What Classic Cars Are Easiest to Research

[@portlandon]

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.

[@meek01__53]

Now you order from Kevin Marti who bought her records and for a deluxe version pay $250 and it can take months.

[@grantr5417]

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.

[@mycontinental3611]

Never ending battle for me to keep my garage clean and tidy.

[@cyclonecj4285]

I got 6 pages of invoices for my 1970 mustang from Kevin Marti. Lois saved them, God bless her.

[@terremolander5243]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I do have a Marti report for our 1968 Mercury Cougar. 😊

[@robertrio1164]

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.

[@tomberan1282]

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!

[@blakeneysanders4264]

Thanks for the information Jeff.

[@hiitsstillme]

Great info, thank you!

[@Paulie1232]

Always great videos 📹

[@leethomas9198]

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😁).

[@IndirectConnection1]

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).

[@Leonbray]

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

[@rusttooresurrection813]

That was a good video Jeff!

[@et76039]

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.

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Volkswagon has a similar service like the Marti Report. I know that you can send for a report for the older Bugs. I'm not sure about the Buses and the rest of their stuff. My first car was a 1965 Chevy Chevelle Malibu SS. I got it from the second owner. Now I've heard for it to be a true" SS" it's got to have the letter L somewhere in the VIN. I still have the bill of sale from when I bought my car. And nowhere in the VIN does the letter L show up.

[@et76039]

Dude, documentation can be a headache. Some folks build honest tribute cars, but some sellers will try to mislead. I'm not a GM person, but it might be possible for authentication by VIN to change from year to year. I wish you luck.

[@GeekGinger]

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.

[@abcullens2328]

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.

[@kennethstaszak9990]

The only records destroying fire I ever heard of was the Ford Rotunda fire that destroyed the '66 and older records.

[@timmiller260]

Nice talk

[@michaellowe3665]

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.

[@stephenhotzjustdriveit]

Now I know why you called asking about the Mopar info

[@AnnoyedCoastalBeach-nl4tm]

Steve Megneinte , if I spelled it right.

[@arringtontim07]

Corporate employment contracts have a confidentiality clause, asking an employee anything is like roping a goat.

[@patwilliams3453]

Your title first word is autorestomod. I agree what difference does it make.

[@TheArchiecat]

How did I know it was Ford 🙀

[@danderson9881]

so its Gm Chevy Junk.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

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.