Early 70's interior

[Robert M.]

Many years ago, I had a 75 with the Black deluxe interior. I seem to recall that the stitching on the dash pads was white. I've recently come into possesion of some NOS dash pieces, and NOS Forward console. These all have Black stitching. Can anybody clarify this for me? Is my memory failing, or did the stitching change color?

Thanks,
Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: Early 70's interior

Bob-----

I'm going to take a "stab" at this one. The interior component "stitching" that you refer to was first used on 1970 models. It was seen on the front edge of the upper dash panel, side edges of the lower dash panels, and the top, side edges of the forward console. For 1970-72, and I suspect later years, the "stitching" was not real stitching but was an imitation design pressed into the vinyl substrate material to APPEAR like stitching. If it was still this way for 1975, then I don't understand how it could have been a different color than the vinyl.

I suppose that it's possible that GM obtained the services of some of those "elfs from der forest" to paint the stitching on. These would be the same folks that Dr. Rebuild talks about in his catalog as being used by certain other suppliers to stamp their radiator/heater hoses with the GM logos.

[Terry M.]

[Robert M.]

Re: Early 70's interior

About 10 years ago I purchased, and quickly returned, a repo forward console that had real thread stitching. I returned the console as the area between the dual row of stitching bulged outward, rather than inward. The reason I did inquire about the stitch color was because of what I vaguely recalled on the 1975, which I thought was white thread, and because I've been cleaning up a GM dash pad that had been redyed, and the stitching is white, while the pad appeared to be Saddle in color originally. I've also seen NOS dash pads (black) advertised on either ebay, or the Driveline, as have "correct" white stitching.

My 1970 does have the stitching as Joe mentioned, but is of little historical value as the pads have been poorly re-dyed. As my car will not ever be a flight candidate, I basicly ruled out ever finding the very rare 70 only pieces, and may consider a repo, or a change to an easier to find later year for the lower pads.

Thanks,
Bob

[Patrick H.]

Re: Early 70's interior

Bob,

I hate to say that Joe is incorrect, but as Terry says in not so many words, he's incorrect (and a rare event that is ). The stitching on originals is true stitching while reproductions have it "molded in."

My 1971 has a dark blue interior code 412. It came from the factory with blue stitching but the stitching is now white. Why? I'm sure that many of the agents used to clean the interior in the 23 years before I purchased the car had some amount of bleach in them, or something similar as far as bleaching ability is concerned. In any event, the blue has been removed, and white stitching now remains.

I suspect the same thing had happened to your black 1975 interior. While no one likely used bleach, I would surmise that harsh chemicals not meant to be used in automotive interiors (or at least not on thread like this) removed the color.

Anyone thinking in a similar manner?

By the way, the stitching on all the reproduction pieces I own is blue. And if I can find a permanent marker of a color I think is quite close, my original stitching will once again return to blue.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Thread color *TL*

My vote is on the damaging effects of sunlight more than chemicals. The dyes used in the thread probably were not expected to last thirty years.

Next time you see a stunning original interior - notice the color of the thread. It is that feature, even though you may not consciously be aware of it, that causes your eye to be attracted to the "like new" look.

[Robert M.]

Re: Early 70's interior

Patrick, your thoughts that the threads lose their color, does seem likely. I checked a loose end of thread on the dash pad I'm working with, and it appears to maybe be a natural fiber, like cotton, which as all us who wear jeans knows, will fade toward white. The 75 did have a very clean interior, and the previous owner seemed to be a neat-nick, so maybe the frequent cleaning bleached the threads.

I thought back some on the repo stitching, and I remember a few months back, at looking at 3 repo pieces at a local Corvette shop. I saw a lower left dash pad, a 72-76 forward console, and a dash top. They all had real stitching, but it was very sloppy. The forward console was by Corvett America, and I assumed the other 2 pieces were also by CA. The shop also had an NOS top pad. While comparing the NOS and the repo, I noticed the grain was similar, the NOS pad stitching as I noted was straight, tight, and parallel whereas the repo was not, and the weight of the NOS pad was much heavier.

