1969 Camaro White Interior Dilemma

[musclecar fan]

I have a 69 RS/SS Camaro Convertible (#'s matching) with White Comfortweave interior. Apparently white comfortweave was not offered in 1969 and perhaps this interior may have been either a carry-over 68 option or a special order interior by GM or the dealer for the original owner. (at least that was the opinion of previous members on this forum) The firewall tag code is white standard, but the car has always had comfortweave as far as I can tell. It has the woodgrain dash, deluxe seatbelts with correct dates, molded door panels, etc. The car is a very early build car (October 1968) and was the 4000th car off the line, so this "carry-over or special order" opinion may make sense. The seats are in poor condition now so I am trying to decide whether to replace with White comfortweave (as I believe it left the showroom) or to go to white standard vinyl per the firewall tag. Perhaps it was an GM executives car? Maybe this car is a one-off and more special than I know? The car is heavilly optioned and I bought it from the previous owner who I know. He owned it for the past 23 years and bought it with the white comfortweave in unrestored condition in the early 1980's. It was untouched when he bought it. Any thoughts on what I should do is very much appreciated. Keep the white comfortweave or go to standard vinyl? I'm so confused. Thanks

[enio45]

white standard or white comfortweave to me would not make much difference if i was to purchase the car.....its white that you have to like - so its close enought and looks good with the comfortweave...JMO

[Zedder]

We were changing out standard for deluxe interiors in the late 70's quite frequently. Buying a good set of used seats was easy and cheap back then and we didn't give a lick about originality! Put it back to stock as that is likely how it was delivered.

[Charley Lillard]

I say put it how you like it and not worry.

[camarojoe]

I'd like to see some pics of the interior as it is... If they didn't make white comfortweave as a regular option, its gotta be ultra rare, Wasn't 68 deluxe interior different than 69?, if so it can't really be a "carry over" from 68, unless its got 68 seats in it. I'd definitely want to keep the white comfortweave if its some "never seen before" one of one 1969 combo.. Not sure how you'd replace the comfortweave seatcovers though.

[Denis]

Maybe when you pull the seats and take the covers off, you'll come across a Fisher document which will have a code for the original covers.

[Jeff H]

If you remove the seat covers you'll probably find a date on them somewhere. That should help determine if they are late 68 seats or not. I like the houndstooth/comfortweave in my 70 L78 car so if you like that style of seat, go for it. You can always find another set of 69 seats and put the correct white vinyl covers on them.

[tom406]

What they said. Do everything you can to document the interior as being original, then have some matching replacement seat covers stitched up. Post some pics of the original (or at least current) interior and let the opinions pile up. I'd keep the deluxe interior, especially in an SS/RS convert. Standard interiors are just so lackluster compared to the Deluxe ones, and I think white standard is about the starkest looking one available in standard. If you can document that the interior is a special one-off, that would really be icing on the cake.

[Mr. T]

Throughout the years, I have seen quite a few (standard interior) 69 Camaros (per trim tag), with RPO Z87 added sometime after leaving the factory. Check to see if it has a glovebox light, pedal trim, trunk mat, hood insulation, woodgrain steering wheel (if a wood wheel was not ordered), which are all items included in the Z87 interior option. A few of these were included with RPO Z23 initially when ordering standard interior, and carried over when ordering Z87.

I would bet that your 69 had the RPO Z23, and the comfortweave interior, including custom door panels, seatbelts, and the wooden accents on the glove box, ashtray door were added sometime later in life. If it was me, I would remove the white comfortweave interior, custom door panels, etc., and install the white standard (727) interior, along with the standard door panels, but I am a big stickler when it comes to factory correctness. I highly doubt that the seats were a carry over from 68. A picture of your interior would help, along with looking over your car in person. Good luck in whatever you decide. It is your car, so just enjoy it in whatever direction you decide to go.

[Kurt S]

I doubt the car left the factory like that.
I too would like to see some pics.