Where can I get some info or pictures on these v-8`s? Do they still exist?

Yes, there are still a few of the early V-8's out there. Check this out:


1917 - 1919 CHEVROLET MODEL D PRODUCTION HISTORY- by Ken Kaufmann

GRAND TOTAL 2781

There were 875 Model D4 & D5 built in New York City Plant. The balance of domestic production was built in Flint, Michigan. There were *Chevrolet Factory Records 148 Model D4 built in both the NYC and Flint plants,** with production ending in July 1918. Canadian D4 production (if any) is unknown.
NOTES: Engines were manufactured at Chevrolet’s Bay City plant and were painted black. The engine serial number was stamped on either the left or right side top of the front engine support and also on the front right of front cover plate. Later engines have the mysterious A, BA, & AB engine number prefixes. The “Chevrolet Eight” nameplate, with the Car No. stamped, was nailed to the center of the passenger side firewall. Dash number (job number?) was stamped on the backside of the front and sometimes rear dash at various locations. The body number was stamped on the backside of the trim molding bottom surface of each door, and right, front, floorboard under the linoleum. At approximately job #550, in mid 1-18, a rectangular tank replaced the round fuel tank in the D5, but the D4 continued with the round tank. It is believed very early cars had dual exhaust cut-outs that were shortly discontinued, and the short tail pipes were changed to long tail pipes. The 3-1-18 Parts List claims at job #1001, date unknown, the circuit breaker was changed from the round type to rectangular style and wiring diagram was revised. The first 6 NYC built jobs were the 1917 Show models. Further, 4 Flint pre-production cars were built, with a D5 shipped 1-17-17 to the Detroit Show, a D4 shipped 1-17-17 to Buffalo Show and 1 each D5 and D4 shipped 1-22-17 to the Chicago Show. The 1918 Model Year started 8-1-17, priced at $1385. Flint shipping records indicate all the cars built from 5-17 to 7-17, were not shipped from Flint until after 8-1-17, and are considered to be 1918 Model Year.

The 1919 Model Year started 8-1-18 at approximately job #1955, so about the last 826 jobs built were 1919 Model Year that had the $200 price increased to $1585. Therefore, there were 6 NYC built 1917 Show Models, 1960 1918 Models, and 815 1919 Models for 2781 production jobs, plus the 4 Flint built Show Models not previously counted, for a grand total of 2785 units. Reported production for the 1917 Calendar Year ending 12-31-17 was 511 units, 1918 Calendar Year ending December 31, 1918 was 2199 units, and 1919 Calendar Year ending December 31, 1919 would be for the 71 Flint jobs built in 1-19 (511 + 2199 + 71 = 2781 total). At the end of production in January 1919, there were still several hundred units in the Flint factory inventory that were not all finally shipped out to the branch stores and dealers until March 28, 1919.

Hoppy
Also if you click go on hop to 1917-1919 D & D5 and then click on show all topics you can find a list of much more info on D5's
Herb

JunkYardDog & Herb!! Thanks! I would love to see one of those V/8`s or maybe even a picture. Why did they discontinue them? Pretty pricy for 1917!! Considering my 31 std sedan sold for $635.00!!

I have the Canadian figures! Six were built in August 1917 and serials ran for 1917: # 9-449 to
9-532. 1918 ran # 9-533 to 9-727.

There are two known survivors: Model D5 sold by the Winnipeg dealer, probably Breen’s Motors # 9-487 in Elkhorn Museum and
Model D5 # 9-550 Engine # 583 built February 1918.
Robert McLaughlin [RS McLaughlin's son] had the very first D V-8 and therefore must have been # 9-449.

For a very detailed set of information see my website:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/1912-30chevroletproduction.pdf

I had the opportunity to buy the D5, that was sold by Breen Motors, in 1960 for $200.00. However I was then and still am a Pontiac fan and was then starting to drive the car that is still my daily driver and thought why would I want a Chev. Oh do I rue some of the errors of youth.
By the way a curious point My Pontiac was bought new by my Grandfather (I still have the original bill of sale) from Breen Motors who were Chev dealers???