Interior identification with 1973
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Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Interior identification with 1973
although my wifes 1973 was supposed to ba all original (not all that important with a small block C3)... I do think some of the interior parts are from mixed years.
here are two pics and I'll then point out what I think are amiss. Would appreciate any comment and info.
the cars trim code tag states a white exterior with Oxblood interior - and that's what we basically have,
In the first pic, the map pocket panel is a lot brighter red than the console. A person told my wife that even from the factory these interior pieces colors rarely matched - but there is quite a difference between some pieces on her 1973.
The dash pad matches the map panel more than the speedo/tach panel. The tach/speedo surround is a darker red than the upper dash panel.
And then there's the seats. Are these 1973 seats??? They do not have the holes for sholder belts; could a 1973 been built with these seats???
And these seats are again a lighter red then I think they should be.
Door panels - they seem a lot brighter red than the center console and they do nto have a woodgrained insert. Could the 1973 be ordered with these door panels?
Thanks for any help offered.
here are two pics and I'll then point out what I think are amiss. Would appreciate any comment and info.
the cars trim code tag states a white exterior with Oxblood interior - and that's what we basically have,
In the first pic, the map pocket panel is a lot brighter red than the console. A person told my wife that even from the factory these interior pieces colors rarely matched - but there is quite a difference between some pieces on her 1973.
The dash pad matches the map panel more than the speedo/tach panel. The tach/speedo surround is a darker red than the upper dash panel.
And then there's the seats. Are these 1973 seats??? They do not have the holes for sholder belts; could a 1973 been built with these seats???
And these seats are again a lighter red then I think they should be.
Door panels - they seem a lot brighter red than the center console and they do nto have a woodgrained insert. Could the 1973 be ordered with these door panels?
Thanks for any help offered.
Race Director
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
,
Thanks for any help offered.
Thanks for any help offered.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: I can walk to MA
Your seat covers look to be aftermarket replacements.
Original seats were stitched horizontally - like your center console pad.
You should be able to tell from the trim tag codes whether
the car came with deluxe interior (leather seats and wood door panel inserts).
My book calls your interior "Dark Red" (425). It only came in vinyl.
No red leather seats between 69 and 75.
In order to get it all matching, you might need to take it all
apart and dye it all with the same dye.
Original seats were stitched horizontally - like your center console pad.
You should be able to tell from the trim tag codes whether
the car came with deluxe interior (leather seats and wood door panel inserts).
My book calls your interior "Dark Red" (425). It only came in vinyl.
No red leather seats between 69 and 75.
In order to get it all matching, you might need to take it all
apart and dye it all with the same dye.
Last edited by NHvette; Dec 27, 2004 at 04:32 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Alpharette GA
The big one is the radio of course. The carpet looks to be cut pile deluxe carpet so it an off match to the door panels(one or the other needs to change) as for the color oxford match, most did not match when new, GM just took what the suppliers gave and figured we did not care.
The screw on the passenger dash panel top should be SS or chrome and the Hair clip on the e-brake was not standard or a vary rare option!!!LOL
The screw on the passenger dash panel top should be SS or chrome and the Hair clip on the e-brake was not standard or a vary rare option!!!LOL
Race Director
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If your trim tag shows 425, that indicates a dark red standard vinyl interior. Leather seats/deluxe interior was not available in that colour for 1973.
That means that you should not have cut pile carpeting on the floor, no carpeting at the bottom of the door panels and no wood trim on the doors or center console. Also means that the seat covers should be vinyl, not leather.
The seat cover pattern you presently have does not appear to be from '73, and all coupes had shoulder belts that went throught the seat back. Only convertibles were available without shoulder belts.
Hope this helps.
That means that you should not have cut pile carpeting on the floor, no carpeting at the bottom of the door panels and no wood trim on the doors or center console. Also means that the seat covers should be vinyl, not leather.
The seat cover pattern you presently have does not appear to be from '73, and all coupes had shoulder belts that went throught the seat back. Only convertibles were available without shoulder belts.
Hope this helps.
Race Director
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From: OIB, NC
looking and I agree with Mike & NHvett.
Is it NCRS ? I say that in a nice way
shoulder belts were std. with coupes but I think they were an option.
Is it NCRS ? I say that in a nice way
shoulder belts were std. with coupes but I think they were an option.