Bob

[Patrick H.]

Re: Thread color

Terry,

My car came from California which is well known for its sun. I'd have to say, though, that the thread is white even way down on the lower dash pad, which doesn't see an excessive amount of sun compared to the top pad.

Likely a combination of the two, I'd think.

I need to go check an original blue 71 this week anyway to compare carpet and seat belts. I'm going to look at the threads now, too.

Patrick

[Jim T.]

Re: Early 70's interior

I just looked my original owner 70's original black interior. Even after 31 1/2 years the black thread is still in excellent shape in the upper dash pad, door panels, console, and dash panel around the map pocket.

[Joe L.]

Re: Early 70's interior

Terry------

About 20 years ago I purchased a GM #3963151 front console assembly. At the time, GM catalogued this part as applicable to 68-70. However, after I ordered and purchased it, I discovered that while it was the PRODUCTION black console for 1970, it was the SERVICE console for 68-69 inasmuch as it had the "stitched" edges. At the time, when I looked at it, it appeared to me that the stitching was "artificial" and I've labored under that belief ever since.

Well, I just dug this piece out of the collection and examined it closely (with a magnifying glass). Indeed, the stitching is real, so I was incorrect in my previous post in this thread. (But, like I said, I was just taking a "stab" at it).

As I examine the piece closely, it looks like the SEAM is artificial, but the threads on both sides are real. So, I think that the threads were added for decorative purposes only, but they're real, nonetheless. It does amaze me that they went to this length to create authentic threads.

[Dennis D.]

Re: Patrick

I dyed my 70 saddle interior silver 20+ years ago(young and foolish then). I stripped the silver last summer to go back to original saddle. The first thing I noticed was the white thread. Or so I thought. When I took the map pocket off the right lower pad, the edges that feed through to the back had not been dyed. The thread there was saddle in color.

So I agree Patrick, the lacquer thinner took the color out of the thread from the pieces I had stripprd of silver. I kind on like the white thread look on the saddle

[Terry M.]

Re: Early 70's interior *TL*

I agree Joe that it was a lot of bother, but someone wanted the effect badly. Of course it is purely decorative. To get the stitching even had to be difficult, and I have seen some original examples that were less than perfect. Fading of the threads is common and we had a difficult time making the call for the judging manual. That is the reason I asked when the opportunity presented.

One of the points Jay Kellogg mentioned was that the 1970 console had "ears" on either side that extend up and inch or so beside the radio. These were easily damaged in production and shipping and the reject rate was on the order of 40%. The console was redesigned for 1971 to eliminate this.

It is hard to describe, but easily seen when we had 1970 and 1972 as examples.

I began to ask about the 1968 interior, but he refused to talk about it and the session ended about then.

[Juliet P.]

Original Sitch length around map pocket.

Very neat thread. While we're on the subject - what is the length of the stitching surrounding the map pocket on original 1970 panels? I had a discussion with someone at the NJ regional this past fall. If you look at the stitch length on the repro's and compare it with the stitch length on a known original dash pad, it appeared as if they used longer stitching. After looking at several cars in the 68-72 division I wasn't sure any more how to tell repro from originals, since they ALL looked like the stitching around the map pockets was longer and less uniform than the dash pad. Can anyone describe the stitch length on a known original right dash pad? ~Juliet


1970 Corvette Registry

[Jack H.]

Re: Original Sitch length around map pocket.

Can give you data on '71-73 later. But, another thing to look at is the 'offset' of the stitching on (1) map pocket, (2) dash, (3) door panels. The originals I've seen have stiching that is NOT straight but slightly cocked (one end of the stitch is lower than the opposite)....

[Jack H.]

Numbers....

Exposed stitch is 0.165 inches with pattern repeat interval of 0.200 inches.