Building a Corvette Library

Every Corvette Library Should Include:

The Corvette Black Book 1953-1997 by Michael Antonick. This book is updated annually and provides a quick reference to the unique features and options of each model year. Included are narrative descriptions of changes and improvements introduced with each model year, the number of units produced, engine and transmissions available, options offered, and interior and exterior colors for the year. This pocket-sized paperback contains a wealth of information for enthusiasts, buyers, and owners.

A Buyer's Library Should Include:

The Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide (Motorbooks International Illustrated Buyer's Guide Series) by Michael Antonick. This book provides lots of information for anyone thinking about buying a new or classic Corvette.

An Owner's Library Should Include:

An Owner's Manual is definitely required reading! The Owner's Manual is a booklet that comes with new cars and contains the basic instructions for operating all the gadgets, as well as maintenance recommendations. For classic Corvettes, you can purchase a reprinted copy of the owner's manual instead of an original. Reprints contain the same pictures and text as the original, and even the cover is printed in the same colors as the original. The biggest difference is the price, which for classic Vettes can be significant. Now, if you're going to show your Vette, you may eventually want to invest in an original manual to show with the car--but your reprint will always come in handy for a reference and you won't be afraid to read it with greasy fingers.

An Assembly Manual contains the breakout drawings used by the factory to put your Corvette together. The pages show all the parts, how they fit together, and their original part numbers. This reference comes in handy when you need to describe or identify a broken part as well as the day you decide to disassemble something for a backyard repair. Using your Assembly Manual as a guide, you'll probably get your Corvette put back together with all the parts in the right place--and none left over. You specify your model year when you buy an Assembly Manual.

A Shop Manual contains maintenance, repair, and tune-up information as well as step-by-step instructions for completing various tasks. When it comes to choosing a shop manual, you have a number of options. General Motors published manuals for most individual model years, though for some years you'll find the Corvette information included in the Passenger Car manual with additional information included in a Supplement. Chiltons and other automotive publishers offer Corvette Shop Manuals that cover a range of model years. Here are a few of the titles that are available.

Chilton's Repair and Tune-Up Guide for the Corvette (1953-62).
Corvette, 1966-82 : Shop Manual
Chilton Repair Manual: Corvette 1984-1986
Haynes Chevrolet Corvette 1984-96 (Haynes Auto Repair Manuals)

Corvette Weekend Projects : Maintenance and Repair How-Tos for 1968-1982 Corvettes Though not a shop manual, this reference by John Pfanstiehl, Paul Zazarine is an excellent reference for C3 owners who plan to tackle some maintenance and repair projects.

A Restorer's Library Should Include:

Your restoration library should include a mix of books specific to your model year and some books that discuss general restoration techniques. Here's some of the books you'll want to consider.

For early Corvettes, Noland Adams provides a wealth of information in two volumes. Adams' books are thoroughly researched using information Noland found in Chevrolet archives. The reading can be a bit tedious at times, but the illustrations and information these books contain is worth its weight in gold.

The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide Vol 1. 1953-1962 by Noland Adams
The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide Vol 2. 1963-1967 by Noland Adams

M.F. Dobbins has spent years studying and photographing original Corvettes. His Fact Books are heavily illustrated with clear, crisp detail photos of virtually every area on a Corvette. The expanded captions and tables of information provide a quick reference when you're in the middle of a restoration or planning for one. The Fact Books pick up where the Assembly Manual leaves off, showing you exactly how things are supposed to look.

Vette Vues Fact Book of the 1963-1967 Sting Ray by M.F. Dobbins
Vette Vues Fact Book of the 1968-1972 Stingray by M.F. Dobbins
Vette Vues Fact Book of the 1973-1977 Sting Ray by M.F. Dobbins

For C3 restorers, Richard Newton's guide provides practical how-to information, written in easy to understand language. Newton adopts the position that this may be your first restoration attempt, so he doesn't expect you to know all the terms and techniques before you start. Newton explains the process for a quality restoration--but won't drive you crazy fussing over details that only become important for NCRS, Bloomington Gold, and other high-end concours judging. Newton also expects that you'll want to subcontract certain tasks to experts--and gives you good guidelines for which projects you may want to send out and how to choose a competent expert to do the work.

How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette 1968-1982; Richard Newton

The following books provide either general restoration information or info about specific techniques.

Catalog of Corvette Id Numbers 1953-93 (Matching Number Series)
Corvette Chassis Restoration Guide 1953-1972; Joseph A., Jr. Tripoli
Secrets of Corvette Detailing : Show, Street and Sale; Michael Antonick

Where to Find Corvette Books

The Yankee Lady has a number of excellent booksellers in the Books & Videos tent. In addition to the books mentioned here, you'll find many other useful reference books you may want to add to your Corvette Library.

If those books are so good, then why weren't they mentioned here? Well, the idea for this page was simply to provide a jumping-off point for folks just beginning to assemble a Corvette Library. As your library grows, you'll want to add books covering specific how-to topics, books that describe the histoy of Corvettes--or a particular generation of Vettes, and other reference works. Start with the basics described here, then expand your library as your needs and budget dictate.

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Copyright 1996 Barbara Spear

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