How many are left ?

[Bill W.]

I have been keeping track of 65 396 serial numbers since 1981 and have 450 numbers (about 21%). some are complete cars ,some blocks,some just paperwork or old history. My question is for C1s & C2s What percent do you think still exist ? I would guess solid lifter cars had a much higher loss rate ,but due to the high number of low horse donor cars most are still out there ????

[Keith B.]

Re: How many are left ?

I'm sure there are many cars left that the owners do not use the internet and or a car that hasent seen the light of day in many years.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: How many are left ?

Have you been in touch with former 1965 National Team Leader, Dale Fiet? He has Charlie Steuarts survey from way back when...

[Bill W.]

Re: How many are left ?

Thanks Vinnie I have not . I did talk to Charlie quite a bit years ago and I was in his survey . I will send Dale a E mail .

[Wayne M.]

Re: How many are left ?

Bill -- congratulations; 450 out of 2157 (or is it 2158 ) is admirable. For how long have you been doing this ? My experience is, with C2 tankers, that a little under half are still out there (whether the components are still with the original body is another question).

I must have about 30-plus L78s identified; not a real survey but from notes, pics from eBay, seen at meets, etc.

BTW: do you have 21604 ?

[Bill W.]

Re: How many are left ?

Wayne .I started collecting 396 info in about 1981. Like you i found them in for sale adds,swapmeets,shows ebay etc.I would like to think they are all real but who knows. There is a big tank 396 being worked on in Ofallon Il. at Thorps corvette shop .I dont have any info on it and am not sure if its real . D&A Corvette in IL. had about 5 tankers in his shop about a year or two ago. One was a 64 I'm not sure about the others. Yes I do have 21604 . It is listed as a protecto plate only with a 4.11 rear .

[Wayne M.]

Re: How many are left ?

... [re: 396's] ....Yes I do have 21604 . It is listed as a protecto plate only with a 4.11 rear .

Here's a photo of the Protect-o-Plate imprint on the dealer page of the 1965 Owner Protection Plan booklet for 396 # 21604. I saw the car in Howard's shop in Sioux Falls. Took a pic of the car, but it was missing its front clip and the lighting was poor, so not much to look at.

[Bill W.]

Re: How many are left ?

Thanks Wayne I think you gave me that one before but now I have a photo. I have not seen it surface yet .Howard also had a Blue Coupe #17476 needs engine in 1990 ,An Engine#17136 TO40IF in 1990 at Bloomington and a Red coupe #23090 He sure had allot of 396s .

[Patrick B.]

Re: How many are left ?

Bill: I put info about some more 396's on the Tom McNabb thread but I should have put it on this thread.

[Steven B.]

Re: How many are left ?

Anyone know where the Nassau Blue/Bright Blue interior A/P car is that was on the cover of Corvette News in a '65 edition IIRC? My CN's are stored but it may have been at Riverside. Steve

[Steven B.]

Re: How many are left ?

Does it still exist?

[Bill W.]

Re: How many are left ?

Steve all my information goes by vin numbers , without that I cant help you .

[Patrick B.]

Re: How many are left ?

Bill: I put info about some more 396's on the Tom McNabb thread but I should have put it on this thread.

The 5122723 engine rubbing I cited in the Tom McNabb thread is accurate; is not the 22732 car you already had.

There is an interesting story about this car. A friend who also posts here occasionally did a Texas DMV vin number search on all the Corvette vins stamped on the big blocks each of us had collected. (State DMVs probably don't allow that anymore). The vin from this block came back as matching a car in Houston. My friend visited this fellow a number of times over a couple of years and finally was able to buy the car. It had been raced with a 427 and automatic, but amazingly enough it still had the protecto-plate with it. The block was actually one my same friend had sold me, and I sent it back to him when he got the car. He returned to me the very nice 427 block that was in the car. The car has been given a first class restoration and it is probably in Odessa TX.