74 interior questions help!!
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
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74 interior questions help!!
I am going nuts trying to figure this out from what I understand in 74 you had two interior choices. 80/20 loop had vinyl cut pile had leather. Well I bought a two owner 74 L82 4 speed. This guy owned it since 1980 He told me the seats were original but they are leather with a velour type cloth centers. I first thought maybe somebody cut the seat and to save money they had someone custom sew in the cloth but I have seen a few other 74's in this style I believe the cloth split wasn't avaiable until around 78-80 The other funny thing is the 74 leather interior had a leather seat and back with vinyl around the bottom and on the rear of the seat but mine is definately leather. Does anyone know something I don't it is making me nuts. Someone told me it could have been some type of special direct order. I also have a 68 GTO and was able to get a full history of the car through PHS. Is there anything availble for the history of my corvette? I know there is a build sheet on top of the gas tank but it is not there. Appreciate any help.
Tom
Tom
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 273
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From: NAPLES FLORIDA
LOOK AT YOUR DOOR PANELS AND/OR YOUR SUNVISORS...
if there is carpet on the door panels - you had the "deluxe" interior - if the sunvisors are made out of the "mesh" material - then you had standard vinyl...
it is my understanding that all leather seats were leather in the center section and vinyl on the sides...but I could be wrong - this is (I think) why the aftermarket markets the seats as 100% leather....
also...look at your interior code inside the drivers door jamb...will give you a number that will tell you color (and I believe) deluxe or standard (based on the number) - mine is 407 - which is silver deluxe...
hope I helped!!
RR
if there is carpet on the door panels - you had the "deluxe" interior - if the sunvisors are made out of the "mesh" material - then you had standard vinyl...
it is my understanding that all leather seats were leather in the center section and vinyl on the sides...but I could be wrong - this is (I think) why the aftermarket markets the seats as 100% leather....
also...look at your interior code inside the drivers door jamb...will give you a number that will tell you color (and I believe) deluxe or standard (based on the number) - mine is 407 - which is silver deluxe...
hope I helped!!
RR
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Trim
Tom,
I have a '74 L82 and I have learned a lot about Corvettes on this website. Naturally my ears ***** up when 1974 is mentioned. My understanding is that the "standard" trim had leather AND cloth on the seats, while the "custom" trim, for which there is no accessory number, meant you got FULL leather. My car has had a few owners, but has full leather seat coverings, as well as carpet on the lower door panel and cut pile carpet on the floor.
It has power steering, power brakes and windows plus air conditioning and auto transmission, so my guess is that the first owner ticked all of the luxury boxes on the order form. It even has a rear demister fan but the flexible hose is stuffed.
I hope that you are no longer going nuts now.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
I have a '74 L82 and I have learned a lot about Corvettes on this website. Naturally my ears ***** up when 1974 is mentioned. My understanding is that the "standard" trim had leather AND cloth on the seats, while the "custom" trim, for which there is no accessory number, meant you got FULL leather. My car has had a few owners, but has full leather seat coverings, as well as carpet on the lower door panel and cut pile carpet on the floor.
It has power steering, power brakes and windows plus air conditioning and auto transmission, so my guess is that the first owner ticked all of the luxury boxes on the order form. It even has a rear demister fan but the flexible hose is stuffed.
I hope that you are no longer going nuts now.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I've never seen an original '74 interior with anything other than the standard vinyl or optional leather seats. I have seen dozens of cars with aftermarket stuff where the owner is convinced that it was a 'special order' cause the orignal owner was a celebrity, knew somebody at GM, knew how to work the system, it's a one off COPO car, etc etc.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Those funky leather/cloth seats did exist. I got rid of mine a year ago to get back to code 425: dark red/oxblood vinyl. They were in the car when I bought it. Where they came from I do not know but I highly doubt they were from GM (at least in 1974).
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
My conclusion is that I had 1977 or so seats in my 1974.
Note the 1977 (black) door panel trim.
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 22, 2009 at 12:31 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 589
Likes: 1
From: PA
I also have a 74 convertible with the cut outs or slot for the shoulder harness. Along with the black plastic trim and chrome band going around it. But no shoulder straps. 74 convertibles never had the shoulder straps. I wondered this too 30 years ago when I bought my 74. I bought it when it was only 5 years old in 1979.
My son has a 77 with the original seats and leather upholstery. His 77 has 47,000 original miles. His leather upholestery was dry and worn, but no tears. The leather we took off was dated November 76 (inside) on all 4 pieces. Oh, we put the leather-like upholstery on his seats.
Anyway, another interesting thing is, 77's was the first year that didn't have the black plastic piece for the shoulder harness to come through the back of the seats. Nothing but the leather is there.
Also too, 77 was the first year for the black panel on the door panels. No more wood grain panels.
So, I would have to think those seats in your picture were the original 1974 seats that were recovered with the leather and cloth.
By the way, your interior looks great. Nice!!!
