63 With Tan Leather

[Michael H.]

I posted this several months ago but never got much in the way of results/response.
I'm pretty sure 63 with tan leather seats did not included a leather center cushion. The center cushion would be vinyl, no matter what the seat material.

I think we only had one owner respond that still had his original seats and center cushion. He confirmed the vinyl cushion.

I KNOW there are still quite a few original tan leather 63 cars left out there.

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

I don't have the original interior but the research I have done agrees with you that the arm rest was vinyl for all interiors.

[Chuck W.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

My '63 roadster saddle tan/saddle tan has a vinyl armrest.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

My '63 roadster saddle tan/saddle tan has a vinyl armrest.

Thanks Chuck. So, you have leather seats with a vinyl center cushion, correct?

[Chuck W.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

Thanks Chuck. So, you have leather seats with a vinyl center cushion, correct?

That is correct.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

I don't have the original interior but the research I have done agrees with you that the arm rest was vinyl for all interiors.

I just thought of a few very well known ultra low mileage all original 63's that have tan leather seats with a vinyl center cushion.

One is the unrestored Bob Lejewski silver/saddle Z06 out of the Chicago area that has less than 10,000 original miles.

The other would be the black/saddle leather 7000 mile Z06 convertible.

Also, there is no listing for a saddle leather center cushion cover in a 1963 printing of the parts book. Only four part numbers for the four different colors offered in 63 are shown.

I think most/all reproduction interior suppliers currently include a leather cover for the center cushion in the leather seat package for 63. I suppose this will create a sudden surge in orders of vinyl center cushion covers at Al Knoch??

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

Just got confirmation from Rick Aleshire. The well known unrestored 7000 mile black/saddle leather 63 Z06 convertible DOES have a vinyl center cushion.

Thank Rick.

[John V.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

I have an unrestored 63 with the original saddle interior and the center armrest cushion is vinyl.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

I have an unrestored 63 with the original saddle interior and the center armrest cushion is vinyl.

Thanks John. We have quite a few original car owners reporting so I think we can now conclude that there was no such thing as a leather center cushion in any 63 Corvette. All were vinyl no matter what the seat material.

All of the responses were from owners of unrestored cars and none have claimed original leather center cushion.

A July 1963 printing of the GM parts book agrees as only the four part numbers for vinyl center cushions are shown.

[Mike M.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

randy hickman of bridgeport, w va, owned a 63 coupe with tan leather guts and vinyl arm rest. randy was the owner of 53 vin 005 up till a couple years ago. he was very active in ncrs and MAC in the 80's. good guy.mike

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 With Tan Leather

randy hickman of bridgeport, w va, owned a 63 coupe with tan leather guts and vinyl arm rest.

Thanks Mike. I have a feeling Al Knoch will be getting some orders for vinyl center cushion covers for 63 real soon for cars headed for judging. (Bloomington right around the corner)

Now, if we could just get that saddle top issue settled.