Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

[Richard M.]

Any photos of your 1959 or 1960 Turquoise dashpads and interior would be very helpful for a project I have please.

Thanks.
Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

I got some photos from Rob M. of his car. The pad I have here is too green.

[Edward L.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Rich:

The shade of original 1959 turquoise dash pads and other interior components is far different than the reproduction (Knoch) that I had to use to for my 1959. I may still have some pieces of the original. If I can find them, I'll send you a sample. If memory serves, the Romeo trunk mat was pretty close to the shade of the material used for the interior.

Ed

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Hi Ed, Thanks for the confirmation of what I was unsure about. Rob's car's dashpad(he emailed me his photos) is much bluer than the pad I recently bought. For the record, I've never done a pad other than red lately. I was surprised to learn that this new pad I got is dyed Turquoise, not molded color. I'd imagine raw materials are not available in Turquoise.

Here's what I have. As you can see, after matching the Turquoise lacquer to the original kick panels and package tray and heater cover, I used it on the speaker screen and defroster bezels. All of my other lacquer pieces are original and I used them here as a baseline, before stripping for repaint.

Out of the box......pad and grab bar.
PA290020.jpg

After screen repaint. Pad looks blue here, lighter, but different light tricks the eye.
PC070074.jpg

Comparison photos. The pad changes shade in different light. The brighter
the light, the more green the pad looks.
PC070080.jpgPC070083.jpg

Here it's more blue looking. But you can still see the difference to the speaker screen and panels.
PC070081.jpg

I've sent the '58-'60 Team Leader a email for his opinions of my issue. This car is not destined to be judged, but I'd want it right before I continue the dash pad trim and installation. I haven't heard back from him yet.

I'm going to also try to reach Al Knoch today to talk about the dye shades chosen for this unusual color. I've been told by a past judge restorer that I know that this is one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult color to get right. I may need to re-dye this one a bit bluer and darker.

...a bit frustrating.......but still having fun!

Rich

[Edward L.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Rich:

I do have a sample piece that I can send you. Please email me at edlepelis@Verizon.net with your address and I'll get it out to you

Ed

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Rich:

I do have a sample piece that I can send you. Please email me at edlepelis@Verizon.net with your address and I'll get it out to you

Ed

Email just sent Ed.....Thanks VERY much! .........Rich

[Wayne G.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Richard,

I have apiece of an original 1959 turquoise dash pad I can send you if you want to compare. The piece is actually the date stamp from the underside of the dash and is not faded at all.

Wayne

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Richard,

I have apiece of an original 1959 turquoise dash pad I can send you if you want to compare. The piece is actually the date stamp from the underside of the dash and is not faded at all.

Wayne

Wayne, Yes I would like that. I just got home from a trip, sorry for the delay to reply. Ed L. above, sent me some samples pieces also. I'll PM my address to you. Thanks.

Ed, I just received your samples in the envelope. Thanks very much.

I'm going to get other samples from Corvette America, and Al Knoch is getting some for me as well. When I get everything together and compare to the original from you, Wayne, I'll report back with photos and text.

Thanks Guys,

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Thank You Wayne. Awesome offer to do that. (Wayne sent me a PM that he sent his original sample to me yesterday)


I will post my findings when I get your sample. Al Knoch is sending me some sample ABS vinyl from their new batch due to my request for a better color match. I told them about the sample you're sending me and that I'll work with them to help them on their future pads. They're happy that I'm going to do that. You and Ed will get kudos for that.

Thanks Again....
Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Finally got back to this......

Here is a sample card I put together from Ed and Wayne's samples that they sent to me. Thanks Guys! You were saviors.

As you'll see, nothing matches original from any vendor. I have all AK seat covers and soft goods, and a matching hard top headliner. The Turquoise lacquer I got is a nice match to the original interior hard parts(kickpanels, pkg tray, etc.). I'm thinking I may tint my lacquer slightly to help match to the vinyls. AK still owes me a replacement dashpad. They agreed it's too green. I'm still waiting to hear from them. Calling tomorrow for status.

Left of the tape is new lacquer, right is original.....Nice match. I did the bezels and screen with it. But I may tint it now.
PC080086.jpg

Here's the sample card I made from Ed's and Wayne's pieces. As you can see NOTHING matches original Turquoise. I just need AK to get me a dashpad that's not so green and is a closer match to their soft vinyl, I'll tint my lacquer to match everything.....and be done with this!

Note different light shows different shades. It's not a honest shade in certain light. It changes blue to green to blue to green to blue.....you get the idea.

PC220155.jpgPC220153.jpg


PC220156.jpgPC220157.jpgPC220158.jpg

PC220159.jpgPC220160.jpg

PC220161.jpgPC220162.jpg


Advice to all........if you have a Turquoise interior, decide early to CHANGE IT TO EITHER BLACK OR RED !!!!!!!

What a nightmare this has been,
Rich

[Wayne G.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Rich,

For your information I replaced my '59 Turquoise dash pad in about '84 with a Al Knoch reproduction. At that time it was an exact match. I purchased the seat kit and door panels too and they were also an exact match for the originals as far as color and texture goes. I remember at the time talking with I presumed was Al Knoch about how close the color was to the original. So you know many years ago they had it right. Maybe that same formula is available somewhere?

Good Luck.

Wayne

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Wayne, Today a good friend told me the same as you. Years ago everything was a exact match. Not today......

Today, their supplier color formula has changed dramatically. Everything, including ALL of the soft vinyl for seats, grab bar, and door panels have changed. Everything is more green.

Corvette America soft vinyl goods color is almost identical as can be seen in the above sample sheet I made with Ed's sample However their dash pad grain is wrong and color too dark, as can be seen from the sample you sent me.

Al Knoch has had a call in from me since yesterday morning, unfortunately with no response.

We are going to make a decision soon. We either are going to change the lacquer to match the vinyl, or change the interior supplier. It's really up to them to make it right. I'm exhausted with the amount of time I've spent on this interior, and I haven't even installed one piece yet.

Again, a special thank you to you and Ed for getting me those samples.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Update, I am not going to tint the lacquer to match the incorrect vinyl. It would solve the mis-match issue, but I'm not giving up yet.

I am bringing all of my samples to Lakeland and I have a meeting scheduled Thursday with Al and Elliot Knoch to review the issues.

I am also returning all of the soft vinyl items as they are too green. I'll report back after the meeting. I'm hoping we can come up with a better solution to both the dashpad color and soft vinyl.

Rich

[Art B.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Rich:
Just an observation. Some of the photos in your 4th and 10th posts show dash pads and the heater surround as being very close to the Jewel Blue used on '61 Corvettes. I know that the colors appearing on computers can be deceiving.

[Richard M.]

Re: Turquoise Dash Pads and Interiors anyone?

Rich:
Just an observation. Some of the photos in your 4th and 10th posts show dash pads and the heater surround as being very close to the Jewel Blue used on '61 Corvettes. I know that the colors appearing on computers can be deceiving.

Yes Art I was wondering also, but it's a very different color up close in person.

Rich