This is the interior that was in my '68. If somebody can tell me what year car it from, that would be great. It's all out except the top dash pad (which will come out this weekend). I am in the process of changing the color, insulating the cabin, sorting out a few interior lighting issues, and adding vintage AC. I've already rebuilt all of the door hardware and re-colored the door panels (not 1968)

The car is a NOM driver and has a mishmash of parts, but the frame and birdcage are solid, its near-perfect mechanically, and looks great (IMO). My goal for the car is to continue improve its performance, safety and functionality, yet retain the classic look. There aren't many mods under the body that I won't consider but I would like to retain the immediately recognizable quirks of the 68, as long as they don't detract from the functionality of the car. As a gauge of my enthusiasm, $750 for 1968 fat door panels with no pulls was not worth the benefit. Nor would I take away the front pocket on the passenger side for $350.

But for ~$2K, I am considering adding the fiber optics back and changing the steering column/ignition/left dash pad because the existing pad cracked when I removed it. It was already broken and somebody tried to repair it; I just finished the job off. I've looked into the Flaming River replacement columns and they can make one in a custom length for my Borgeson steering gear for ~$1000.

What other issues am I going to run into, such as column wiring harness? Will a 68 shift console mate up with my gauge bezel and parking brake console? Am I nuts?

Thanks

 

Console trim plate is a 68 and one year only. The rest of the dash is 69 and up. 3 spoke wheel is 77-82.

 

Hi Kevin,
The upper pad has stitching across it's length indicating a 70+ pad.
The black pulls for the astro vents indicate the left and right dash pads are from a 72+.
The shifter boot is leather(?), not rubber, indicating a 70+ boot.
The forward fiber-optics bezel is missing from the top of the shifter console (forward of the shifter plate).
A close-up of the center gauge bezel may indicate what year it is from… the warning lights/buttons changed as the model years went by.
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks Mike for finding a 68 part. There's not many left on this car. Since the shifter console is obviously not a 68 because it doesn't have a place for the FO, I guess that means that the trim plates are interchangeable between years?

IIRC (and this was 8+ years ago), the PO said the interior was 74 and the steering wheel was 78, so that seems to be in line with your expert eyes.

I realize that if I put the FO back I will need to get a new shift console, and the FO plate.

The gauge bezel is not smooth, so it is from a 69+. I'll have to look at the position of warning lights. All I know is that the fasten seat belt light is on the upper left and comes on when I turn on the headlights ...which is one of the annoyances that inspired this project.

 

Hi Kevin,
As I said the center bezel headlight warning and seat belt reminder changed as the early 70 model years went by.
I don't know if it really matters at this point but a picture likely would help someone figure out what you have and how you might get the warnings to work….. if you want them to.
Regards,
Alan

 

I totally get your direction, and I understand the decision on the door panels. However, my opinion on this would be to reconsider the map pocket.

When someone looks in a '68 interior, they look for the no map pocket... This is a huge '68 styling cue. If this matters at all to you (as it sounds like it does) make it a project to look for a usable one at a swap meet or on eBay. Some people are too proud of their stuff, of course, but I am sure you can find a decent part for half what you are talking about, and you will love the '68 look it gives your car.

 

You're right that knowing the exact year isn't particularly important, but I definitely want to get the lights working properly. I think that will mostly be putting the bulbs in the correct place in this bezel (even if the lens locations are incorrect for a '68).

Despite the long original post, I guess really just want to know: 1) how interchangeable my interior parts are, particularly the shift plate and gauge bezel, 2) what problems I will have switching steering columns/ignition location, and 3) if adding the FO can be accomplished without replacing the gauge bezel and shift plate...I realize that the shift console will need to be replaced.

I will take this under advisement and do some looking. The good part about switching the right dash panel is that it is not something that I have to take care of while I have everything apart. I can do it anytime with very little effort.