History of 1953 #276

[Russ U.]

I enjoy the history of a car just as much as I enjoy driving the car.

David Elie owned #276 from 1957 to 2007. David's wife has very generously given me all of the history of the car (pics, docs, etc). David drove the heck out of the car, often in winter conditions. David was a major skier, and was the VP of the US Ski Association at one point. 53 #276 has 317k miles on it, and the original drivetrain is long gone. But the body is amazingly enough, unhit.

David took some great pics of his car. But my favorite piece of history is a letter David wrote to Corvette News in 1969, when CN was preparing its article on 1953 cars. David sent CN a three page letter outlining all of the changes he made to the car. You can just imagine my reaction when Mrs. Elie gave me this letter. The letter is in tatters, but is still readable.

David upgraded the car for performance on an on-going basis. You can see the evolution of the car from the pics David snapped. I built a website reflecting all of the history of car I have, including the 3 page CN letter:

The 1953 #276 Website

Someday this car will be restored back to its factory original condition. But no time soon. I plan on keeping the car gold and driving the heck out of it.

Russ
My Corvette Websites

[Kirk M.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

That website is awesome. Spent some time perusing the pics and reading the docs. What a great history to go along with a great car. Drive her and enjoy it as much as the previous owner obviously did!

[Russ U.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

Thanks for your kind words Kirk. I resized some photos for posting here. The photos:

1. 1957 photo showing gold car after purchase by David Elie - pretty original except for color..

2. 1963 photo showing ski car (the guy in photo is not David) - note 1957 hood and trunk.

3. 1969 photo showing interior - cool 4 track tape player.

[Roy B.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

I like the Scott top that was made in southern Ca. holding the ski's

[Mike E.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

Any idea how he got the Corvette owner's card with his name and VIN on it? He bought as a used car in 57--those were for original owners who sent in their name with the owner's manual card. Did the original owner not send it in? Any ideas?

[Russ U.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

Any idea how he got the Corvette owner's card with his name and VIN on it? He bought as a used car in 57--those were for original owners who sent in their name with the owner's manual card. Did the original owner not send it in? Any ideas?

Well, that's an interesting point. A couple of ideas:

1. When did GM start putting cards in the manuals, and returning the owners card? 1958 or so? I don't really understand how the card thing worked. But when I saw the David Elie's Corvette Owner's card, I figured that GM gave David the card because he was the owner of record when the Owners Card thing started in 1958 or so. But I really don't have any idea when GM started handing out those owners cards, or how a person from 53 to 56 could qualify for a card.

2. In his letter to Corvette News in 1969, David stated that he was the third owner of #276. The oral history is not very clear on this. The oral history never mentions a prior individual as owning the car, however. David told some people 5 years ago that the original dealer painted the car gold. And I know that David purchased the car from an auto broker in Seattle in July 57. And from the paperwork it looks like the broker purchased the car in turn in early 1957. Thus, there is a way for David to be the "third owner" of the car in his mind (the original dealer owned for 3 years, the broker owned for 6 months, and himself), and still be the original owner for GM purposes.

I had never really put all the pieces together like that before. Thanks for asking the question Mike. I am going to circle back to Mrs. Elie and see if she can fill in some blanks.

Thanks,

Russ

[Joseph T.]

Original Owners card

Well, that's an interesting point. A couple of ideas:

1. When did GM start putting cards in the manuals, and returning the owners card? 1958 or so? I don't really understand how the card thing worked. But when I saw the David Elie's Corvette Owner's card, I figured that GM gave David the card because he was the owner of record when the Owners Card thing started in 1958 or so. But I really don't have any idea when GM started handing out those owners cards, or how a person from 53 to 56 could qualify for a card.

2. In his letter to Corvette News in 1969, David stated that he was the third owner of #276. The oral history is not very clear on this. The oral history never mentions a prior individual as owning the car, however. David told some people 5 years ago that the original dealer painted the car gold. And I know that David purchased the car from an auto broker in Seattle in July 57. And from the paperwork it looks like the broker purchased the car in turn in early 1957. Thus, there is a way for David to be the "third owner" of the car in his mind (the original dealer owned for 3 years, the broker owned for 6 months, and himself), and still be the original owner for GM purposes.

I had never really put all the pieces together like that before. Thanks for asking the question Mike. I am going to circle back to Mrs. Elie and see if she can fill in some blanks.

Thanks,

Russ

Russ

I have the original owners card for the 1957 Nassau/Daytona/Sebring car VIN 775. Erwin Rohrer was the first owner when the car was retired and sold by GM in May 1958.

Joe

[Dave S.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

In my paperwork collection I have some items that show things issued to later owners.
1. A 57 Welcome kit issuesd to a 56 Owner.
2. A rare 58 only owners kit issued to a 54 Owner. The Chevrolet letter dated July 16, 1958 indicates the 54 was recently purchased.
3. A letter dated March 28, 1957 indicating a 57 owner was issued a 58 Owners kit along with a 57 Welcome Kit.
It looks like Chevrolet would send subsequent Owners things like Owners Kits if the asked for them. Just part of the promotion of the Corvette automobile.

[Roy B.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

In my paperwork collection I have some items that show things issued to later owners.
1. A 57 Welcome kit issuesd to a 56 Owner.
2. A rare 58 only owners kit issued to a 54 Owner. The Chevrolet letter dated July 16, 1958 indicates the 54 was recently purchased.
3. A letter dated March 28, 1957 indicating a 57 owner was issued a 58 Owners kit along with a 57 Welcome Kit.
It looks like Chevrolet would send subsequent Owners things like Owners Kits if the asked for them. Just part of the promotion of the Corvette automobile.

Sweet can you post a pic.? thanks

[Russ U.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

In my paperwork collection I have some items that show things issued to later owners.
1. A 57 Welcome kit issuesd to a 56 Owner.
2. A rare 58 only owners kit issued to a 54 Owner. The Chevrolet letter dated July 16, 1958 indicates the 54 was recently purchased.
3. A letter dated March 28, 1957 indicating a 57 owner was issued a 58 Owners kit along with a 57 Welcome Kit.
It looks like Chevrolet would send subsequent Owners things like Owners Kits if the asked for them. Just part of the promotion of the Corvette automobile.

I agree with Roy. Sweet.

You must be right - Chevrolet would give owners the kit if the current owner asked for one. Dave Elie's Corvette News collection started with Vol 4 if memory serves me correctly. That would be sometime around 1960 or 1961 I think. I bet Dave asked for an Owners Card around 60/61, and that started the CN deliveries.

Cool. Thanks for the post.

Russ

[Dave S.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

I'll attach the letters first. I can show the ID cards and other things if anyone is interested but the letters show how owners could request things after the fact.

[Rob M.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

Very nice site Russ and cool stories to read...

PS I've added the links to the link page of our chapter (www.ncrs.nl?job=Links&nlanguage=UK)

greetings,
Rob

[William L.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

Russ
Neat story, thanks for posting it.
Bill

[Michael W.]

Re: History of 1953 #276

Russ,

Great story and great sites!!

Thanks for listing her on the C1registry.

Mike