My son has a 77 with the original seats and leather upholstery. His 77 has 47,000 original miles. His leather upholestery was dry and worn, but no tears. The leather we took off was dated November 76 (inside) on all 4 pieces. Oh, we put the leather-like upholstery on his seats.
Anyway, another interesting thing is, 77's was the first year that didn't have the black plastic piece for the shoulder harness to come through the back of the seats. Nothing but the leather is there.
Also too, 77 was the first year for the black panel on the door panels. No more wood grain panels.
So, I would have to think those seats in your picture were the original 1974 seats that were recovered with the leather and cloth.
By the way, your interior looks great. Nice!!!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I also have a 74 convertible with the cut outs or slot for the shoulder harness. Along with the black plastic trim and chrome band going around it. But no shoulder straps. 74 convertibles never had the shoulder straps. I wondered this too 30 years ago when I bought my 74. I bought it when it was only 5 years old in 1979.
My son has a 77 with the original seats and leather upholstery. His 77 has 47,000 original miles. His leather upholestery was dry and worn, but no tears. The leather we took off was dated November 76 (inside) on all 4 pieces. Oh, we put the leather-like upholstery on his seats.
Anyway, another interesting thing is, 77's was the first year that didn't have the black plastic piece for the shoulder harness to come through the back of the seats. Nothing but the leather is there.
Also too, 77 was the first year for the black panel on the door panels. No more wood grain panels.
So, I would have to think those seats in your picture were the original 1974 seats that were recovered with the leather and cloth.
By the way, your interior looks great. Nice!!!
My son has a 77 with the original seats and leather upholstery. His 77 has 47,000 original miles. His leather upholestery was dry and worn, but no tears. The leather we took off was dated November 76 (inside) on all 4 pieces. Oh, we put the leather-like upholstery on his seats.
Anyway, another interesting thing is, 77's was the first year that didn't have the black plastic piece for the shoulder harness to come through the back of the seats. Nothing but the leather is there.
Also too, 77 was the first year for the black panel on the door panels. No more wood grain panels.
So, I would have to think those seats in your picture were the original 1974 seats that were recovered with the leather and cloth.
By the way, your interior looks great. Nice!!!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 589
Likes: 1
From: PA
Thanks guys for refreshing my memory on the optional shoulder straps.
I didn't remember that shoulder belts were optional. I thought they were optional as somewhere waaaay in the past I found this out in my books, but didn't want to say it for fear I'd be wrong. Turns out I was wrong anyway saying, No 74 convertibles had shoulder belts. Hey, it's tough remembering everything about Corvettes in my 44 years.
What really pushed things backwards in my memory of the 53 to 82 Corvettes was. Buying my 1985 Corvette 5 years ago and learning everything about the C4's. Yep, that made for some confusion in the old head. LOL
I didn't remember that shoulder belts were optional. I thought they were optional as somewhere waaaay in the past I found this out in my books, but didn't want to say it for fear I'd be wrong. Turns out I was wrong anyway saying, No 74 convertibles had shoulder belts. Hey, it's tough remembering everything about Corvettes in my 44 years.
What really pushed things backwards in my memory of the 53 to 82 Corvettes was. Buying my 1985 Corvette 5 years ago and learning everything about the C4's. Yep, that made for some confusion in the old head. LOL
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
I believe the cloth insert upholstery is aftermarket and, if memory serves, Eckler's sold this combination upholstery some years back. Can't quote me on that. They look good.
For '74 you got standard Comfortweave vinyl upholstery or optional leather. No cloth. My '74 coupe had the standard Comfortweave upholstery. In certain light, the inserts looked like cloth as opposed to the skirts and bolsters.
For '74 you got standard Comfortweave vinyl upholstery or optional leather. No cloth. My '74 coupe had the standard Comfortweave upholstery. In certain light, the inserts looked like cloth as opposed to the skirts and bolsters.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Sep 23, 2009 at 10:53 AM.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
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Thanks to everyone for your replies. I knew I had the deluxe interior with leather because of the door panels and the cut pile carpet but the guy must have replaced the seats at some point. He told me they were original but there is no way they can be Also I painted the seat backs and noticed a metal tag hanging on the seat behind the cover. Does anyone knoiw what the tag means?? Appreciate everyone's knowledge.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...a metal tag hanging on the seat behind the cover. Does anyone knoiw what the tag means??...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
A friend and I both bought new Corvettes with the deluxe interior in '77... his was a daily driver and he used-up his "leather" seats in a few years. He found out about the optional cloth insert seat covers for '77 and when he redid his seats he installed them. They were cooler in the summer and more comfortable in the winter. It was not uncommon for folks back then to op for this choice when redoing the seats on other mid 70 seats at the time.
"Leather" seats were always leather inserts with vinyl on the rest of the seats. Some of the vendors are now offering the 100% leather covers, but the factory never did.
Good luck... GUSTO