Dealer Zone Number Help

[Rob]

Does anyone have an image of a window sticker or build sheet clearly showing the Dealer number and Zone Number for use here on the site?

Also, can anyone give me a history of the Dealer Number and Dealer Zone Numbers? Are Dealers still assigned these numbers? If not, what year was the last year that Dealers were issued the numbers. What do the numbers signify?

 

[68Roadster]

Here ya go Rob....let me know if you need other info...
I don't know anything about what they mean....sorry.

 

[Rob]

If you were tracing the history of your Corvette, and searching for the selling dealer, what information would be helpful to you in your search?

So far, I've got the obvious:

Name
Address
Telephone (if still in business)
Dealer Number
Zone Number

 

[c5vetter]

Rob,

have you posed the question on the NCRS web site? there is a link for folks to "research" DEALER CODES

FYI - decided to see if I could do a "screen shot" and provide you the info from the NCRS web page!

This information is compiled from information gathered from members and others. It is not guaranteed for accuracy. General Motors assigned zone and dealer numbers to active dealers at the time of assignment. As dealerships changed ownership and went out of business the dealer number may be re-assigned to other new dealerships. For this reason dates are included with this information where known.

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To perform a search:
Enter the terms that you wish to search on in each category. You can search on one or all categories at once. To narrow your search try to fill in as many categories as you know. You can find all of the dealers in a state, or you can find all of the dealers in a Zone, it is up to your creativity. You can search for a partial item also. If you are looking for a dealer name such as "Woods Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac" you can search on "Woods". That will bring up all dealers with "Woods" in their name. If you don't find anything you need then it may not have been entered yet. If and when you find it please enter it here to share with everyone.

Zone
Dealer #
Dealer Name
Address
City
State AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY - BC AB SK MB ON QC NB NS PE NF YT NT Other
Zip
Source Year This is the Year Date on the Document that Verifies the Zone Codes.
Active Still in Business No longer in Business Unknown Changed Name
Your Email
Comments

About 'Zone' and Dealer Codes:
These were listed on the window sticker and build sheet and denoted the area and dealer that the car was destined to be delivered to. Finding this info on your classic will determine where your vehicle was originally sold.

If you have an original window sticker, this info should be on the sticker...probably near the upper left below or beside the dealer's address. The number is written, usually, as a five digit #...the first two are the Zone # and the remaining three are the dealer #. and of course it's on the build sheet too.

A note about the window sticker, it sits right below the "Chevrolet Motor Division General Motors Corporation" print (at least for 1970) and was written as 27-208.

Canadian cars may list the number as a unit: 81900 - this would be zone 81 dealer 900 (from GM production sheet).

 

[Rob]

Yep, I've already been there. I'm in the process of building a better database system here and I'm looking for ways to improve it and provide more helpful information.

 

[ChuckG]

I can add a little bit, Rob. I can't tell you WHEN the Zone/Dealer listings started, but I do know the following.

When it began, each dealer withing EACH zone was alphabetized. They were assigned a number. So Zone 1 Dealer 1 might be "Aardvark Chevrolet", Dealer 2 might be "Apple Chevrolet", and so on.

When dealerships sold, the number stayed the same, so if "Baker Chevrolet" bought "Aardvark Chevrolet", it would still be Zone 1 Dealer 1.

It becomes more confusing because GM decreased the number of Zones, incorporating one into another.

One of the NCRS articles I have says that in 1967, there were 48 Zones. This decreased to 44 by 1982. By 1994 they were down to 28.

This article is contradictory, because in the Zone listing included with the article, they list Zones from 01 to 79 in the USA, and list another 11 in Canada. This confuses me. Chuck

 

[ChuckG]

Here's a scan of the Zone list from an old Corvette Restorer magazine. Sorry it's so lousy. Had to reduce it from 8 1/2 x 11 actual size to upload to "conform" to Forum rules as to size. Chuck

 

[ChuckG]

Now, here's a HUGE picture. Sorry I'm struggling with image sizes. I scanned this at 8 1/2 x 11. Don't know how it got so huge. Hey, at least you can read it. Chuck

I deleted the HUGE scan. Thanks to BarryK. Chuck

 

[Rob]

Chuck,

This information is extremely helpful! Thank you so much! I'll go ahead and add these zones into the database. Although will they still be helpful even though dealer names are not associated with them?

 

[Rob]

Actually, the Dealer Zone Number system is, in fact confusing. According to Chuck's graphic image, Zone 43 was issued to Portland, Maine. It's noted that it was closed about 1976.

I have Betley Chevrolet of Derry, NH listed as being in Zone 43. That dealer is still in business (near my house too), and sells a ton of Corvettes. So....I'm not sure how best to organize the system/database....or what information is valid.

 

[BarryK]

Chuck

maybe this resizing will help.......

 

[ChuckG]

Thank you, Barry. I don't know why my scanner "struggles" with sizes, too big, too small.

