Corvette Museum Photo Album

Ret9580 · 04-17-2014, 01:22 PM

The Corvette Museum offers a photo album of your corvette being built for $700. You have to pay at least 10 days prior to your corvettes production day. I was wondering who may have purchased this and was it worth it to you.....was it really your car being produced?

purpleRac3r · 04-18-2014, 02:55 PM

As this was my first brand new Corvette, I had every intention to get the album, and the Buyers Tour together as a package. Unfortunately, my car was built too early, and the program didn't start until well after mine was built. That said, to me it would have been worthe it, as I intend to keep my Stingray for a very long time, and it has a special place in my heart. However if you are the kind of person who trades theirs in every few years for a newer one, the value may not be there.

The Museum does everything they can to take the photos of your actual car, but cannot guarantee it, as internal plant issues may cause a delay or other change in the production schedule. A couple of my friends have done it, and the book is very well done. I realky wish I could have gotten it with my Stingray!

RidgebackKing · 04-18-2014, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleRac3r

The Museum does everything they can to take the photos of your actual car, but cannot guarantee it, as internal plant issues may cause a delay or other change in the production schedule.

$700 for a book of pictures that may or may not be your car?

Ret9580 · 04-18-2014, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleRac3r

As this was my first brand new Corvette, I had every intention to get the album, and the Buyers Tour together as a package. Unfortunately, my car was built too early, and the program didn't start until well after mine was built. That said, to me it would have been worthe it, as I intend to keep my Stingray for a very long time, and it has a special place in my heart. However if you are the kind of person who trades theirs in every few years for a newer one, the value may not be there.

The Museum does everything they can to take the photos of your actual car, but cannot guarantee it, as internal plant issues may cause a delay or other change in the production schedule. A couple of my friends have done it, and the book is very well done. I realky wish I could have gotten it with my Stingray!

Oh yeah, I'm keeping this one till I'm in a pine box or my ashes are spread in Fenway Park. It will be willed to my oldest.

noname · 04-19-2014, 09:39 PM

I got the album just because I thought it would be neat to see it being built.
-It definitely is your car. They keep track of your car and when it is built. They gave me the most accurate information of the actual production day and emailed pictures when it was built.
-I'd say that if the car is special to you, then consider getting it, as you could not go back and order pictures of your car being built at a later time period.
-But if you just plan on keeping it for a few years or if $700 is a significant amount of money then don't get it. The actual cost of the book and shipping was probably only about $50. So, it's not "worth" it. However, $700 for "baby pictures" was reasonable to me.

The pictures to me ended up being worth over $700 to me. I ordered a 2LT and my dealer ended up ordering a 3LT. I could tell by the dash in the pictures. I argued with the dealer, and it sounded like, he was going to wait until it was delivered and give me a take-it-or-leave it deal. But having known that it was a 3LT before it was even shipped, gave me the leverage to lower the sales price to well below MSRP. So in my unusual experience, it was well worth over $700.

RidgebackKing · 04-19-2014, 10:26 PM

Not trying to burst your bubble or anything but how do you know "it definitely is your car"? They expressly say that the pictures may not be of your car but they'll do their best to get "some". Heck, even for the Buyers Tour, they say that you may not get to see your actual car being built but you will have a great factory experience. I'd like to believe that it would be my car but $700 just seems extremely steep when they don't guarantee its your car.

noname · 04-20-2014, 03:48 PM

If you're concerned about the authenticity of the photos, you could ask the corvette Museum about your concerns. My contact there was
Lori Bieschke
National Corvette Museum
Delivery Program Manager
Phone: 1-800-205-4248 or
270-467-8851
Email: Lori@corvettemuseum.org

I know it's my car in the pictures because:
-The first page of the book is a letter of authenticity from the Corvette Museum saying it is.
-The VIN in the front window is clearly visible in as they install the roof panel
-Several pictures have parts that are being installed that are labelled with my VIN including the engine.

Granted, in this day and age, these could have been photoshopped. But I doubt they would do that, since they didn't even bother to spellcheck the narration in the book, and some pictures are blurry.

But, honestly, if you're that paranoid, then don't buy it. It's supposed to be a fun keepsake of your car, and if you're going to wonder if you wasted $700 or if maybe they're just stock photos that were doctored and you got suckered by a non-profit organization, then it's no longer fun and wouldn't be worth it.

To me, it was worth it to see my car being built. It was worth it to have a picture of the car with the odometer at 0 (I know it's not a stock photo because others have posted their pictures and they all look different). It was worth it to see the first person to sit in my car. And it was worth it being updated to the day as to the build process. It was worth it to know before I picked it up that what the dealer ordered wasn't what I had requested. And it was worth it to think that since the workers knew that the car was being followed and photographed then perhaps they took a little bit of extra care with it.

C7Driver · 04-21-2014, 02:39 AM

I know someone who takes the pictures for the Museum photo albums and he follows the car on the line to get the pics at the various build stations.
He was not available to take photos when my Stingray was built or I would have paid to have the photo album.

purpleRac3r · 04-21-2014, 06:16 AM

As of yet, I've not seem any albums where the pix were not of the actual car. Several friends in my Corvette club have the book for their C6s and in the one who got the Buyers Tour too, they followed their car, verified the VIN early on, and are even in a couple of the photos themselves!

