0Navy Blue

Corvette History Binder

Create a binder to organize and keep track of all records for your Corvette. This is much easier to do when you buy your car and are all excited than when you sell your car and you don't have the time or energy to do this for the next owner. I think it will also help a little when I sell my car because it will give the buyer a lot of the information he needs and an added level of comfort.

Here is what I did...

I went to Wal-mart and bought a Mead Five-Star First Gear zipper binder in black for about $8.00. The outside is a soft, padded canvas-like material. On the inside there is a small net zipper pouch, 3 pen holders, large 3-ring binder loops, and some miscellaneous pockets. I looked at a lot of binders, but thought this was the best one. (I'll take some pics if someone will post them on this thread). I then bought 50 heavy-duty top-loading clear plastic sheet protectors (WilsonJones brand - about $3.50) to insert into the 3 ring loops.

Contents of my Corvette History Binder

- 2001 Corvette Video (fits perfectly in the zippered net pocket)
- 38-page oversized 2001 color sales brochure (fits perfectly in largest pocket between plastic lining and zipper pocket)
- Original reproduction window sticker (The rest of these items are in sheet protectors)
- Original reproduction build sheet
- Stickers and paperwork from used car dealer
- Warranty certificate (because this will be passed on to new owner)
- Vin # vehicle inquiry printout
- Copy of AutoTrader ad where I first saw my car!
- 8 page carfax report (each page in a separate sheet protector)
- Service records
- Various receipts for mods

Other ideas I have not included yet:
- Sheet protectors with inserts for photos (before and after photos, etc.)
- Owner's manual will fit in the binder, but I keep it elsewhere
- Notes for projects yet to be completed
- CDs with dyno runs, pics, etc

Think of how much help this would be 20 years from now when the 4th owner is doing a frame-off restoration. Collectors who restore Corvettes from the 1950s and 1960s would love to have all of this original documentation in one binder, but rarely get that lucky.

When I sell my car in a few years it should be easy for the next owner to pick up where I left off and add new records in the remaining empty sheet protectors.

I wouldn't go through all of this trouble for a "Get from A to B car", but this is a Corvette and it's worth it!

jrzvette

Very nice set-up. The person who eventually buys your car will be very appriciative. Unfortunatly for many of us who bought older cars we were lucky if the seller had the ownership papers.

norvalwilhelm

You will be a nice guy to buy a car from. My records are just file folders in my filling cabinet. He couldn't make heads or tails out of it.
When/if I ever sold it is his problem. I am not as nice as you :)

page62

I know a guy who bought a '67 *new* and did that. Now, 35+ years later, he's always breaking out that binder and showing people his original documentation :yesnod:

stpman

I do keep all reciepts for any parts or service but it's just in a paper file folder in my desk.

Steve :steering:

GATOR454

My binder would be empty. The original documentation for my car is long gone. I definately don't save the resto/mod receipts, it's not that I wouldn't want to know how much I've spent, it's that I don't want someone who can beat me up with them to know.

Also,
I don't comprehend this concept.


[Modified by GATOR454, 2:12 PM 2/11/2004]

1LE

Ive done that on my Z28 1LE. Ive got a copy of the order, build sheet, window sticker, and all documentation on the car. I also have pictures of the car comming off of the transprot. All records and receipts in a folder. I also have on order the restoraton kit for my Camaro's and for the Vette from Chevrolet.

Fevre

From what Mike tells me one ride in your vette and the only papers the new owner will need come on a roll. :jester

Larsson

I've written down everything I have done on the vette since I bought it, how long time everything took and so on. All papers on what I bought is saved. I would have loved to get something like that I'm doing now from the last owner, sadly enough there's no original documentation left.
Only the original documentation is worth many hundreds of dollars if it's a originalcar.

Can just recommend everyone to save all information and hand it on to the next owner. It's worth a lot when you sell it, and if you don't it's fun the see how much time/money you spent on your beaty.

1971Ultra

Great idea. I keep every receipt +++++

:thumbs:

1FUNVET

very nice set-up! I wish the person i bought my car from had that kind of info. We got the title and the keys. A nasty looking owner's manual. But I wanna buy a new one soon. I wish I had the car sticker to my car, oh well!! Good job on putting that together. The next person is gonna really love it!! It's like an added present with the car! :cheers:

Corvette ED

I have a folder with every receipt for parts and service done to my Corvette. I was going to add up the money, but I thought I would have a stroke!!!!!!

LiveandLetDrive

I have a cheap old briefcase for this purpose. I don't have all the reciepts, but I do have a few of the major ones. Most importantly (to me) I have a description of everything I've done since I started restoring the car, a giant list, plus details (like VIN, and numbers off of all the parts, as well as diagrams of work in progress) I have a few rolls of film as well, and now that I have a digital cam, I document everything onto my computer. Including dragstrip (on video) and autocross (pictures).

Unfortunately for prospective buyers, I never plan to sell :D

-Chris

EDIT: I've been trashing/selling the original parts for the most part. As I said, never plan to sell, but more importantly, this car will barely resemble it's previous sorry state when I'm done, and I doubt anyone will want to downgrade it to that point! I'm sure not gonna help them, hehe.


[Modified by RUXperienced, 8:26 PM 2/11/2004]

AlwaysWave

:iagree: :cheers:

78 Vette

I think if I put all my bills together I would faint :crazy:

Darrell's 68

Very nice. I wish someone did that for my 68.

Desertdawg

Just don't ever add al those receipt's up.... :nono: :nono: :nono:

gh78

Looks nice but only mistake you made was buying the the materials at that Union busting Wallymart!

0Navy Blue

Walmart sucks (In "Rainman" it was "K-mart Sucks"), plus they destroy the character and mainstreet of small town America...