Lois Eminger who worked at Ford in the 60s saved a ton of gate release ROT info for 64-66, 61-63 Sport roadster thunderbirds and 67-up Fords. God bless her for that. To have that forethought was amazing. You used to be able to write her with a check for $25 and you would get the sheet if she had it. She’s gone now. Great Ford person.
Actually most Mopars had a computer printed broadcast sheet left in them through the musclecar era. It contains all the relevant part numbers for all components used on the assembly line. The fendertag has information on groups, and options that indicate more basic information. Often they showed options that required modifications needed on the body for later assembly. Example, tinted glass, cutting holes for passenger mirrors, ac, paint, stripes.
Pontiac build sheets were saved by an employee and are available through Pontiac Historical Services. Not sure the date range but I know most 60s and 70s cars are covered.
Us Blue Oval fans can't thank Lois Eminger enough. We were also a step ahead by having the fifth digit being engine specific. The Marti report is a great guide on how to spend your money. My Cougar is a basic Texas car, and nothing in the report truly stood out. 😴 However, the extremely low numbers for my 460-powered Ranchero showed that aiming for originality was a good idea. On the other hand, my first cousin still has the 1976 Scottsdale Sport trim pickup that he got for graduation. 😎 But it seems that the only way to document that is to find a build sheet with the notation "R77" on it. I can only guess how much value could be added to it that way.. 🤔 BTW, it was likely one of the last vehicles GM built with a three-on-the-tree.
The Classic Cougar Community Forum has a large body of information for Mercury Cougar restoration and modifications. Information has been compiled from experience of a large body of owners and restorers
Lois Eminger was a super nice lady. Back in '84 or '85, I called her on the phone and she sent me the original invoice for my '69 Cougar Eliminator. That was an awesome thing to have, because unless it came with the "G" code Boss 302, there's nothing in the VIN that positively identifies an Eliminator.
If I remember correctly, when the Walter P. Chrysler museum closed, they also dumped a lot of records that used to be available. Fiat didn't care less about that stuff. (This is just what I've heard through out the years from others in our community).
You can get information on many Pontiacs . Pontiac turned their records over to an independent company to field questions Pontiac Historical Services. They were spending allot of time answering questions .
An enjoyable listen, it’s curious to the records keeping but then again, back then, these were just cars. While I appreciate a stock car or, more so, rare car it does not overly move me. For instance, I have a 69 Fairlane, base with a 302, Meadowlark yellow and a vinyl roof AND with sport mirrors! My gosh, a 69 in meadowlark yellow with a 302 and sport mirrors, I bet there were but a few hundred of those built to the same spec meaning my 69 Base is rare as few 69 Fairlanes were built in Meadowlark yellow with a vinyl Roof and with sport mirrors perhaps 500 or 600 to the same spec as rate as a Ford GT, a Camaro Rs/SS or a Jag E-type. A buddy of mine is building his 69 Ford Fairlane Fauxbrajet, yep looks just like a Cobra jet with a 428 and all of the goodies but in the end it was a green base model like mine; but without sport mirrors! In brief, whatever floats a man’s boat. As for dropping one motor in to the next, I have no issue. As a kid it was all about cubic inches, manufacture be damned. Our budgets were small ( still budget minded) and we ran with what we could get or run never considering the fact that a Ford went in to a Chevy or a Buick went in to a Fird; as they did. Enjoy the hobby and be safe!
You used to be able to write to Ford, supply them with a vehicle VIN, and request something called a 'History 999 Report'. What you would recieve was essentially a letter that listed info about the vehicle including build date, build plant, engine, trans, interior, exterior, and options. I have such a document dated March 1999 for my 1978 Mercury. I dont know if you can still request this.
I recieved a Marti report on my '68 f100 ranger and learned it came w/ the overdrive on the transmission (wasn't there when i bought it), and the original color was Sky Blue (it was a greenish blue when i got it and i went Black inside and out). The 360 engine was replaced as well w/ a 351c (lucky me😁).
Now you can't get several replacement parts for many cars built in the last 10 years. All the information in the world won't help if you need a hellcat head gasket or a replacement module. 50 year old cars are sometimes easier to source parts to fix. In addition, the parts are simple enough that they can be made.
Pontiac historical society has a lot of records for some of the years too including factory invoices. Of course I have a 71 Camaro not Firebird, so it’s back to NastyZ28.
I only have a VIN for my '69 427 Corvette. I can't access the trim tag on the door jamb and I haven't pulled the interior to see if any paperwork survived.
I was able to get a copy of the original build punch card for my 64 Dodge Polara from Stellantis. They had me fill out a form with my information and I had to provide proof of ownership, they emailed me back a photocopy of it.
Really like this video. And agree with what you said about, does it really matter as to what the vehicle was from the factory of its Judy as run off the mill, garden variety whatever?💁♂️
🔔😎 YeeeeHaaaaw!! If only I had kept some of the brand new 60s cars I had. 🙄 64 Polara 500, 383 66 Charger 383 68 Fairlane Fastback 428 CJ (got used in 73) 70 Camaro RS/SS 396, th400, PS,PB,AC, THE ONLY 396 one that I have ever seen in 54 years.. RARE?
