'69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

[Jamie F.]

My '69 convert has mostly all of it's original ZQ4 interior. The parking brake console is looking a little sad and I wanted to replace it. I ordered a repro and it came as a plastic/rubber piece. The original looks to me to be black vinyl covered metal. Who makes one like the original? Can the original be recovered?

[Reba W.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

Originals were plastic, never covered. If the new one is rubber, that is for a later C3.

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

Thanks Reba!
I'll have to take mine off and check it. It seems very hard and metalic when I tap on it, not like plastic. It is a late car 11/69.

[Don W.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

You can remove the old one, clean it with simple green, soap and scrub brush, then silicon remover and then repaint it with the correct interior paint color with 2 or 3 coats. The originals are better than repos. I just did my '69 center consol and kick panels and it looks great...Don

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

Thanks Don, sounds like a plan!

[Don W.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

Jamie,

Be sure you clean them very well. Any hand oils or silicon from amor all, etc. will not allow the paint to stick. The silicon likes to go deep into the plastic pores and must be removed.

When ready to paint, put a 1st coat on very light and let it start to set up for a few minutes, i.e., tack coat and then apply the 2nd coat and let it set for 10 or 15 minutes and then add a 3rd coat. After that sets, look at closely under sunlight for any thin areas and finish it off. Takes longer than bolting on a repo but maintains the original parts.

The rear bolt on the console is also fun to remove and replace. It is accessed by removing the jack storage tray and some fun reaching around.

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

Thanks Don!!!

[Tom S.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

I bought one from Ecklers or CC a few years ago for my 69 and it was really nice. I don't know what is out there now, probably Chinese!Tom

[Jamie F.]

Re: '69 Parking Brake Console Repros???

Of course. What else??? Isn't everything we buy now made in China???