Rear Interior Quarter Panels and seat backs

[Frank B.]

The 1971 Conv. that I am restoring has cut outs in the rear Quarter Trim Panels for shoulder belts, however this car has no shoulder belts. Is this normal? Additionally it appears as though these panels plus the seat backs were orginally black in color and painted to match the interior. Were these items painted at the Factory to match interior colors? I looked at my friends 71 Conv. which has never been restored and it appears as though these items were painted, plus the cut outs are present inhis rear quarters with no shoulder belts. I Know shoulder belts were a option on convertibles just can't figure out why the factory installed ouarter trim panels with the cut outs on these cars.

[Jack H.]

Re: Rear Interior Quarter Panels and seat backs

Yep, shoulder belts were an option on convertible and they only used one interior quarter panel trim (with access holes for optional shoulder belt). These plastic molded pieces were colored to match the interior. If memory serves, there ARE some repro catalog houses who offer the interior rear quarter trim panels both with and without holes for the shoulder belts.

[Frank B.]

Re: Rear Interior Quarter Panels and seat backs

Jack
Thank for the information regarding the cut outs. I assume from your response that the ouarters were originally Black in color and the factory painted them to match interior color code. Would you happen to know if the seat backs were also painted at the factory?

Thanks for your invaluable help.
Frank

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear Interior Quarter Panels and seat backs

Frank------

The rear quarter trim panels and the seat back panels were supplied to the St. Louis assembly plant pre-painted in the complete range of interior colors. In initial SERVICE, the panels were also available in most interior colors. However, the pre-painted panels were quickly purged from the GMSPO inventory and replaced by just one or two colors (usually black was among them) with the instruction "paint to match".