General motors consists of a lot more then just Camaros there fella, Most muscle car era information is available for GM's best division Pontiac, from PHS which is a private third party that has all the records on microfiche (They fished them out of a dumpster at Pontiac) it is similar to Fords Marti report. In addition If your GM vehicle was sold In Canada you can get a package from GM historic services.
You only looked at bottom run chevy and didn't find PHS? You know.. Pontiac Historical Service? I have the build sheets, original invoice and other information for my 64 LeMans, 65 GTO and LeMans, 69 GTO, 70 GTO, 72 GTO, 72 Formula from PHS.. I can get the build sheet for all the Pontiacs I own other than the 1932 two door sedan, most of which are 64-79. The only way to know for sure if a 64-65 or 72-74 GTO is actually a GTO optioned car, is through PHS. The 242 VIN from 66 - 71 identifies GTOs at a glance because the GTO was its own model and not an option those years. PHS is how I know my 70 GTO was a 400 three speed manual with only PS and PB for options, ostensibly a base model GTO. Its how I know my 72 455 HO Formula is numbers matching and had almost every option available on it, including no paint code for dealer applied paint. I don't care how much the Formula is worth (and honestly its a lot), because I do not plan to sell it, and my daughter who will inherit it knows how rare and valuable it is. The 65 GTO was red with blk interior389 4 speed and no other options, same setup as the 69 GTO, except it was 400 with a 4 speed and manual everything else. My 72 GTO is the only one I own that had AC. Typical that chevy people assume chevy is all of GM and apparently know almost nothing about the history of Pontiac. The PHS is equivalent to the Marti report I can get on my 67 Cougar and 71 Mustang, except I know everything I need to know about them, and it goes back farther than 67. I believe it was a man named Sawruk who got the Pontiac information.
Lois Eminger who worked at Ford in the 60s saved a ton of gate release ROT info for 64-66, 61-63 Sport roadster thunderbirds and 67-up Fords. God bless her for that. To have that forethought was amazing. You used to be able to write her with a check for $25 and you would get the sheet if she had it. She’s gone now. Great Ford person.
Now you order from Kevin Marti who bought her records and for a deluxe version pay $250 and it can take months.
I got 6 pages of invoices for my 1970 mustang from Kevin Marti. Lois saved them, God bless her.
Never ending battle for me to keep my garage clean and tidy.
Actually most Mopars had a computer printed broadcast sheet left in them through the musclecar era. It contains all the relevant part numbers for all components used on the assembly line. The fendertag has information on groups, and options that indicate more basic information. Often they showed options that required modifications needed on the body for later assembly. Example, tinted glass, cutting holes for passenger mirrors, ac, paint, stripes.
Pontiac build sheets were saved by an employee and are available through Pontiac Historical Services. Not sure the date range but I know most 60s and 70s cars are covered.
Us Blue Oval fans can't thank Lois Eminger enough. We were also a step ahead by having the fifth digit being engine specific. The Marti report is a great guide on how to spend your money. My Cougar is a basic Texas car, and nothing in the report truly stood out. 😴 However, the extremely low numbers for my 460-powered Ranchero showed that aiming for originality was a good idea.
On the other hand, my first cousin still has the 1976 Scottsdale Sport trim pickup that he got for graduation. 😎 But it seems that the only way to document that is to find a build sheet with the notation "R77" on it. I can only guess how much value could be added to it that way.. 🤔 BTW, it was likely one of the last vehicles GM built with a three-on-the-tree.
The Classic Cougar Community Forum has a large body of information for Mercury Cougar restoration and modifications. Information has been compiled from experience of a large body of owners and restorers
Lois Eminger was a super nice lady. Back in '84 or '85, I called her on the phone and she sent me the original invoice for my '69 Cougar Eliminator. That was an awesome thing to have, because unless it came with the "G" code Boss 302, there's nothing in the VIN that positively identifies an Eliminator.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I do have a Marti report for our 1968 Mercury Cougar. 😊
I like the Boeshield T-9 that you are using
That was super informative! Thank you!!!
If I remember correctly, when the Walter P. Chrysler museum closed, they also dumped a lot of records that used to be available. Fiat didn't care less about that stuff. (This is just what I've heard through out the years from others in our community).
You can get information on many Pontiacs . Pontiac turned their records over to an independent company to field questions Pontiac Historical Services. They were spending allot of time answering questions .
An enjoyable listen, it’s curious to the records keeping but then again, back then, these were just cars. While I appreciate a stock car or, more so, rare car it does not overly move me. For instance, I have a 69 Fairlane, base with a 302, Meadowlark yellow and a vinyl roof AND with sport mirrors!
My gosh, a 69 in meadowlark yellow with a 302 and sport mirrors, I bet there were but a few hundred of those built to the same spec meaning my 69 Base is rare as few 69 Fairlanes were built in Meadowlark yellow with a vinyl Roof and with sport mirrors perhaps 500 or 600 to the same spec as rate as a Ford GT, a Camaro Rs/SS or a Jag E-type.