When I talked to Lori about last summer regarding my Stingray, she indicated it is extremely rare the actual car is not followed, and at that point they either refund the money or the owner opts to have a car that looks like theirs photographed.

scott53 · 04-21-2014, 07:43 AM

When I was on a VIP Tour in September 2011, our tour guide had a camera with him and was taking photos of one particular car for a Museum Photo Album.

Jerseyed · 05-15-2014, 10:41 PM

I ordered the album a month ago and am looking forward to getting it (TPW 5/26). I think $700 is a lot, but worth it considering the nature of the beast being produced.

Emmdmd · 05-19-2014, 08:03 PM

My first corvette and I bought the photo album and Buyers Tour. Unfortunately, the ice storm in the south stopped my tour dead in its tracks when my flight was canceled, but I received the album. I am happy I purchased the album, though for $700 you'd think the pictures would be spot on, though two were slightly blurry. This is my car. Am I 100% sure? Of course not, but I doubt they would schedule my Buyers Tour and not have the cameraman taking the pictures with me there. Also, My contact Lori states it is extremely rare that the car is not photographed, and if that were the case she would let me know and give me a refund. I can't see any reason why they wouldn't be truthful. That being said, I would definitely recommend the album if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, as I do. Even if you don't, I think it's a great feature when selling the car. I do feel that the Museum tends to overprice their products....

fcu678 · 05-27-2014, 07:59 AM

I'm definitely getting the album but was trying to decide on the buyers tour too. Anyone do both??

Thanks
Craig

Jtown · 05-28-2014, 06:40 PM

I did both the Buyers Tour and the Photo Album. My tour guide on the tour also took all the photos. A believe it was worth every penny. My tour was spread over a Friday and Monday which added to my travel costs and still would consider both again. Got to be the first to start the car after it was built and took the photo of the dash showing Zero (0) miles. The guide took a photo me in the car and that is included in the album along with the dash photo. The album sits on are Family Room Coffee Table and has been looked at by everyone that comes to the house. Brings back the great memories of the Build Tour and all the workers that I meet. C7 Crystal Red Coupe, Z51.

04-17-2014, 01:22 PM	#1
Ret9580 Drives: '99 Sienna till '15 Ray is here Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: California Posts: 86	Corvette Museum Photo Album The Corvette Museum offers a photo album of your corvette being built for $700. You have to pay at least 10 days prior to your corvettes production day. I was wondering who may have purchased this and was it worth it to you.....was it really your car being produced?

04-18-2014, 02:55 PM	#2
purpleRac3r Drives: 1974 & 2014 Corvette Stingrays Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 623	As this was my first brand new Corvette, I had every intention to get the album, and the Buyers Tour together as a package. Unfortunately, my car was built too early, and the program didn't start until well after mine was built. That said, to me it would have been worthe it, as I intend to keep my Stingray for a very long time, and it has a special place in my heart. However if you are the kind of person who trades theirs in every few years for a newer one, the value may not be there. The Museum does everything they can to take the photos of your actual car, but cannot guarantee it, as internal plant issues may cause a delay or other change in the production schedule. A couple of my friends have done it, and the book is very well done. I realky wish I could have gotten it with my Stingray! __________________ '74 Stingray coupe, heavily modified, as seen in August 2011 VETTE magazine, 2014 Stingray Z51 #196, ordered 02/11/13, built 08/29/13, Museum Delivery 10/04/13, driven daily!

04-19-2014, 10:26 PM	#6
RidgebackKing Drives: My wife crazy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Garage Posts: 73	Not trying to burst your bubble or anything but how do you know "it definitely is your car"? They expressly say that the pictures may not be of your car but they'll do their best to get "some". Heck, even for the Buyers Tour, they say that you may not get to see your actual car being built but you will have a great factory experience. I'd like to believe that it would be my car but $700 just seems extremely steep when they don't guarantee its your car. __________________ 1100 - 02/14/2014 2014 C7 Z51 AW 2LT MEP Q7T CFA FE4 NPP TTV UY4 HOME - 06/04/2014

04-21-2014, 06:16 AM	#9
purpleRac3r Drives: 1974 & 2014 Corvette Stingrays Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 623	As of yet, I've not seem any albums where the pix were not of the actual car. Several friends in my Corvette club have the book for their C6s and in the one who got the Buyers Tour too, they followed their car, verified the VIN early on, and are even in a couple of the photos themselves! When I talked to Lori about last summer regarding my Stingray, she indicated it is extremely rare the actual car is not followed, and at that point they either refund the money or the owner opts to have a car that looks like theirs photographed. __________________ '74 Stingray coupe, heavily modified, as seen in August 2011 VETTE magazine, 2014 Stingray Z51 #196, ordered 02/11/13, built 08/29/13, Museum Delivery 10/04/13, driven daily!

