1970 Bright Blue interior color differences
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
1970 Bright Blue interior color differences
Over the last 40 years or so, I have owned a handful of 70 Corvettes with original Bright Blue interiors. I have one now, an all original car, even has the original Mulsanne Blue exterior paint.
My observation has been, that there are two different shades of blue used in the interior of the 70 Bright Blue cars. The kick panels, brake console, steering column, seat backs, rear compartment trim, rear seat belt housings, and the seat covers, (not including the comfort weave panels), are all a slightly darker and more blue color. Except for the seat covers, these are all "hard" items, unlike the dash pad, door panels, shift console, and other "soft" wrapped trim.
I have seen lots of Bright Blue interiors restored, and they look great, but they are all a single color, which is just not right.
If you own a 70 car with an original Bright Blue interior, go out to the garage and take a close look at it and let me know if you agree. If the car has had seat covers replaced or any interior work done, than all bets are off.
My observation has been, that there are two different shades of blue used in the interior of the 70 Bright Blue cars. The kick panels, brake console, steering column, seat backs, rear compartment trim, rear seat belt housings, and the seat covers, (not including the comfort weave panels), are all a slightly darker and more blue color. Except for the seat covers, these are all "hard" items, unlike the dash pad, door panels, shift console, and other "soft" wrapped trim.
I have seen lots of Bright Blue interiors restored, and they look great, but they are all a single color, which is just not right.
If you own a 70 car with an original Bright Blue interior, go out to the garage and take a close look at it and let me know if you agree. If the car has had seat covers replaced or any interior work done, than all bets are off.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I owned a '68 coupe with Bright Blue interior (in 1974). I bought it from the original owner; no change of interior panels. All the pieces matched very well. It's possible, that over the years, pieces made by different vendors faded at different rates. I've seen 'modest' tint differences in panels on some new 60's/70's Corvettes, but nothing really noticible.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
I have noticed similar color differences in my green 71 interior. The interior is completely original. The hard panels (seat backs, rear quarter panels, kick panels, and storage compartment frame are a slightly different shade of green than the soft parts like the door panels and dash. The difference is very slight and only noticeable on certain light.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Slight variations in color is probably common stemming from the manufacturing processes for the individual parts. Vinyl material was dyed as part of the manufacturing process before it got sewn into upholstery sets. Carpet was vat dyed. Hard plastic and metal parts were painted.
There can be visible differences between dyed and painted parts even when the color is supposed to be the same.
There can be visible differences between dyed and painted parts even when the color is supposed to be the same.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Slight variations in color is probably common stemming from the manufacturing processes for the individual parts. Vinyl material was dyed as part of the manufacturing process before it got sewn into upholstery sets. Carpet was vat dyed. Hard plastic and metal parts were painted.
There can be visible differences between dyed and painted parts even when the color is supposed to be the same.
There can be visible differences between dyed and painted parts even when the color is supposed to be the same.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
I've got a bright blue interior in my 1970, and I'd say there are slight variations. The most noticeable in mine are the kick panels, they are a shade darker maybe.
Last edited by Brcmpbl; Mar 18, 2016 at 04:40 PM.
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