0Northern Corvette

I have a set of trim rings ring stacked on top of each other and shrink wrapped in plastic with cardboard in between each. Someone said that's how they came in car from General Motors when you bought a new car. Anyone know or have pics of ones from new car?

Alan 71

Hi NC,
Did 'shrink wrap' even exist in the 68-72 period? I don't remember it being around.
I've read that the rings were shipped in a bag described as vinyl or plastic 'bag', with cardboard separating the individual rings. 4 rings to a 'bag'.
I think a close look at the rings through the shrink wrap, particularly studying the clips, the method of their attachment to inner band, the profile shape of the band, and the appearance of the crimp on the ring circumference that holds the band in place, will quickly tell you at least the era these rings were produced, AND, if they COULD have been used in production, and thus might have come in a car.
Regards,
Alan

This is the configuration of the 68-74 ring and was only used in production. (AND have become valuable.)

HBI

They were delivered to the buyer installed on the car. How they arrived at the dealer from St Louis is another question.

Rowdy Rat

I've heard the same... Do you have photos? Back side of a trim ring would be helpful as well.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

Lakeside49

I worked at a Dodge store between 1975-77 while in high school. I detailed the new cars (think Cordoba, Aspen, Dart and Ram Charger). I can tell you for a fact that the four trim rings would arrive in the trunk in a shrink wrapped bundle, stacked within each other with brown corrugated cardboard separating each polished stainless steel ring. The shrink wrapping did not cover the entire package, but fully enveloped/protected the outside but there was a large hole in the center of the rings that, had there not been the separator layers of cardboard, would have been large enough to put your arm through. I remember that the clearish-opaque plastic shrink-wrap was relatively tough to rip open compared to today's stuff so I would sometimes use a blade to get it started vs. tearing it. The supplier knew what they were doing in securing the trim rings - they were secured and would not jostle and cause rubbing which would result in scratches and warranty claims because they were well so packaged. My bet is that Chrysler co-shared many of the same suppliers as GM (and, Ford) and the C3 rings were probably produced at the same specialty supplier as Mopar's at the time. Regardless, the shrink or stretch-wrap technology definitely existed. Good find!

0Northern Corvette

I'll grab a couple pics tomorrow and post them up. I think the clips on mine were in the center of ring, not near top. Thanks

Pete79L82

I worked for a Chevy dealer back in the late 70's. Anytime a car was delivered to the dealer, I would have to check that the trim rings, center caps, hub caps, manual antenna masts, floor mats, front license plate bracket(if your state required one), and owners manuals and various paper work was all accounted for before signing off on the car from the transport carrier.

The trim rings and hub caps were shrink wrapped in a heavy grade plastic separated by cardboard discs. The center caps were stacked with heavy grade paper between them and then shrink wrapped. Floor mats came in a light plastic bag. Antenna masts were sometimes in a plastic sleeve, sometimes just laid in the car bare. The main license plate brackets were just laid in the car along with a plastic bag containing any small brackets and fasteners.

0Northern Corvette

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0Northern Corvette

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0Northern Corvette

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Easy Mike

Dr. Dobbins' books show these. Trim rings were packaged as a set of four and placed in the rear storage compartment. They were installed at the dealership as part of new car preparation which Pete79L82 used to do.

Your set might be original, but could also be a set purchased over the counter at Chevrolet. I'm wondering whether your job number is 57.

Rowdy Rat

Those trim rings don't appear to be for a Corvette application, but I would bet that they were factory supplied for something.

Still very cool!

Regards,

Stan

Alan 71

Hi,
The design of the ring (the step in the front face, and the flat surface that travels back toward the hub) reminds me of the 67 Corvette ring.
Could these be aftermarket rings for that car?
Regards,
Alan