Where do you guys get all your info and literature from?! I spend countless hours scouring the internet and the public libraries and usually come up empty. How do you guys do it? What's your secret for finding this wealth of information?
You got to remember, depending on your age, alot of us on here are older than most and spent alot of those years collecting info and literature! I have alot of GM literature such as manuals and such from dealers that I use to work in...
I collected sales brochures and magazines from 1959 to about 1980. I read everything and made lists of everything. I developed formulas for HP to weight to acceleration and all kinds of crazy things. I became an accountant.
When my son was about 13 I gave it to him to sell on ebay, he had walking around money for the rest of his school years. It taught him a great deal so I have nevr regretted getting rid of it. It was about 8 bankers boxes full. Not all of it is gone either I still have tons.
Right now for instance I have in my hand a 1961 GMC pick up Truck sales brochure amd a 1961 Pontiac User's Guide and also a 1965 Pontiac User's Guide. Right here I have three GM documents that have a welath of information. If I look around a bit I see a 1993 Firebird Shop Manual, and an 82-84 Olds parts book...Yikes!
-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 09:44:34 PM
I come from a family of car people and was lucky enough to enjoy reading and be able to retaiin what interested me. I still have boxes of car books that I read 20 years ago or more.
I bought tons of car magazines starting in the late 70's.
I have been a GM parts man since 1980 and started collecting parts books when I started that career. With a few exceptions I have parts manuals for most of the GM vehicles in the years that interest me, mid/late 50's to date.
A friend at the GM zone office in Winnipeg thought of me when they were cleaning up there one day about 15 years ago. He presented me with one of the most treasured gifts I have ever received. He gave me virtually all the GM assembly manuals on microfiche from the early 60's to the late 80's. That has been a resource that has answered many many questions for me as far as options, measurements, assembly diagrams etc.
Being in the business has certainly helped my collection!
Some days it walks the line between hobby and obsession though.....
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
My resource for most questions unknown to me are usually answered by my Uncle. Yup, I happen to be lucky enough to have known Carl all my life and I don't think I have ever stumped him on a car question. As well, my dad was very young and into drag racing in the early 70's when I was born. I was bitten by the car bug at an early age and have been collecting car mags and dealer brochures for many years. My collection is small compared to some guys but it is great to have the old magizines to look back at. Another great resource for figuring out things has been the internet. Google is great. Carl showed me that a part number works great on google quite often if you are looking for some particular part.
Most of mine comes from the previous generation. The wealth of knowledge and assistance from our elders is insurmountable. In fact I recently learned how to adjust power steering from moderately stiff to an easy 'one finger' steering wheel movement from a friends dad, age about 85.
Most of mine comes from the previous generation. The wealth of knowledge and assistance from our elders is insurmountable. In fact I recently learned how to adjust power steering from moderately stiff to an easy 'one finger' steering wheel movement from a friends dad, age about 85.
Very good point. I should have given credit to my big brother, (now 62) who was born with the car bug. By the time he was old enough to drive he was pretty much capable of repairing anything automotive. I am fortunate enough to be 10 years younger so he was a great mentor. He ran an auto wrecking for close to 40 years so I learned a lot about interchange info, etc.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Its because our love of the same things such as old cars for reasons other than value.This page is so all who enjoy classic cars can get info on there dream.And these people enjoy helping.By next summer all who have gave me advice from poncho will be seeing a red and black 68 beaumont pic here and a very grateful member.I know no one knows all and people are always willing to help.No one knows what poncho means to me. Thanks again and my pic will be up as soon as possible.Red and black stripes.Yes thanks guys and gals
I was fortunate enough to grab a few old manuals from two old dealerships. One place was a Volks dealer at one time, but had GM manuals from the fifties. I grabbed the midfifties GM stuff as well as one lonely DeSoto manual from the late fifties. The other was a Chrysler dealer for about 140 years. Before they had their auction I went and grabbed a bunch of dealer brochures from the early seventies. The prizes out of what I grabbed were the dealer literature on the AAR Cuda and T/A Challenger. My buddy lucked out though on that one and got the DeSoto neon dealer sign - huge damn thing that weighs close to 200 pounds, but is it ever neat!!!!
As most have said its a matter of long term collecting. However, at Spring Barrie I picked up 4 GM parts books from the 60's and a Caddy book from the 80's for $20. Talk about a bargain. Right place - right time!
