I'm on the fence about purchasing a 2013 60th Anniversary Grand Sport convertible with the 4LT package with 35k miles. They're asking $48k. What concerns me the most is the well reported leather dash that can become unglued. The dash seems to be ok from the pictures I've seen. But is this an inevitable problem that will appear in the future and if so, how expensive of a fix is it? Another words, is it a deal breaker? Any other issues or concerns about the 60th Anniversary Grand Sport Convertible 4LT with manual transmission would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

From researching the Forum, it appears to maybe not be inevitable. Until it happens to you. There is a guy in the North East who makes some great and informative videos. His dash REALLY went TU, very wrinkled. He removed the dash to fix it (the other way to fix it is to remove the windshield). I as amazed at the lack of glue — and NO staples — that Chevrolet used to secure these. When I got mine last August, the dash was starting to go. Boy, talk about tempering my excitement.
Long story short, I found a video on line where the guy pretty much fixed his with a really thin hypodermic needle, glue, and a roller, all listed in his video and available on Amazon. I followed his lead and added ankle weights on the doctored part of the dash over night. So far, knock on wood, it has worked really well for me with the problem areas being near the windshield where Chevy should have used staples. I notice it, but if someone wasn’t specifically looking for it, they probably would not notice it.
I suggest that you look up both YouTube videos that I mentioned. Again, some Forum members have not any issues with a 4LT dash.
If the dash on the Anniversary car that you are considering is not messed up, I would jump on it. When I was looking, I delayed and missed an ultra low mile one. I then got a 25k mile one and I LOVE it.
Best of luck and let us know what happens.

 

Luck of the draw whether it will or won't happen. My Centennial GS vert lives in a basement garage, with little UV exposure. The dash started letting go when the car was about 7 years old. It kept creeping inward a small amount until last year, when it drastically accelerated. I had it fixed by a local shop, using the remove the windshield method. It turned out great. Just be prepared to possibly need to buy a windshield as well; Murphy worked on mine as it broke at the very end of removal.

I worked in tier one seating and interior trim for several years and just didn't feel like tackling the job myself. My personal opinion is that the absolute best method for a permanent fix is to remove the dash so you have it in hand and can easily manipulate it however needed, and can completely peel the dash loose and 100% reglue it with an adequate amount of a good solvent-based contact cement. I also agree that stapling the front edge of the dash is a really good idea.

Don't sweat the dash coming loose; just get it fixed if it does. Buy the car and enjoy the hell out of it if it fits your wants/needs. I've owned my car for over 10 years and still love it.

 

This is not just a Corvette issue, lots of elderly European cars have the same issue. Just figure it into the cost of maintaining the car. Otherwise, I think by 2013 all of the issues and bugs with the C6 were pretty-well worked out, and it should be a solid car, especially with the correct transmission in it.

It does seem kind of pricey though...

 

It’s that super rare 60th edition badge! They only made those for 2013 you know!😂

 

I think the dash problem will happen to them all sooner or later. I also think that price is at least $8k too high. I've got one except it's a coupe, not a vert. Bought it 8 years ago and loving it. I get complements all the time on the car. Be aware that the blue interior was a one year, one model color and nobody in the aftermarket makes anything matching it. And GM doesn't have any of the OE parts either.

 

When I was shopping for my brand new C6 in 2013 I looked at every available model and trim level and ultimately went with a Grand Sport with the 3LT package.

This gave me essentially all the options without the leather on the dash and other areas in the 4LT trim

I did this specifically to avoid the leather dash separation issue, which I had already read about. ( And I could have afforded the 4LT trim or the 60th Anniversary package. )

Honestly, I have no regrets. I like the leather dash cars when I see them, but I like the peace of mind I have more.

Good luck.

 

It really depends on how you take care of the car. My ZR1 had some very minor bubbles in the dash because before I bought the car it spent most of its time at car shows, and this Texas heat can wreak havoc on them. My Grand Sport, on the other hand, never saw a car show, but it had 36K miles on it when I bought it from the original owner in 2022, and the dash is near perfect except from some very minor separation down by the windshield. Whenever I park it, I always have a heat reflecting sun shade, so that helps. Otherwise, it lives in the garage.

Be very careful about what you use to clean it also.

Here's my dash. 39K miles and 13 years with it still looking pretty good:

 

I went through the bubbly dash fix about a year ago. After the remove-the-windshield-and-re-glue-it method failed, I went to plan B. The dash was removed and sent to a high end custom upholstery shop where it was recovered with a marine grade vinyl that matched the OEM leather in color and texture, using a marine grade contact cement and staples to hold it down. Marine grade because the vinyl material and adhesive are more heat and UV resistant than leather and regular contact cement. More water resistant too, can't hurt. The stitching and "Corvette" embroidery matched the OEM. I was very pleased with how it turned out.

This was probably the most expensive way to do it as the whole project was hired out. Total cost was just under $1500.

But let's put it in perspective: You can spend that much fixing stuff like a balancer, a/c., brakes, whatever. Guys voluntarily spend more than that on new tires, a set of wheels, a nice aftermarket stereo, paint correction, PPF, a fancy wax job, and much more on interior improvements, custom paint, and of course engine and suspension mods. More than a few of us buy all that stuff.

I looked at it as part of maintaining a 15yr old car in the best condition I can. YMMV.

 

My experience is that the dash issue is exacerbated by people using products on the leather dash, helping to lift up the leather dash glue.

My 2012 leather dash is problem free. I only wipe it down with damp microfibers. I use a sunshade when I park it outside as well. Simple things that can have a huge difference.

You can have issues with any car. If you look hard enough you can find a deal breaker on any car. This is at least an incredibly being issue.

 

[QUOTE=wjnjr;1607834474]I went through the bubbly dash fix about a year ago. After the remove-the-windshield-and-re-glue-it method failed, I went to plan B. The dash was removed and sent to a high end custom upholstery shop where it was recovered with a marine grade vinyl that matched the OEM leather in color and texture, using a marine grade contact cement and staples to hold it down. Marine grade because the vinyl material and adhesive are more heat and UV resistant than leather and regular contact cement. More water resistant too, can't hurt. The stitching and "Corvette" embroidery matched the OEM. I was very pleased with how it turned out.

This was probably the most expensive way to do it as the whole project was hired out. Total cost was just under $1500.

Wow, thanks for this insight, it is appreciated.

OP: In my initial post, I had target fixation on the dash concerns (and, yes, ever since I’ve had mine, I use a windshield screen when I go somewhere and park outside). I did not pay attention to the asking price. For reference, I purchased mine last August for $42.3k. It looks great and so far is mechanically sound. Again, good luck with your pursuit.

 

Mine also first started letting loose at the front edge. It took a couple of years before it started creeping up further, then slowly started bubbling/letting loose all over the whole dash. After maybe 5 years it started rapidly letting loose all over, which is when I'd had enough and fixed it. I hope it doesn't, but I suspect yours will follow the same course. I've owned my car for 10 years now.

I also never used anything on my dash except a damp cotton towel or microfiber. I agree about using products on the dash possibly expediting the issue, especially when the product is sprayed directly on the dash first. It gets onto the front edge of the leather at the windshield, which is where it seems they always start letting loose first.