

(2) IF THE MANUAL IS 100% MINT BEWARE SOMEONE IS MAKING VERY GOOD REPRINT SECOND EDITIONS.


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