Does GM still sell their test cars? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

orbitearl · 07-19-2013, 12:06 PM

In 1973 we had a 73 Impala with air bags. It was a GM test car. Just wondered if they still sell the cars they use to test new options.

FenwickHockey65 · 07-19-2013, 12:14 PM

Depends on what you're talking about. CTF cars yes. IVERs, no.

CTF cars are more or less production cars that GM employees drive and report any problems so they can fix them before retail production begins. Once the test period is over, they're cleaned up and retrofitted with any updates and auctioned off.

IVERs are engineering cars that must be crushed at the end of the program. A lot of them are cobbled together (interiors are sometimes duct taped together) and GM can't risk the liability.

*DGthe3* · 07-19-2013, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Depends on what you're talking about. CTF cars yes. IVERs, no.

CTF cars are more or less production cars that GM employees drive and report any problems so they can fix them before retail production begins. Once the test period is over, they're cleaned up and retrofitted with any updates and auctioned off.

IVERs are engineering cars that must be crushed at the end of the program. A lot of them are cobbled together (interiors are sometimes duct taped together) and GM can't risk the liability.

And I thought that even with the CTF cars, it somewhat depends on the amount of work that needs to be done to bring it back to production trim.

empirecovers · 07-19-2013, 03:20 PM

I didn't know they did this in general. It would be interesting to find out the answer! I would assume its a big liability but it could be sold as a certified pre-owned vehicle?

upflying · 07-19-2013, 04:17 PM

Back in the day, GM donated a NUMMI built test mule Chevrolet Prism to the PD I worked for. It came with ownership papers that said the car could not be sold and must be returned to GM for disposal. Although it looked and drove normally, it had a non-conforming VIN and could never be registered at a DMV.
It ended up being used in the DARE program.
I think the key in purchasing a test car is how the VIN is configured.

Number 3 · 07-19-2013, 10:50 PM

Many years ago GM sold parts off of test cars to employees. Legend has it there was a lawsuit over fatalities and ever since all parts are destroyed.

If a CTF can not be easily brought to production standards it will not be sold. I am told Number 2 became a test property for the now ZL1 and Number 3 never made it out of captivity.

MLL67RSSS · 07-24-2013, 11:48 AM

http://wikicars.org/en/Airbag

"Then, GM who had also been experimening (sic) with airbags, built a fleet of 1000 1973 model Chevrolet experimental cars fitted with modified 1972 Oldsmobile dashes and airbags for the driver and front passengers. These cars were later fitted with seatbelts (lap belts only) before being sold to the public through the Chevrolet dealers in 1975."

07-19-2013, 12:06 PM	#1
orbitearl Drives: 2010 r/s switchblade metalic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: United States Posts: 283	Does GM still sell their test cars? In 1973 we had a 73 Impala with air bags. It was a GM test car. Just wondered if they still sell the cars they use to test new options.

07-19-2013, 12:14 PM	#2
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2020 Colorado Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,371 View My Garage	Depends on what you're talking about. CTF cars yes. IVERs, no. CTF cars are more or less production cars that GM employees drive and report any problems so they can fix them before retail production begins. Once the test period is over, they're cleaned up and retrofitted with any updates and auctioned off. IVERs are engineering cars that must be crushed at the end of the program. A lot of them are cobbled together (interiors are sometimes duct taped together) and GM can't risk the liability. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2020 Chevrolet Colorado W/T Extended Cab (State-issued)

07-19-2013, 10:50 PM	#6
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,170 View My Garage	Many years ago GM sold parts off of test cars to employees. Legend has it there was a lawsuit over fatalities and ever since all parts are destroyed. If a CTF can not be easily brought to production standards it will not be sold. I am told Number 2 became a test property for the now ZL1 and Number 3 never made it out of captivity. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

07-19-2013, 03:20 PM	#4
empirecovers Drives: Chevy Camaro Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4	I didn't know they did this in general. It would be interesting to find out the answer! I would assume its a big liability but it could be sold as a certified pre-owned vehicle?

07-19-2013, 04:17 PM	#5
upflying Drives: '86 Monte Carlo SS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,119	Back in the day, GM donated a NUMMI built test mule Chevrolet Prism to the PD I worked for. It came with ownership papers that said the car could not be sold and must be returned to GM for disposal. Although it looked and drove normally, it had a non-conforming VIN and could never be registered at a DMV. It ended up being used in the DARE program. I think the key in purchasing a test car is how the VIN is configured.

07-24-2013, 11:48 AM	#7
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	http://wikicars.org/en/Airbag "Then, GM who had also been experimening (sic) with airbags, built a fleet of 1000 1973 model Chevrolet experimental cars fitted with modified 1972 Oldsmobile dashes and airbags for the driver and front passengers. These cars were later fitted with seatbelts (lap belts only) before being sold to the public through the Chevrolet dealers in 1975."