1973 Survivor (?)

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

[QUOTE=Russ Steinhaus (5540);854654]What about the paint doesn't look original to you Joe? I think it looks very original.

Russ-----


The texture of the paint plus the manner in which it chips does not look original to me. It impressed me this way from my very first viewing of the photo. That's just my opinion, though.

[James G.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Here is a less than 10k mile 72 LT1 coupe tag... I only posted for comparison because I thought the 73 Metallic yellow looked similar to the Warbonnet...

[Don B.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

I would look for original seats or covers. They're out there, and they will look far better in the car if it is actually unrestored.
Reproductions have a different finish, plus there is no guarantee on the color match.

Good morning Patrick ... thanks for your input. You mention original seats or covers are out there, and originals (as opposed to reproductions) are what I'd much prefer to have. Could you give me some clue where to look? Internet searches bring only reproductions, so I'm obviously not looking in the right place. Thank you again!

Don Becker

[Don B.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Thanks James. When able, could you please send a picture of the interior? I'd like to see what a '72 417 trim code looks like even tho I'm not sure how it might apply to a '73 416. Thank you again!

Don Becker

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Good morning Patrick ... thanks for your input. You mention original seats or covers are out there, and originals (as opposed to reproductions) are what I'd much prefer to have. Could you give me some clue where to look? Internet searches bring only reproductions, so I'm obviously not looking in the right place. Thank you again!

Don Becker

Don-----


Well, they may be out there but, to say the very least, you're going to have a tremendous challenge finding any. I'll give you a "head start", though: the seat cushions you are looking for (code 416) were originally GM #334716. This was discontinued in November, 1975 and replaced by GM #345442. The latter was discontinued without supercession in July, 1984. The 345442 was actually the 1975 seat cushion cover which GM made the SERVICE cover for 1973-74. How the two differ I do not know but I expect there is some difference.

The seat backs were originally GM #334718. These were discontinued without supercession in September, 1984.

By the way, in case you are not aware of it, the seat back and seat cushion seat covers are the same for both driver and passenger side.

So, now you know what you are looking for. That's the easy part. Finding them, not so easy. And, if you do, expect to pay a king's ransom for them. Part of the problem relates to the fact that you're not only looking for parts that were discontinued 35+ years ago, but these are parts that were available in multiple colors and type (i.e. vinyl versus leather). You need a specific color and type AND two of each.

If anyone has them I would expect it would be J. T. Pipers in Vermillion, IL or David Sokolowski in the Los Angeles area. I believe that both advertise in the Driveline. Once again, if you find them be prepared to spend BIG $$$$$$$ to buy them. It might even cost a significant percentage of what the car is worth.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Good morning Patrick ... thanks for your input. You mention original seats or covers are out there, and originals (as opposed to reproductions) are what I'd much prefer to have. Could you give me some clue where to look? Internet searches bring only reproductions, so I'm obviously not looking in the right place. Thank you again!

Don Becker

Finding NOS/perfect GM seat covers will be quite the challenge. However, if you're trying to keep it a survivor, you may not want NOS/perfect covers anyway. My Vette is non-original and non-NCRS, so when I bought new Al Knoch leather seat covers for it, I was pleasantly surprised by the market for the old used, but original GM, stamped/dated, Vinyl covers I took off of it. I was able to recoup some of my costs, and felt good that I was making someone else happy who wanted a "period correct" set of covers, and that they didn't end up in a landfill.

There are used seat covers out there...CorvetteForum, eBay, etc to name a few if you want to consider that route. If it is a true survivor car, and you want to keep it that way, anything brand spanking new is going to look out of place anyway in my opinion. I've never really considered this option, but I'm guessing there are some out there who would gladly trade their used seat covers that are worn, but still in good condition, for a brand new set of reproductions. Not many of those people are going to be at this website though for obvious reasons.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Good morning Patrick ... thanks for your input. You mention original seats or covers are out there, and originals (as opposed to reproductions) are what I'd much prefer to have. Could you give me some clue where to look? Internet searches bring only reproductions, so I'm obviously not looking in the right place. Thank you again!

Don Becker

eBay
NCRS Driveline
Bloomington Gold
Corvettes @ Carlisle
Corvette Forum

etc

[Robert G.]

[James G.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Here are a couple...

[Don B.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Thanks for the photos James. Noteworthy is that the ComfortWeave seams in the butt pocket run long-wise (as per most vinyl) rather than cross-wise (typical of leather). I guess it will remain a mystery as to how my car can be an original 416 trim code, yet have ComfortWeave seats sewn in the pattern of leather.

My network here in SoCal has referred me to a upholsterer who reputedly can work magic ... I'll let everyone know what happens next. Since I'm convinced the seats are original, my first choice is to fix the tears.

Thanks to all who replied ... this has been a wonderful education for me, and I'm looking forward to receipt of my NCRS books to further my studies.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1973 Survivor (?)

Thanks for the photos James. Noteworthy is that the ComfortWeave seams in the butt pocket run long-wise (as per most vinyl) rather than cross-wise (typical of leather). I guess it will remain a mystery as to how my car can be an original 416 trim code, yet have ComfortWeave seats sewn in the pattern of leather.

It's not a mystery...the upholsterer did not know!

My network here in SoCal has referred me to a upholsterer who reputedly can work magic ... I'll let everyone know what happens next. Since I'm convinced the seats are original, my first choice is to fix the tears.

NCRS doesn't look for magic...just the typical configuration, finish, date, completeness and installation as it left the factory. No small feat but one that challenges the uninformed. LOL