Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

[Dan M.]

Slowly getting my 68 back together but I have some issues with the interior. My car came in tobacco, a one year only color. I need replacment door panels and shift/e-brake consoles as well as seat covers. Dash panels are fine.

I can't find any vendor that makes a good quality replacment door panel in tobacco. Al Knoch does not. I even visited their manufacturing plant outside ElPaso 20 years ago. They said the demand would never off set the costs to start making the color.

Looking for ideas other than just dying everything black which I may have to do. What manufacturers does anyone have experience with that could help me out? Ecklers/Corvette America all want to sell me brown and say its close to tobacco. Far from it! I even have a set of original tobacco 68 seat belts that I want to use.

Looking for help.

[Greg L.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

I've never tried this but here is a thought...

Didn't all dash, console and door panels start out black and then were dyed for the final color? If so why not just get a black Al Knock set and have them dyed to match the rest of your interior? I would think that a good upholstery shop should be able to get as good of a match as GM did back in 68.

[Dick W.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

Most original panels were the same color though and through the vinyl, ie tobacco panels were made from tobacco vinyl.

Al used to dye panels for customers. He did a pretty good job. Why not check with him about dying you a pair.

[Cecil L.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

I had a 68 400 hp Corvette Orange with dark orange interior. I had trouble finding correct interior parts and finally ended up dyeing them with the Corvette America spray dye. Everything came out great. The key was proper cleaning and using the vinyl prep. BTW, when I cleaned up one of the dash pads, I found that it had originally been blue and apparently dyed dark orange at the factory. I've seen this before with steering wheels on 55-64 chevys, where the original steering wheel had been painted over at the factory. I would assume that if they ran out of a certain color item on the assembly line, they would just paint or dye what they had.

[Edward J.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

Dan, I would start with a saddle color door panel and dye them the correct color( Saddle tends to cover alot easier), and would say to dye all the other componets of the interior as so they match.I did this with my 72 and a freinds 68 all looks great.

[Dan M.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

Thanks for the ideas guys. I agree if I dye one part I should dye them all so they match.

I haven' seen if Corvette America actually sells tobacco vinyl dye.

Are there other good dyes that someone would suggest other tan Corvette America? I've heard of SEM? Is that a good option and readily avialble?

Thanks agin for the help!

[Edward J.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

Dan, you may have to try a Automotive paint supplier that has the correct formula and you may even be able to take a piece of the interior to use a sample the have a type on camera that will take a pict. and cross it to a color that is correct. it may take some research.you will more than likely need need a spray gun w/compressor to apply,if you buy it by the quart.

I just noticed that paragon corvette reproductions does have the tabacco color listed in the catalog.

[Dick W.]

Re: Replace My Tobacco Colored Interior

Somewhere in the back of my lil ole pea pickin' brain, I seem to remember that the factory had a method of hot dying vinyl. Do not ask me about the process, because I have slept at least one night since someone told me that. Maybe 15-20 years worth of nights