57 defroster box

[paul bowers]

i have an old defroster box that was with my vette many yrs.ago. Were they made of leather or some sort of heavy cardboard and does anyone know of someone that repairs them if indeed they were made of leather
thanks
paul

[Mike E.]

Re: 57 defroster box

cardboard---reproductions that are very accurate are widely available

[Don Y.]

Re: 57 defroster box

My '57 had a metal air box on it instead of the typical cardboard box. My car is an August 15/16 production date (depending on where you look) and the VIN is 5899. Does anyone else have a '57 with a metal box? Could this be a service replacement?

[paul bowers]

Re: 57 defroster box

mike, so you don't think they were leather mine sure looks like leather
paul

[John H.]

Re: 57 defroster box

Don -

The metal one is a reproduction - mine had one in it too when I bought it; the original was heavy pressboard.

[paul bowers]

Re: 57 defroster box

john
are reproductions available or do you think anyone repairs them or would it be a waste of time since i do have a partial unit
paul

[Don Y.]

Re: 57 defroster box

John,
Do you think the metal replacements were available in the early/mid sixties? I am certain the box was in the car for quite a long time. The car was purchased by my father in '63 and I am pretty sure he never replaced any heater parts.

[Mike E.]

Re: 57 defroster box

Never leather. Never metal. Always heavy pressboard/cardboard.

[John H.]

Re: 57 defroster box

Don -

I don't know when the metal reproduction became available; after I installed the correct pressboard duct, I put the metal one on my table at a swap meet and it sold immediately - many people can't believe the original was pressboard, and think the metal one is the original.

[John H.]

Re: 57 defroster box

Paul -

Repairing a damaged pressboard duct would probably be quite difficult; Paragon has an outstanding reproduction.

[Calvin M.]

Re: 57 defroster box

Hi Don -

The metal replacements were available very early, definitely by the mid-sixties.

They were produced by Dyse Manufacturing, and possibly by others.

Cal