Putting an original interior in a '67 Corvette

[TimG]

Here's one of the loves of my life. A 175,000 mile very original '67 427 Corvette. This was a very good, but pretty worn out car when I got it in late 2013. The interior was partially original and all the white components were just shot. I put in a new interior and it looked great, but didn't fit with the patina of the rest of the car. An original blue convertible carpet came my way with the help of a friend, another friend found original white door panels and I found original white seat backs. Someone else called me with an original tinted windshield, so this car is really going back to original components. I had the car NCRS judged last year with the new interior, so I'm not trying to fool anyone. I just want the car to look uniform from inside to outside.

[RPOLS3]

That's pretty cool Tim. Looks like a neat car.

[bergy]

Way to go on finding original interior parts. 390, 400, or 435 HP? I think that is THE best color combination for a mid year Corvette. Of course - I am biased! Here is its long lost brother - coupe version.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/05/full-2170-43383-67_corvette.jpg

[TimG]

Bergy, I can see why you would be biased. I think this is one of the best color combinations. Here's the tank sticker that has been validated.

[rts]

Beautiful car, Any engine pics Tim??

[olredalert]

----Tim is aware as am I that no vendor out there comes close to reproducing that exact color blue carpet. The carpet they tell you is correct is a bright blue and to guys who know what they are looking at, sticks out like a sore thumb. Your only option in Tims case is exactly what he has done. We all know how difficult it is to chase down rare original parts, but what Tim has managed here is almost ridiculous on the difficulty scale. Congrats, Tim!!!!.....Bill S

[bergy]

Real side pipe car too! I have been tracking a 390 HP '67 roadster with the same paint/trim codes for 20 years - just bought it (finally!) last week. POP & tank sheet car (tank sheet not in as good a shape as yours though).

[1967Z28]

Gorgeous car, Tim. Very neat what you have been able to do with the interior.

[TimG]

Bill,

You're absolutely correct. The reproduction carpet that I purchased two years ago is quite a bid different. It's actually a much prettier color. Here's the new (old) carpet compared to what I bought two years ago. The piping is much thicker and the stitching is spaced out more.

[TimG]

I don't have any good engine shots yet, I'm putting on a correct and dated water pump this weekend.

[olredalert]

----The factory welting around the edges of the lid and elsewhere in the interior is thinner than the repro stuff. Therefor the welting's stitching (and just the basic look) isn't the same as the original. It looks like you may have shampooed the lid. Have you done that to the rest of the carpet? It will come out much better. Just use very mild shampoo, soft bristle brush, and have your wet vac close by.....Bill S

[TimG]

Bill, I shampooed the floorboard areas with Woolite. No brush, just my hand. The carpet has never been off of the lid, so that is original and undisturbed. The carpet looks better in person. It should be back together on Thursday or Friday.

[TimG]

Here is the original deck lid on the right with reproduction carpet. I got the lid with the original carpet, so I'm just going to use that one in the car. My original has four holes in it from where speakers were mounted.

[bergy]

Gosh - maybe it's just the photograph, but your repro carpet looks awful dark. My carpet was shot, so I installed new. Original stowage cover with new carpet looks quite a bit lighter than yours.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/05/full-2170-43441-corvette_carpet.png

[napa68]

Tim,

I have had luck steam cleaning original carpets. May be worth a shot?

Neat car........real neat!

Tim

[TimG]

The original carpet looks great, original door panels are in also.

The windshield that was in the car was a visually correct GM replacement dated November 1968, I found a February 67 Windshield for a May 67 build car.

I need original white seat covers to make the interior 100%.

[bergy]

Need original white window cranks?

[TimG]

I've got the original ones that are in good shape. Seats are my next big challenge.

[Starship]

Now that's the way to "Restore" a car!

[bergy]

Your tank sheet is a lot nicer than mine. I'm guessing that the last 2 of your VIN is between 57 and 67!

[olredalert]

----Not a lot of 390s came with transistor ignition, Bruce. Very interesting!......Bill S

[TimG]

Bergy, my VIN does end in 63. Have you had your tank sticker validated? It is better than lots that I've seen.

[bergy]

63... only one off of their estimate of 62. Mine last 3 are 2 off of the estimate. My sticker was validated by a Senior NCRS judge. Not formally validated by NCRS though. The tank sticker from my '67 coupe is way worse - does clearly show tri-power conversion though.

