Quality of 67 interiors

[Jim Dulle]

I am replacing the interior in my 67 coupe. Dash pads, seats, door panels, carpet and such. My question is this. I am finding a huge price difference in suppliers such as Ecklers and Mid-America as compared to someone like Al Knoch Interiors. Al knoch's products are nearly twice the cost in many cases. Can someone tell me if there is a huge differance in quality and look between these suppliers? Is the extra cost worth it? Thanks for your help, Jim.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Jim,

Check with The Last Detail (www.tld-corvette.com) for discounts on Al's products. They usually sell his items for equal or less than Al's show specials.

Mid America bought John's Corvette Care and will be making their own products. I'm not sure who they currently use. Eckler's likely uses some of Al Knoch as well as some of Corvette America's products. Odds are, they won't tell you which supplier you're getting, either.

I plan on using TLD to buy Al Knoch products for my 66 if I can't swing a deal with Al at a show.

For carpets, though, I'd compare ACC, Romeo Engineering as well as AK. Ask for samples from all 3 in your color before buying. And if you go with AK, save yourself huge hassles and send him your seat frames for him to recover. The best $200 you can spend. I think you can still swing a deal through TLD on this, too.

Good luck,

Patrick

[Mike M.]

Also, be sure to specify the correct heel pad. *NM*

[Jack layton #896]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Go to shows and look at the interiors of the show cars. Ask the owners who the manufacturer of the interiors was. Some upholstery material has too much metallic shine. This is a characteristic I noticed many years ago when selecting my 1965 blue interior. I have purchased Al's interior twice,
one for my 1956 (in 1974) and the other for my 1965 (in 1989). The carpet in the 1965 is now due for replacement. Little doubt from whom I will purchase.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

There is a difference in quality, and in most cases Al Knoch's products are superior to some of the other products on the market. I do see them advertised at a little higher price than some of the others, but not 200%. Check the prices again, I don't think there is that much variation, unless you are comparing a sale price to a regular price or something like that.

[Ed M.]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Jim,
I have purchased a lot of stuff from Al. I usually buy at Carlisle and therefore get the show prices. His 67 seat covers and door panels are the best. The reason for that is he has changed them over the years to satisfy demanding customers. And the best thing about Al is he stands behind his products. I had an issue with a convertible soft top that I bought from him and he took it back (dated window and all) and replaced it, all with a no hassle attitude. I wouldn't buy from anyone else.
Ed

[Bill Braun #33186]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Does anyone konow if Al Knoch sells partial sets of carpets?

Bill

[Patrick H.]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Bill,

Yes, most vendors, including Al, sell partial kits. The kits usually consist of the carpet for the front footwells, or the whole kit too. I suppose you could get just one footwell piece, but remember that with some colors you won't get it to match your original other side exactly.

Patrick

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Bill,

-----This must be for your 67 as I know you wouldnt touch those survivor 66s!.........Bill S

[Patrick H.]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

I was thinking the same thing, and hoping that's why he was responding to a thread on 67 interiors.

Patrick

[Bill Braun #33186]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Gentlemen,

You may continue to sleep quietly. The interior of the '66 has only been vacuumed.

Bill

[Tom Merkel]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Bill - Just a question: I've seen the term 'survivor cars' used occasionally. What's that refer to?

Thanks.

Tom

[Tom Merkel]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Bill - Just a question: I've seen the term 'survivor cars' used occasionally. What's that refer to?

Thanks.

Tom

[John H.]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Tom -

Without getting into gory detail, "Survivor" is a Bloomington-judging category for untouched original cars, which is similar in some respects to the NCRS "Bowtie" category. The operative terms in this category are "original", "untouched", and "unrestored".

[John H.]

Re: Quality of 67 interiors

Tom -

Without getting into gory detail, "Survivor" is a Bloomington-judging category for untouched original cars, which is similar in some respects to the NCRS "Bowtie" category. The operative terms in this category are "original", "untouched", and "unrestored".