A buddy of mine is building his 69 Ford Fairlane Fauxbrajet, yep looks just like a Cobra jet with a 428 and all of the goodies but in the end it was a green base model like mine; but without sport mirrors!
In brief, whatever floats a man’s boat.
As for dropping one motor in to the next, I have no issue. As a kid it was all about cubic inches, manufacture be damned. Our budgets were small ( still budget minded) and we ran with what we could get or run never considering the fact that a Ford went in to a Chevy or a Buick went in to a Fird; as they did. Enjoy the hobby and be safe!
Great info, thank you!
You used to be able to write to Ford, supply them with a vehicle VIN, and request something called a 'History 999 Report'. What you would recieve was essentially a letter that listed info about the vehicle including build date, build plant, engine, trans, interior, exterior, and options. I have such a document dated March 1999 for my 1978 Mercury. I dont know if you can still request this.
I recieved a Marti report on my '68 f100 ranger and learned it came w/ the overdrive on the transmission (wasn't there when i bought it), and the original color was Sky Blue (it was a greenish blue when i got it and i went Black inside and out). The 360 engine was replaced as well w/ a 351c (lucky me😁).
Thanks for the information Jeff.
Always great videos 📹
Now you can't get several replacement parts for many cars built in the last 10 years. All the information in the world won't help if you need a hellcat head gasket or a replacement module. 50 year old cars are sometimes easier to source parts to fix. In addition, the parts are simple enough that they can be made.
Pontiac historical society has a lot of records for some of the years too including factory invoices. Of course I have a 71 Camaro not Firebird, so it’s back to NastyZ28.
I only have a VIN for my '69 427 Corvette. I can't access the trim tag on the door jamb and I haven't pulled the interior to see if any paperwork survived.
I was able to get a copy of the original build punch card for my 64 Dodge Polara from Stellantis. They had me fill out a form with my information and I had to provide proof of ownership, they emailed me back a photocopy of it.
Really like this video. And agree with what you said about, does it really matter as to what the vehicle was from the factory of its Judy as run off the mill, garden variety whatever?💁♂️
Steve Megneinte , if I spelled it right.
I have a F250 that starters are grinding and I don’t know if it is substandard parts or if it is something else have you ever had this problem
🔔😎
YeeeeHaaaaw!!
If only I had kept some of the brand new 60s cars I had. 🙄
64 Polara 500, 383
66 Charger 383
68 Fairlane Fastback 428 CJ (got used in 73)
70 Camaro RS/SS 396, th400, PS,PB,AC,
THE ONLY 396 one that I have ever seen in 54 years.. RARE?
That was a good video Jeff!
Nice talk
I think the word "fire" was code for the incinerator.
A common practice in the 50s, 60s and 70s by big corporations, they weren't into recycling yet.
General motors consists of a lot more then just Camaros there fella, Most muscle car era information is available for GM's best division Pontiac, from PHS which is a private third party that has all the records on microfiche (They fished them out of a dumpster at Pontiac) it is similar to Fords Marti report. In addition If your GM vehicle was sold In Canada you can get a package from GM historic services.
Do you know, If one has a ‘60 Thunderbird, is there any other options to see history on how many owners, owned the car?
…and I thank you in advance.
You only looked at bottom run chevy and didn't find PHS? You know.. Pontiac Historical Service? I have the build sheets, original invoice and other information for my 64 LeMans, 65 GTO and LeMans, 69 GTO, 70 GTO, 72 GTO, 72 Formula from PHS.. I can get the build sheet for all the Pontiacs I own other than the 1932 two door sedan, most of which are 64-79. The only way to know for sure if a 64-65 or 72-74 GTO is actually a GTO optioned car, is through PHS. The 242 VIN from 66 - 71 identifies GTOs at a glance because the GTO was its own model and not an option those years.
PHS is how I know my 70 GTO was a 400 three speed manual with only PS and PB for options, ostensibly a base model GTO. Its how I know my 72 455 HO Formula is numbers matching and had almost every option available on it, including no paint code for dealer applied paint. I don't care how much the Formula is worth (and honestly its a lot), because I do not plan to sell it, and my daughter who will inherit it knows how rare and valuable it is. The 65 GTO was red with blk interior389 4 speed and no other options, same setup as the 69 GTO, except it was 400 with a 4 speed and manual everything else. My 72 GTO is the only one I own that had AC.
Typical that chevy people assume chevy is all of GM and apparently know almost nothing about the history of Pontiac. The PHS is equivalent to the Marti report I can get on my 67 Cougar and 71 Mustang, except I know everything I need to know about them, and it goes back farther than 67. I believe it was a man named Sawruk who got the Pontiac information.
Your title first word is autorestomod. I agree what difference does it make.
The only records destroying fire I ever heard of was the Ford Rotunda fire that destroyed the '66 and older records.
Corporate employment contracts have a confidentiality clause, asking an employee anything is like roping a goat.
Now I know why you called asking about the Mopar info
How did I know it was Ford 🙀
Need some signs or banners on those walls. They look like a prison cell.
so its Gm Chevy Junk.