Rob. Regarding the Zones, you have to realize that these Zones encompassed areas greater than the name implies.

That Portland, Maine zone likely extended into NH, maybe Vermont, etc. The name doesn't tell the entire story. Chuck

 

[BarryK]

Chuck
no big deal.
If I have to scan something i always scan as large and as high of a resolution anyway for the best quality file than just resize and save-as as a different file if I need it smaller for any reason (such as posting on here).


Barry

 

[ChuckG]

As far as Dealer Numbers within various zones, I know of several sources, some accessable, some not.

First is the NCRS DB. They have a "Zone/Dealer" database which is on their forum.

Second is Al Grenning. Al advertises Zone/Dealer info in the NCRS Driveline.

Third is "Triple A Enterprises", the repro window sticker people who have been around for decades. He supposedly has a tremendous database, but you have to buy a window sticker from him, AND supposedy, he won't give out other information. (I've heard this...don't know if it's true)

Food for thought. In 1978, they made about 6502 Indy Pace Cars, supposedly ONE for each dealer within the US and Canada. Using that number, there were 6502 dealers in 1978.

There were probably MANY more in the 60's. It's a LOT of information to try to first collect, then collate. Chuck

 

[ChuckG]

There's also a fourth source, which we have NO access to, and that is the NCIB database. NCIB is the National Insurance Crime/Clearance Bureau?

EVERY GM vehicle made was insured for transit from the plant to the dealership. The insurance companies kept/have records of the cars they shipped and where they went.

They have records of every GM car from 1962. Those records have ONLY the date of shipment of the car, AND the dealer to which it was shipped. NO OTHER INFO like options, etc is available. That dealer info has the dealer name, AND the Zone and Dealer number.

Used to be able to access it years ago, until some fool in a Chevelle/Camaro? magazine published their phone number. They were SWAMPED with calls.

SO, they quit giving the info to John Q. Public.

Police agencies could still access this data base, so if you had a "bud" in the police, he/she could get the info for you.

BUT, then that process became abusive, AND the NCIB won't release info to the police unless they provide a case number, etc. Most if not all police officers won't chance it to get your info for you.

Maybe someday the NCIB data will become available. Don't know why it's such a secret. Chuck

 

[Rob]

Interesting....so there's really no way to get an accurate zone number database built with the exception of what information owners submit from their documents?

 

[ChuckG]

The Zone Number data base is what I posted. That is the database. It's the Dealer numbers within each zone that remains a puzzle.

Dealer 223 in Zone 11 is different from Dealer 223 in Zone 13.

These numbers are printed on the tank sticker on 67 and up Corvettes. They're also on original window stickers. The dealer name is also on the sticker.

Many people don't realize that they have their zone and dealer number on their window sticker, because it's often listed as 13123, Zone 13, Dealer 123. Chuck

 

[ChuckG]

Look at the original sticker Wally Knoch posted.

Looks like 26 336 on the top. That's Zone 26, Dealer 336.

Zone 26.....JACKSONVILLE, FLA, (Became Tampa Zone) (from the list I posted)

Dealer 336

SO, Dumas Milner Chevy, Miami, FLA is Dealer 336 within Zone 26.

You've begun your database. Chuck

 

[Rob]

Chuck,

In your opinion, how should a database be set up or organized in order to be the most help to someone trying to track the history of their Vette?

Should it up or organize it the same was as the NCRS (which they copied from a Camaro web site), or should I organize it differently? I was thinking of setting it up by State, and then having the dealers listed in that state with their dealer and zone numbers?

 

[ChuckG]

Chuck,

In your opinion, how should a database be set up or organized in order to be the most help to someone trying to track the history of their Vette?

Should it up or organize it the same was as the NCRS (which they copied from a Camaro web site), or should I organize it differently? I was thinking of setting it up by State, and then having the dealers listed in that state with their dealer and zone numbers?

If it were me, I'd set it up with Zones. Then, I'd try to determine which states or parts of states are within each zone.

Just because it says "Pittsburgh Zone" doesn't mean it's only in PA. It could include eastern Ohio and part if not all of West Virginia.

I have a map which I'll EMail to you after I scan it. It's from the same Corvette Restorer article from 10-15 years ago.

I might also add that ALL Chevy clubs can/could get involved, because the Zone/Dealer numbers are the same for all, not just Corvettes.

It's a daunting task. IF (big IF ) anyone could access the NICB database, it would be rather easy.

I believe that I've read that NCRS and others have tried to ply the info from the NCIB, but they "ain't" givin' it.

Several years ago, there was a private detective agency called FourCee up on Long Island, NY. For a fee of $35?, maybe $50?, the got the info for you. Don't know how they did it. They advertised freely in many publications. They no longer advertise.

If you sent them your VIN #, they would tell you the dealer to which it was originally delivered with the Zone and Dealer # and the delivery date.

Must have had a "mole" on the inside who was discovered. Chuck