first LS6 chevelle dilemma (muscle car review)

[442w30]

How would you know it's the first one built? Or the last? I assume it falls on the first day of production, but there's nothing saying another one was built before, right?

[mockingbird812]

Diego - because of Chevrolet records scarcity (GM of Canada excluded), or in some cases lack of existence, (or perhaps records withheld! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/crazy.gif[/img] ) you may not be able to definitively determine a first or last car. But, thru establishment of registries and websites such as the supercar registry or Camaro Research Group, etc. you can build compelling cases with populated databases, research, survivor judging, and the like. People like Galen Govier (Chrysler Registry), Darrell Davis (Chrysler S/S) and Jerry Macneish (Camaro) have built incredible databases of factory practices and internal manufacturer memos and directives which can be a big help in determining a first or last car.

[SS427]

This car has been researched for many years and by many people. Before Fran Preve passed away he and Mark had a lot of communication both verbally and written. Prior to that Greg Carlson (the previous owner of this car as many well know) also talked with Fran as well as with Jim Mattison of GM. Fran held most of the Tonawanda records for engines and confirmed to Mark the time line of the LS6 production start as well as many other things. The original receiver of this LS6 was a GM zone rep (who is still alive) and was also told by the plant that this was the first one built. On the contrary, neither Mark, Greg or I have EVER stated this was the first one built only that it was the first known and publically documented car. The earlier car has been known about for at least 6-7 years but the general public had always passed it off as a possible fake. It was not until the MCR feature came out that some of those same 'general public' people changed their tunes and now say Mark's car is maybe not the first and likely just for the sake of argument. I will add that there are some very respected Chevelle people who have also looked at the records of the Canadian car and felt they were real. I respect the owner of that car and have seen the paperwork and still have concerns.

The one difficulty that many of us have are with all the other pilot cars, they were SOLD to Chevrolet Motors and shipped to a dealer to be picked up by a GM rep and used as a test mule and to introduce them to the other dealers. The other car is the only one I know of that was shipped to the Canadian dealer as a stock order and sold to the general public. Seems very odd that GM would ship a &quot;first of&quot; pilot car to a dealer as just another piece of inventory. Besides that, being it was the highest horsepower regular production muscle car made at that time, it also seems rather strange that an American auto manufacturer would ship that to a (Canadian) dealer instead of a US dealer. I personally have never said the car was a fake and if it turns out to be real, cool. However, it will rewrite how we look at timelines, documentation and how we perceive things to have been done by GM. A book could literally be written on the information that has been found, written, people interviewed, etc on Mark's car and the reasons why many have always thought it to be the very first one built. I am really getting tired of having to explain it and sometimes to the same people that argue just to have something to argue about and be heard. On the other hand, I have always said, never say never.

Could there be an earlier LS6? Hell yes, you would be a fool to think there couldn’t have been!!! However, and prior to the article coming out and after dozens of people researched it, no one has ever come up with solid proof of another. Now if you are still bored there are hundreds of pages of discussions on the net regarding the “Pilot car” but here is just one…………. http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...lot&amp;page=2

[ORIGLS6]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have always said, never say never.

</div></div>

Or &quot;Always&quot;. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

BTW, a belated Congrats on the original article. Well deserved my Friend!

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> A book could literally be written on the information that has been found, written, people interviewed, etc on Mark's car and the reasons why many have always thought it to be the very first one built. </div></div>

I'll take two copies. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

[Xplantdad]

Perfectly said Rick...

[mockingbird812]

Nicely stated Rick. Thanks for the history lesson.