Last edited by Roscoe; Dec 27, 2004 at 05:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Eastern Connecticut
This is what a 73 seat looks like without the seat belt. Yours are not original. As Mike Ward said, only convertibles came without shoulder belts that year. The pleats go horizontally for leather seats and vertically for vinyl seats. Joe
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Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
what can I say... you guyz are GREAT !!!
and I should of mentioned - we put in new carpeting and did not go with the NCRS correct pattern - the wife picked the style she liked best. Momma gets what she wants
and I should of mentioned - we put in new carpeting and did not go with the NCRS correct pattern - the wife picked the style she liked best. Momma gets what she wants
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Brett Foote
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
The seats appear to be of the '76 vinyl type with no metal bar in the top of the seat and with the "vertical" seam pattern. They are not the '69-'75 vinyl "comfort weave" style.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
The seats appear to be of the '76 vinyl
But his car is in storage so I can't confirm everything (my memory is failing).
Team Owner
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
The door panels look right-they'd have the carpet on the bottom below a chrome strip like joe73vette's door panel if they were "deluxe" door panels. The seats might even be "original" with just '76 style vinyl covers on them.
The '73-'75 "oxblood" colors were a "darker" red than the '76 & '77 red interiors.
The '73-'75 "oxblood" colors were a "darker" red than the '76 & '77 red interiors.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Shore NJ
Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
what can I say... you guyz are GREAT !!!
and I should of mentioned - we put in new carpeting and did not go with the NCRS correct pattern - the wife picked the style she liked best. Momma gets what she wants
and I should of mentioned - we put in new carpeting and did not go with the NCRS correct pattern - the wife picked the style she liked best. Momma gets what she wants
Last edited by 73jst4fun; Dec 27, 2004 at 08:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
If your trim tag shows 425, that indicates a dark red standard vinyl interior. Leather seats/deluxe interior was not available in that colour for 1973.
My digital camera made the color differences more pronounced. Most people - when looking at the car - don't notice it until I point it out.
If my wife decides on driving it to the Cruise-In, some of you can take a better look at it.
The main thing is that the wife is very happy with the car and not complaining at all. I just like knowing exactly where it stands... in the proper scheme of things (year wise).
BTW; it's an L82
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
also is that an a/c car?,
your missing the small trim piece that is on the passengers side that hides the support bar for the dash
Found a flea-market booth at Carlisle this year that had that picece and one other AC duct that was missing. I didn't buy it when I found the stash... thinking I'd be back around there again. Damn if I couldn't find the guys booth again
ya' know what they say.. "those that hesitate... "
Safety Car
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mike , why not dye everything to match, if you like the darker oxblood. then dye the ones that appear lighter to match, some of mine seemed lighter than others, so i went over everthing and now they all match up---some of the pieces that seemed lighter were the parking brake console,,windshield pillar post trim-------
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Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Carl, I actually have already started that process - on a few select pieces. My wife doesn't like a bright red interior , and oxblood is the perfect non-black interior color for a C3 IMO.
The door panels are borderline on needing replaced. So I am holding up on painting them.
I REALLY like the pic of your interior !!!
The door panels are borderline on needing replaced. So I am holding up on painting them.
I REALLY like the pic of your interior !!!
Last edited by Mike Mercury; Jan 3, 2005 at 12:26 PM.
Race Director
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From: NM
Let me jump in here a bit. Looks as if everyone has said most of this but let me recap. In '73 you could get the deluxe interior only in Black or Saddle. With the deluxe interior you got leather seat covers, cut-pile carpet, carpet on the bottom of the doors, and woodgrain inserts on the doors. Since yours is a red you should not have any of this.
The standard interior would have "comfort-weave" seat covers, chrome bar across upper part of seat where the shoulder belt would come thorugh, loop carpet, and no extra trim of the doors. So it looks as if the door panels are correct but the seat covers and carpet are wrong.
Sorry but cannot comment on the correct red colors. But check out The '73 Sport as I have the color samples posted there.
tom...
The standard interior would have "comfort-weave" seat covers, chrome bar across upper part of seat where the shoulder belt would come thorugh, loop carpet, and no extra trim of the doors. So it looks as if the door panels are correct but the seat covers and carpet are wrong.
Sorry but cannot comment on the correct red colors. But check out The '73 Sport as I have the color samples posted there.
tom...
