<VV> Kent Sullivan's Article

[Steven J. Serenska]

VVers:

I haven't been on this list for a while, but I just had to come back on
to publicly thank Kent Sullivan for his great article in the current
Communique.  His and Dave Newell's study of 65-67 options in the current
Communique is OUTSTANDING.  An excellent piece of scholarship.

I was intrigued and surprised by some of the results.  It certainly
alters my view of what is "rare" and what isn't.  A good example would
be the headrest seats option for '66s.  I had been led to believe that
200 sets of headrest seats were produced.  It would seem that a better
way to say it would be that 200 sets might be left on the market at this
point.  It's very surprising, somehow, that this option is no more or
less rare than an AM/FM radio.

Another surprise for me was the relatively low number of electric
convertible tops.  This wasn't a rare option, per se, but it is somehow
surprising that 90% of the ragtops produced had to be raised and lowered
by hand.

Part of the answers to Kent's question about why Chevrolet offered so
many options that didn't sell well can be answered by reading John
DeLorean's "On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors" and Ed Cray's
"Chrome Collossus".  Well, maybe not "answered", but I do think some
useful inferences can be drawn.  DeLorean's book, while annoying to
Corvair owners, is a good read and paints an interesting picture of "big
company" America in the '60s.  It certainly explains a great deal about
why the General's cars were so awful in the 70's.

Anyway, Kent, thanks again for an excellent effort.  Please let Dave
Newell know as well.

Steven J. Serenska

'65 Monza 110/4spd, a/c, am/fm
'66 Corsa Coupe, 140/4spd, a/c, am/fm, headrests
http://www.serenska.com/IdealGarage