Did early 1969 cars have 68 style seats?

 

I have 2 69s serial # 5200 and 5800 that have early parts on them and they have the standard looking seats

 

Thanks LT-1, do both your cars have headrests and the high release cut outs?

 

On 68's the headrests were optional. All 69 seats came with headrests.

Early 68 seats had the seat back release down low on the left hand side of the seat back. At some point during the year, the release was moved up to about the middle of the left side of the seat back. All 69's, had the same higher mounted seat back release, as the second design 68 seats.

The only difference between the later 68 seats and the 69 seats, was that all of the 69 seats, came with headrests.

 

Thanks, I just relized I have a pair of 68 seat frames with headrests..anyone interested in them?

 

Yes, I would be interested. PM me. Thanks Randy

 

69 model year production began in August of 68. Anything on a new 69 Corvette at that time would have had 68 dates on them.

 

My 69 is fairly early, low 700's. My seats have headrests and the release in the upper position.

 

and the plot thickens?

 

Apparently it's possible, even with 68 basketweave material installed in early 69s':

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-69-coupe.html

 

There are tags on the frames....what will these tags tell me?

 

I need to know when they went to the high latch seats?

 

Date of manufacture, among other things.

If memory serves, the running change to the high latch on the 68 seats was April, 1968 or later.

 

Same for my 69.

Hey, mine is #726. It sounds like our cars could have been assembly line mates.

 

I could be wrong but I think headrests in 69 were, at least in the beginning (?), standard on coupes only. I think it was an option for convertibles for 69.

 

Headrests were an option on all 1969 Corvettes. On paper, all '69s were equipped with this option. However, you could get one without headrests if you asked. I have seen a few original '69s at Carlisle without headrests.

 

were they convertible? If that is the case I'd say yes But I am fairly certain they came on all coupes....anyone?

 

Can't remember if coupe or convertible....I was just focusing on the seats and was suprised to see some with and some without headrests.

 

I believe the verdict is not quite in on this point. Effective 1/1/69 and the price increase, headrests were standard equipment on all 69s to be assembled after the New Year. The NCRS says all 69s had headrests and that they were a mandatory option for the cars assembled in calendar year 1968. Bizzoco says for cars assembled in 1968, a buyer could ask for a headrest delete and receive a credit for no headrests on the invoice.

I have seen two 69 convertibles without headrests. Both were 1968 builds. Both owners thought their cars came without headrests. One owner was not certain whether the interior of his car was original; the second owner said he thought his interior was original, but had never actually looked to make sure or looked for the absence of headrest hardware in the seat back. This fellow received a deduction at an NCRS event for having no headrests. He wasn't happy about it, but he could not document that his car had been delivered without the headrests.

I've seen several examples of 69 tank stickers and have never seen any code which might be something indicating a headrest delete code. No big deal, since headrest delete might not have been on a tank sticker in the first place. The upholstery shop did not use sticker information per se. They worked from a chart (list) of colors and materials they would need for that day when covering seats. It would have been simple to cover a pair of 69 seat backs without the headrest hardware.

The issue could be clarified if an original no headrest car assembled before 1/1/69 would show up, especially if the invoice showed the no headrest credit.

 

Thanks Mike but what about the seat latches....when did they go to the high latches. My trim plate says C17, but the serial# is 16475?