69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

[Jack #35268]

Would one of you Judges for the C-3's do me a favor? Go to dealsonwheels.com.
At the home page, on the left side, arrow down to advanced search. Type in 1969, chevy, corvette, search. You will get about 20 cars up. Arrow down to the 5th car, a black roadster for 29,900. Click on the car for details. Arrow down and click on the middle "interior" pic. It will enlarge. Look at the seats and steering wheel. Are either of these correct? I have been told all 69 seats are to have a headrest. If you go back and look at the 7th. one, an orange conv., it has seats with the headrest. I need to know! Thanks

[Richard G.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Jack

I'm not a judge, but know quit a bit about 69's (I have a low milage conv). Straight out of the judging manual "Headrest were optional in 1968. For 1969 models, they were a mandatory option until January 1, 1969, when they became standard equipment. All head restraints were made of molded foam and covered with a smooth Madrid-pattern vinyl in both standard and leather interiors" The weaves in the seats are also different from 68 to 69. 69 had the "Comfort Weave". I hope this helps, I'll look at the website in a bit just for kicks.

Rich

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Steering wheel looks to be from a later model. Maybe a 76 or so. Diameter appears to be smaller and the rim appears to be leather, rather than grained. the seat photos are not clear enought to make a comment

[Richard G.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Jack

I took a look at the website and the seats look like there from a 77-78 vette, certainly not a 69. Hope this is helpful.

Rich

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Rich------

Yes, all 1969 Corvettes had headrests. However, not all 69s had the "Comfort Weave" seat inserts. Early 69s used the "Basket Weave" just like 68's. I don't know exactly when the changeover occurred but I have a friend with an original owner 1969 and his mid-October-built car has the "Basket Weave" seats.

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

I believe the difficulty in identifying a seat material change point is that it was different for different interior colors.

[Richard G.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Joe

You are absolutely correct and I have no idea when the change over happened. The JM says that the basket weave appeared sporadically through-out 69 in black vinyl interiors. I guess they had some extra material around the factory.

All the best

Rich

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

I have '69s with '68 seats as late as March or April with black. We would think GM was out of black by then.

[Donald M.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Rich, on a related subject, that of differing materials, parts, etc. my '69 coupe (#9882) came with a '68 grille and '68 heater control knobs. The grille looked much better than the '69 because it was silver vs. black. Over the years, I have seen many such examples.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Jack, sorry to be so late, but I have had trouble accessing the website. The seats are leather, not vinyl, so the comments about Comfortweave are irrelevant. The seats are from a 1972-77. 1972 began the horizontal panels and had higher backs with no headrest.

If the steering wheel is GM, it is 1977 or later. I have an after-market one like it on my '72 because of the smaller dialmeter. The entire steering column is from a later model because it has the combined dimmer/turn signal lever. That is definately not '69. I am guessing that the entire interior is 1977.

As Mike McCagh says, "When you see this much that is obvious, better look real close at the rest."

[Richard G.]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Don

Agreed, I have a very late 69(#35533) and it has its share of oddities as well.

Rich

[Jack #35268]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Reba, Did you mean to say that your "69" has "68" seats//

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

I don't own a '69. What I meant to say was that I have judged '69s with '68 seats. Even mid-production ones.

[Jack #35268]

Re: 69 - Need a Judge with a couple min.

Reba, What a revelation! You just made my day. I bought this 69 from the original owner. He never replaced a broken part with an original repair part, Never. You wouldn't beleive the things he did. Anyway, the seats had been recovered with the wrong materials. I said where are the headrests. He said, I guess they covered them up. When I got the car home and began investigating to see what I bought, I discovered the seats were 68's. I e-mailed the guy and he swore to me they were the original seats. I really began doubting his word about everything he told me. Now I have the engine back to original, the body painted and about ready to start on the interior and I'm going to use these seats, recovered correctly, of course. Thanks to you and everyone else that helped me on this one. jackdr