'69 Emergency Brake Console

[Pat K.]

I'm restoring the interior of my '69 Corvette, and the emergency brake console was painted a high gloss black (interior is black). The gloss seems too high to me. Does anybody know what the correct gloss should be?

Thanks,

Pat

[Chuck S.]

Re: '69 Emergency Brake Console

Pat, since the center console was covered with black vinyl, the gloss should be the same as that of natural, fresh-from-the-factory, black vinyl material. Maybe I can describe that gloss level with less than a thousand words: brand new vinyl is not fully flat and maybe not quite semi-flat, but will have a very slight luster to it. Once it was in use for a while, gloss level would depend on how much Armorall, hair baum, or burger-grease fingerprints it acquired.

If the other vinyl in the car has a texture pattern, I recommend you try to carefully clean the gloss black off the console with lacquer thinner on a rag covered finger tip. Avoid using too much thinner on the console; you can make the vinyl brittle and crack prone. Use black vinyl dye from one of the Corvette vendors...it is probably more paint than dye, but someone has already considered the gloss level required, and the gloss level should be close.

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 Emergency Brake Console

Pat------

It was NOT a high gloss black; I'd say that it was more of a semi-gloss or semi-flat. Most of the Corvette parts sources sell an interior black paint which is just about right. To get the console right, you'll probably need to strip off the old paint before repainting it. Otherwise, the finish will be too "thick looking" and the madrid grain will be highly "muted".

[Pat K.]

Re: '69 Emergency Brake Console

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for the response, but I believe you're referring to the forward shift console which is wrapped in vinyl. It's the paint on the emergency brake handle console that I'm concerned about.

I believe Joe Lucia is referring the emergency brake handle console?

Thanks,

Pat

[Chuck S.]

Re: '69 Emergency Brake Console

Sorry about that...My mind sometimes ignores what my eyes see, but the advice doesn't change materially. You will have to be a little more careful removing the gloss black; the plastic in the e-brake console may soften quickly, so watch what you're doing...i.e. don't dwell in one spot too long.

I am sure Joe understood the question perfectly, and he gave you the same advice. The difference is the e-brake console was ALWAYS painted, where the vinyl covering on the center console was not. Using vinyl "dye" is the answer for restoring ANY (otherwise unrecoverable) plastic interior parts, hard or soft. Maybe small metal interior trim parts too, but I haven't tried it yet.

[Pat K.]

Re: '69 Emergency Brake Console

Thanks for the advice.

Pat