1959 info needed

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Hi Mike, Welcome to the forum and NCRS!

I own a 59 myself, almost 25 years now. Beautiful cars. Also helping a friend restore his 59 presently.

The antenna on my 59 doesn't retract all the way down. It will stay up about 9-10".

Originally my car had a 61-62 original antenna and it did retract all the way into the fender. The 61-62 Judging Guide says original 61-62's did, repros don't.

I just checked my 58-60 Judging Guide and it doesn't say if the antenna retracts or not, and nothing about how high it sticks up.

Anyone else?

Enjoy that 59......
Rich

[Mike Z.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Hi Rich and thanks for your post. Most of the pictures I see of pre 63 vette's seem to have the antenna sticking up to the first part of the shaft. It's not a big deal but forces me to put a plastic coke bottle on it to keep it from ripping the car cover. Obviously, there are probably better long term solutions but I may just swap it out for a fully retractable model and keep the other one in the box with the other stuff I don't use (like the windshield wipers). One other thing - does anyone know if the speaker grill is supposed to have a ring/molding piece surrounding it? I've been told that most '59's are not supposed to have it but restorers like to put them on because it makes the installation easier. Mine does not have one and the previous owner (40+ years) says it never did. However, he is not the orginal owner so it may have already been removed or lost. Thanks.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Mike,

You could cut a hole in the cover for it like I did long ago for my 59, and also for our 63 in the pics below. Not uncommon practice. Sooner or later it'll make a hole by itself so why wait.

As far as the speaker bezel, 58 & 59 didn't use them as it states in the JG, however also states that some random 59's had them as early as mid Feb 59. My car is a mid March car, and as far as I'm aware never had one.

Rich

[Mike Z.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Thanks Richard,

I've seen quite a few 59's with the speaker bezel - probably more than I've seem without them. In the parts catalogs, it's hard to tell what year (or part of the year) might have affected that. All that noted, apparently the bezel does a pretty good job of covering up any gaps etc around the speaker and so they are favored by restorers. Personally, I don't think the bezel adds anything positive to the look of the dash - just another piece of painted plastic. Thanks again for the information.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Thanks Richard,

I've seen quite a few 59's with the speaker bezel - probably more than I've seem without them. In the parts catalogs, it's hard to tell what year (or part of the year) might have affected that. All that noted, apparently the bezel does a pretty good job of covering up any gaps etc around the speaker and so they are favored by restorers. Personally, I don't think the bezel adds anything positive to the look of the dash - just another piece of painted plastic. Thanks again for the information.

Mike:

The original dash pads tended to curl at the edge of the speaker grille after sitting in the sun for years...ugly. That's why I bought a bezel and screen for my '59. (The bezel is metal.)

Bill

[Mike Z.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Thanks Bill, I guess that sort of explains why the parts catalogs want over $50 for them (unpainted)! The edges of mine are starting to curl up a little. I was thinking of getting a bezel and sort of soft mounting it just in case anyone objecting to it's non orginality prefered otherwise. I'm not sure if there should be a workable way of preventing the curling problem but until I get smarter I may just need to part with another $50. In the overall scheme of things - it could be worse. Thanks again.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1959 info needed

Thanks Bill, I guess that sort of explains why the parts catalogs want over $50 for them (unpainted)! The edges of mine are starting to curl up a little. I was thinking of getting a bezel and sort of soft mounting it just in case anyone objecting to it's non orginality prefered otherwise. I'm not sure if there should be a workable way of preventing the curling problem but until I get smarter I may just need to part with another $50. In the overall scheme of things - it could be worse. Thanks again.

Mark:

Here's a picture of the top of the '59 screen and fasteners (on the right) and the bottom of the '60-'62 bezel and fasteners (on the left). The '59 attaches with t-bolts that sit under the pad. The bezel has studs that poke through the pad. The screen for the '60-'62 fits inside the bezel. I poked holes in my pad to mount the bezel. I don't think you'll be able to go back to the '59 screen if you install the bezel.

Bill