Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

[Stan B.]

I purchased an Al Knoch center console just to see the quality and color match. It doesn't match my 1971 original red color.
Just curious how that affects the judging.

[James G.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

The only place to get real comfortweave is from SMS fabrics on the west coast... the current reproduction offerings are a pressed pattern VS the original which is actually woven.
I recently had covers for another application made by SMS.

[Michael H.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

You might want to check out Corvette America as I had good luck with my 67 interior.

Mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

What parts do you need?

The short answer is none.
Most interior parts for a C3 from any vendor won't fit or are poor quality.
If there is any human way to salvage your original parts, buy others, or rehab others you are far ahead.

How they can get the C2 parts to be generally good but C3 fit so poorly is beyond me.

[Joe R.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

Al Knock for C-1 and C-2!

Corvette America for C-3 and up!

JR

[Mark E.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

I had the same issue with my 1970 light saddle console- the reproductions from AK and CA were not even close in color or texture.

I ended up repairing the original. The plastic frame was broken and the skin was torn in several places. I repaired the frame with fiberglass and a local upholstery shop referred me to a detailer who specializes in vinyl repair. He was an artist with repairing the tears and matching the marbled coloring unique to this trim.

So if you have the original, don't assume it's beyond repair.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

Corvette America for C-3 and up!

JR

Try buying a C3 interior from Corvette America and installing all their dash parts.
You will then go and rescue your originals from the trash as the CA units belonged in the trash in the first place.

[Stan B.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

The dash panels just arrived and the speedo and tach fit terribly in the holes. big gaps at the bottom. This is very disappointing. I was hoping to remove and replace. Now I'm hoping they will take them back.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

The dash panels just arrived and the speedo and tach fit terribly in the holes. big gaps at the bottom. This is very disappointing. I was hoping to remove and replace. Now I'm hoping they will take them back.

See my post above.
No surprise, unfortunately.

[Mark E.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

The dash panels just arrived and the speedo and tach fit terribly in the holes. big gaps at the bottom. This is very disappointing. I was hoping to remove and replace. Now I'm hoping they will take them back.

Which vendor? You'd think after a few returns they would know something is wrong.

[Stan B.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

Al Knoch. They sent me a door panel with black specs on it that could not removed. I sent it back and it has been 4 weeks waiting on the replacement.
They sent me a driver dash pad that has the later model AC vent in the lower right side. I kept getting pieces a little at a time as they made them. I called yesterday to tell them about the color difference and I am waiting on a call back. I took my map pocket off the my passenger panel and can see the original color is a brighter more orange red than what they shipped. Some Previous owner dyed all of the original interior a darker red when they replaced the seat covers with red leather, the door panels with red deluxe panels and added the wood grain to the console. All other pieces are original. My goal is to return it to original.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

I'd re-paint your original pieces. That will be much less of a headache than attempting to get any reproduction to fit.

[Owen L.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

The original post is about color matching and I'd offer that it would be astounding if a new component actually did match a faded 50 year old part. The only way you're going to get consistent color is to either replace everything at the same time with new components or re-dye all of the old parts with new color.

[Mark E.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

If this is a special car (LS-6, ZR-1) or a high option LS-5, LT-1 in excellent original condition (other than the interior), it could make economic sense to acquire a base '71 parts car with a clean red interior. Then put the dyed/ repro parts in that car.

[Mark E.]

Re: Any recommendations for a 1971 red interior replacement vendor?

Or plan B- change to a black interior. Much easier to deal with.