[hubleyman]

One of my all time favorite color combos...

Since you guys are sharing, do you happen to know how many '67's were made with the two tone Blue/White interior? I can't imagine there were many.

I sold one this color combo a while ago... pretty original but well used. Wish I kept and restored it, but already had too many projects at the time.

Take a look at this pic and you'll see what I mean by well used...

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/05/full-3493-43815-drivers_seat.jpg

[TimG]

That baby is pretty worn out, still looks beautiful to me, though. I don't know how many blue/white interior '67's were made. I know it's published somewhere.

[TimG]

I thought I had a line on original white seat covers, but it fell through. If anyone knows of '67 white original seat covers available, let me know.

[bergy]

PM sent

[firstgenaddict]

I really like that interior color combo with the white exterior. Lawrence Shaw has a top flighted 67 L79 Roadster in White over white blue combo. stunning!

[Steve Shauger]

I have a friend that has a 67 silver L79 roadster with the white and blue interior. That combo is just stunning.

[olredalert]

----Ill keep my eyes open, Tim.......Bill S

[L72Chevelle]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bergy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your tank sheet is a lot nicer than mine. I'm guessing that the last 2 of your VIN is between 57 and 67!

</div></div>May I ask what the number 238 means on this tank sticker? I have a 67 coupe with number 233 on it. Thanks, Phil. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/05/full-4491-44090-kens_vette_005.jpg

[TimG]

I would imagine that the last three digits of your VIN are close to 233 or 733.

[L72Chevelle]

734 Thanks guys!

[bergy]

233 was the scheduling estimate of the last 3 of you VIN. Estimates were only done in batches of 500, so could have been close to 233 or 733 (usually +/- 5) as Tim pointed out. Looks like the ident # is gone?

[firstgenaddict]

I agree Steve the White Blue interior color combo sets off the Vette so well!

[TimG]

Ok, now things are getting serious. Last week I happened to find a '67 327/350 horse Marina blue/blue and white interior roadster with a lots of original components that will help finish out my '67 blue big block. It's a good car with original engine, transmission and rear. It also has a great tank sticker. I certainly didn't need another '67 Corvette, but this is a good little car that I'll drive and enjoy. In the interim, the seats, rear bumpers and sun visors will go in my Survivor car.

[TimG]

For those that like pad pictures, here's two.

[cook_dw]

Nice addition. I assume the air cleaner is original. Would you mind the next time you have the lid off could you snap a pic of the screen print and send it to me? Thanks, Darrell


And is for either the sb or bb car.

[TimG]

Darrell, it's original, but beat up. The stencil is there. I have a bunch on other '67's in the garage to photograph as well.

[cook_dw]

Ok that would be great. Thanks.

[Dave Rifkin]

That's one beautiful &quot;parts car&quot;.

[TimG]

Here is the stencil from bottom of the air cleaner lid.

[cook_dw]

Excellent. Thank You!!

[olredalert]

----Tim,,,Where did that small block car come from? Do you have a dealer name? I had the absolute twin to it that came out of Illinois south and east of Chicago originally. Sold it to my brother, then bought it back and sold it to another guy on Cape Cod. Then I bought it back for a customer up here in Mi. He loved it but sold it several years ago. It was an extremely clean detailed Vette that got either a top flight or 2nd flight a long time back.......Bill S

[TimG]

Hi Bill, probably not the same car. This one has no history of being NCRS judged and started life in CT or NY.

[TimG]

The final piece was finished up over the weekend. The donor cover seat bottoms were a bolt in. The seat backs had to be transferred to the headrest seat backs, so that took some time and effort. The new seat covers that I installed two years ago could not be used on the non headrest backs, so that required new seat covers for the donor seats. The carpet, seats, seat backs, door panels, sun visors, windshield are all transplanted parts. They work well with the patina of the original paint on this car. There are some different shades of white going on, but that's to be expected with 49 year old original components.

[TimG]

Final picture of blue all completed.

[olredalert]

----Tim,,,The interior looks great! That car could go in the Special collection next year......Bill S

[TimG]

Bill, that would be quite an honor. I visited with the Gold folks a little bit about having it in the '67 display.

[olredalert]

----Ill put a good word in with Billy L......Bill S

[John_Koh]

Absolutely Beautiful! That is the best color combination ever. Love it !
Thanks, john