ssl78@aol.com

I noticed my 1996 Corvette was built in 4/95 does any one know what was the first month they built the 1996 production year/

WVZR-1

What are the last 8 digits of your VIN?

ssl78@aol.com

very low production number T5100012. I find it strange that they made it while they were still making the 95 model

96GS#007

Probably a Pilot Car.

My GS was...



15 GS Pilots and probably around the same number of other '96s

ssl78@aol.com

Where do you find the build sheet in a 96 Corvette? Probably was a pilot car yours was built 4/95 also.

c4cruiser

I would suggest going to the National Corvette Museum website and ordering the build sheet and window sticker for your car. Go here to order them. But if you join the NCM first, then you can order the two documents at the NCM Member price.

The NCM membership is fully tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

ssl78@aol.com

I found my build sheet on the tank but couldnt get it off. I will send away for it and see what it says. Thanks

96GS#007

Yep. You have to loosen the tank strap to get it. Typically the nut on the strap is frozen/rusted. As of a couple years ago the straps were still available from GM so it was easier/quicker to just cut the old one and replace with new. I was taking mine apart to replace a leaking fuel tank with a new one.

ssl78@aol.com

My Corvette is still pretty clean so the tank strap came right off, I could read part of the tank sticker but the part that would say pilot is really worn out. I will have to wait for the duplicate to come and see.

wfd1739

How would you get to it after you loosen the strap?

ssl78@aol.com

I removed the license plate and reached in and removed the tail light

mazdaverx7

^^Well played!

MARKRUBYRED

My '93 Ruby 'Vert has two build sheets. One attached to the tank, which I left alone and the 2nd was stuffed in the frame rail, under the power steering reservoir. It was a pain to get, since it was folded and stuffed but with alot of perserverance, needle nose pliers and dentist tools (my FIL owned a Dental Lab) I was able to get it. Further, I got the build sheets from GM when they were still sending them at no cost.

c4cruiser

One nice thing about getting the window sticker from the NCM is that it will show the MSRP pricing although an early build like your car may not have the prices of the car and the options installed.

The sticker will also show the name of the dealer that got the car.

When I ordered the build sheet and window sticker for my '87, I found out that it originally was sold and sent to GM Environmental Services in Warren MI for use as a test car.

If you look at the pic of the build sheet posted by 96GS#007, it shows his car went to the GM Proving Ground in Milford MI.

Stang-etr96

Well, VIN 00001 was built on Mar 31, 1995; it was a yellow LT4 cpe. VIN #12 shows to be built on Apr 7, 1995 and is a red conv., grey int, LT1. Your car was the second red car to be built and the first red conv. 4th pilot conv. of 18 pilot conv. built.

JackDidley

I was at the museum when the 96 GS and the 96 CE preview cars were on display.. Pretty sure it was summer 95. They had to be early build cars. Other early 96s would not surprise me.

ssl78@aol.com

Yes thats my car. How many pilot cars were made total, do they say if they were used for some special event.

wydopnthrtl

Pilot cars are made either in line with regular production (at regular line speed) or in special runs w/consecutive numbers and at a slower speeds (usually for significant MY changes). Basically they are running the next yrs pre-production units to see how the changes affect the assembly process. They need these units ran to gather data and can then extrapolate / predict how the next yrs changes will effect the assy process.

These cars are usually much more carefully studied and evaluated than a regular production unit. At least.. from the body and assembly standpoint. The parts that are assembled elsewhere and shipped in (like engines and transmissions) may or may not have had the same level of attention.

All in all those cars would most likely be of better quality than the rest of the yrs production.

Stang-etr96

In MY 1996 their where 60 pilot cars total; 42 cpe & 18 conv.
VIN #1 thru #49 are all pilot cars, 34 where cpes and 15 where conv., the balance of the pilot cars are scattered through production as previously mention to check quality.

This numbers only reflex regular production cars and CE not GS's as they had there own special VIN.

ssl78@aol.com

Its on Ebay for sale