05-19-2014, 08:03 PM	#12
Emmdmd Drives: 2015 Z06 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Cream Ridge, NJ Posts: 65	My first corvette and I bought the photo album and Buyers Tour. Unfortunately, the ice storm in the south stopped my tour dead in its tracks when my flight was canceled, but I received the album. I am happy I purchased the album, though for $700 you'd think the pictures would be spot on, though two were slightly blurry. This is my car. Am I 100% sure? Of course not, but I doubt they would schedule my Buyers Tour and not have the cameraman taking the pictures with me there. Also, My contact Lori states it is extremely rare that the car is not photographed, and if that were the case she would let me know and give me a refund. I can't see any reason why they wouldn't be truthful. That being said, I would definitely recommend the album if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, as I do. Even if you don't, I think it's a great feature when selling the car. I do feel that the Museum tends to overprice their products.... __________________ 2015 Z06 Laguna Blue, A8, Black 2LZ, Stage 2 Aero, Black wheels, calipers and mirrors, black full racing stripe

04-19-2014, 09:39 PM	#5
noname Drives: 3LT Z51 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Dallas Posts: 52	I got the album just because I thought it would be neat to see it being built. -It definitely is your car. They keep track of your car and when it is built. They gave me the most accurate information of the actual production day and emailed pictures when it was built. -I'd say that if the car is special to you, then consider getting it, as you could not go back and order pictures of your car being built at a later time period. -But if you just plan on keeping it for a few years or if $700 is a significant amount of money then don't get it. The actual cost of the book and shipping was probably only about $50. So, it's not "worth" it. However, $700 for "baby pictures" was reasonable to me. The pictures to me ended up being worth over $700 to me. I ordered a 2LT and my dealer ended up ordering a 3LT. I could tell by the dash in the pictures. I argued with the dealer, and it sounded like, he was going to wait until it was delivered and give me a take-it-or-leave it deal. But having known that it was a 3LT before it was even shipped, gave me the leverage to lower the sales price to well below MSRP. So in my unusual experience, it was well worth over $700.

04-20-2014, 03:48 PM	#7
noname Drives: 3LT Z51 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Dallas Posts: 52	If you're concerned about the authenticity of the photos, you could ask the corvette Museum about your concerns. My contact there was Lori Bieschke National Corvette Museum Delivery Program Manager Phone: 1-800-205-4248 or 270-467-8851 Email: Lori@corvettemuseum.org I know it's my car in the pictures because: -The first page of the book is a letter of authenticity from the Corvette Museum saying it is. -The VIN in the front window is clearly visible in as they install the roof panel -Several pictures have parts that are being installed that are labelled with my VIN including the engine. Granted, in this day and age, these could have been photoshopped. But I doubt they would do that, since they didn't even bother to spellcheck the narration in the book, and some pictures are blurry. But, honestly, if you're that paranoid, then don't buy it. It's supposed to be a fun keepsake of your car, and if you're going to wonder if you wasted $700 or if maybe they're just stock photos that were doctored and you got suckered by a non-profit organization, then it's no longer fun and wouldn't be worth it. To me, it was worth it to see my car being built. It was worth it to have a picture of the car with the odometer at 0 (I know it's not a stock photo because others have posted their pictures and they all look different). It was worth it to see the first person to sit in my car. And it was worth it being updated to the day as to the build process. It was worth it to know before I picked it up that what the dealer ordered wasn't what I had requested. And it was worth it to think that since the workers knew that the car was being followed and photographed then perhaps they took a little bit of extra care with it.

04-21-2014, 02:39 AM	#8
C7Driver Drives: 2014 Z51 Lime Rock Green Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New England Posts: 148	I know someone who takes the pictures for the Museum photo albums and he follows the car on the line to get the pics at the various build stations. He was not available to take photos when my Stingray was built or I would have paid to have the photo album.

04-21-2014, 07:43 AM	#10
scott53 Drives: '19 Camaro 2SS, '12 GMC Yukon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SW PA Posts: 174	When I was on a VIP Tour in September 2011, our tour guide had a camera with him and was taking photos of one particular car for a Museum Photo Album.

05-15-2014, 10:41 PM	#11
Jerseyed Drives: 2010 Lexus, 2014 Z51 C7 on order Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 40	I ordered the album a month ago and am looking forward to getting it (TPW 5/26). I think $700 is a lot, but worth it considering the nature of the beast being produced.

05-27-2014, 07:59 AM	#13
fcu678 5Th Gen (Craig) Drives: 2014 C7 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houma, Louisiana Posts: 766 View My Garage	I'm definitely getting the album but was trying to decide on the buyers tour too. Anyone do both?? Thanks Craig __________________ 2014 C7

05-28-2014, 06:40 PM	#14
Jtown Drives: CrystalRed14 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8	I did both the Buyers Tour and the Photo Album. My tour guide on the tour also took all the photos. A believe it was worth every penny. My tour was spread over a Friday and Monday which added to my travel costs and still would consider both again. Got to be the first to start the car after it was built and took the photo of the dash showing Zero (0) miles. The guide took a photo me in the car and that is included in the album along with the dash photo. The album sits on are Family Room Coffee Table and has been looked at by everyone that comes to the house. Brings back the great memories of the Build Tour and all the workers that I meet. C7 Crystal Red Coupe, Z51.