VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories Does it mean what I think it means?

This is a direct quote from the Chevrolet Service News, Dec. 1931, page 104.

"All other Genuine Chevrolet Accessories, previously released, are available for the 1932 car. There have been changes made in these accessories, in the way of refinements, to match the beauty of the new product."

Sounds like to me that Chevrolet is saying any prior accessories made for any earlier Chevrolet are 'ok' to put on a '32. What do you think it means?
To me this is verrrrrrry interrrrrresting.......

Dealers sold accessories and parts that may or may not have been approved by the factory. If you look at the drawing of the 1930 car in March 1931 Chevrolet Service News it seems that Chevrolet must have approved selling 1931 horns to owners of 1930 or older cars.

Looks like "we" today are more concerned about what year is correct for what accessory than Chevrolet was in the 30's.

Using this statement above from 'Chevy...News' an owner maybe could argue his car is "as delivered by the dealer" to a judge at a meet.

As I understand VCCA judging, it is more more important for a car to be like it came from the factory than from a dealer.

The statement was made to sell accessories to dealers and not take back those purchased for previous models. There are many references to retrofitting accessories to earlier models as well. Yes one can argue that they are approved and if you can convince the Judges then no points would be deducted. If the judges give a "ya but" and get out the pencil they can be justified in that action.

If you are reading the Service News how about using wood spoked wheels on a 1931? See page 39, May 1931.

Would it better to say that the accessories that are listed in the parts book for a specific year are those that would be considered correct for that year.Example-installing a 1933 radio in a 1934-yes it will fit but is not correct.In the later years you find 1950s that have the red plastic 1949 hood ornaments and the rail type 1949 grille and trunk guards and I consider them as incorrect.If an accessory for a 1931 was unchanged in appearence and listed as being available for 1932 is should be considered correct.Just the fact it will fit a '32 should not make it "legal" for a '32.There again-to prove that an item is correct you will need documentation-a parts book and accessory book are your best bet.

I totally agree! Many times accessories are carried over from model year to model year, and as long as a specific accessory is shown in the accessory catalog or accessory listing for that specific MODEL YEAR then it should be correct. Just because "it fits" or because it is a "retro-fit" back to the previous model year doesn't make it correct and points should be deducted.

We used to hang the previous years accessories on cars to get rid of them.Accessories could not be returned after they became obsolete.A dealer could return 4% of his annual parts purchase dollar amount if the part number was still in the book.The parts would be shipped back to the stocking warehouse for credit.Parts that were listed as S catagory were scraped.Accessories had a six diget number that began with 985-986-987 or 988 and they could not be returned.

Sounds like the Chevrolet dealers kind of took it in the shorts on some of those accessories. :eek: :eek: :( :( :(

Dealers needed to make that money too, I guess. Maybe dealers and "the company" had a different relationship then.

How would you like to find one of those "returned parts" warehouses today, unopened. yeh.....

Ordering and stocking accessories was the most difficult part of inventory controll.At pre-announcement they would give you a "suggested" accy. order that was selected for your size dealership as far as quanity goes.you would always end up with some real "dogs" that some one thought would be hot movers.In retrospect many of these items are the most sought after ones today so it worked to our benefit.This would include things such as lighted vanity mirrors, bumper guards, hood ornaments and fog lights.In the "car shortage years" these items were just hung on the cars in stock and forced on customers but in buyer market years they were actually slow movers.