C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

[Stan G.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

My 18,000 mile 95 with tan interior has tan bezels .

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

My 18,000 mile 95 with tan interior has tan bezels .

Stan------

Interesting. Admittedly without any first-hand knowledge or experience with this issue, my belief is that at least some cars were built with interior color-keyed bezels and handles. Maybe it was a small number of cars or maybe a larger number of cars, but I just can't believe that the colored pieces were SERVICE-only. I've just NEVER seen that sort of thing happen before.

[Tom H.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Keep in mind guys, there were two different seats. STD and Sport. I have a 95 convertible here in the shop today with tan sport leather. It has tan bezels. Perhaps there was a difference between bezel color and seat type. I have to admit I cannot remember. I don't ever recall seing black ones on a tan interior though. Not saying it didn't happen, I just don't remember seeing them that way.

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Keep in mind guys, there were two different seats. STD and Sport. I have a 95 convertible here in the shop today with tan sport leather. It has tan bezels. Perhaps there was a difference between bezel color and seat type. I have to admit I cannot remember. I don't ever recall seing black ones on a tan interior though. Not saying it didn't happen, I just don't remember seeing them that way.

Tom-----


As far as I can tell, the same bezels were applicable to both standard and sport seats. Of course, that does not mean that colored ones might have been used only for one type of seat or another.

[Pat M.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Guys, my 9K mile 96's STD tan seats have tan bezels. Guaranteed to have never been changed:

[Jim S.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

My low mileage late '96 with torch red sport seats has red bezels. If the TIMJG says black only it needs to be corrected.

Jim

[Arland D.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Curiouser and curiouser - there may be a difference between the standard and sport seats (mine were standard) and there may also be a difference coupes and convertibles. It may just be a matter of what was available on any given day but either way it seems like both should be acceptable for judging and the manual updated to include the possiblity of both being used. Just my .02

[Pat F.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Pat M., thanks for the photo. I have started another file. If the other participants in this thread would post pictures, it would be a great help in future discussions and substantiation for Judging Manual Changes.

Thanks
Pat F.

[Douglas C.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

My '94 has black seat latch bezels on tan seats and the seats appear to be original to the car - but I am the 3rd owner , so no absolute proof.

I have the standard seats.

Just speculating if the bezels were black until mid-'95 or '96, at which time they were painted to match the seat color?

That way the service replacements from '96 going forward were painted to match the interior.

Might be worth a simple on-line survey of C-4's.

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

My '94 has black seat latch bezels on tan seats and the seats appear to be original to the car - but I am the 3rd owner , so no absolute proof.

I have the standard seats.

Just speculating if the bezels were black until mid-'95 or '96, at which time they were painted to match the seat color?

That way the service replacements from '96 going forward were painted to match the interior.

Might be worth a simple on-line survey of C-4's.

Doug-----


That could very well be what happened. I just did a little more research (any parts situation can get incredibly complicated and I sometimes have to look deeper than I thought I'd need to). It looks like there was only 1 part number for the seat back lock bezel for 1994. Although I can't say, for sure, this was probably a black bezel. The multiple part numbers for different colored bezels began for the 1995 model year and continued for 1996. However, the 1994 bezel was discontinued in October, 1994 and replaced by the 1995 black bezel. Checking further, the other-than-black colored bezels are shown as applicable only to the 1995-96 model years (but for both standard and sport seats).

[Arland D.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Joe - good catch on the 94 application - maybe the 95 -96 need some further sleuthing........

[David H.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Joe - good catch on the 94 application - maybe the 95 -96 need some further sleuthing........

The seat latch/bezels on my son's June 1996 standard seat coupe, are red - matching the interior. I believe them to be original, but have no way of knowing for sure.

[Ed N.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Keep in mind guys, there were two different seats. STD and Sport. I have a 95 convertible here in the shop today with tan sport leather. It has tan bezels. Perhaps there was a difference between bezel color and seat type. I have to admit I cannot remember. I don't ever recall seing black ones on a tan interior though. Not saying it didn't happen, I just don't remember seeing them that way.

Tom, I would agree with you that I think all sports seats came with matching color latches and bezels and standard seats came with the balck version. This seems to be the general norm.

Thanks.

[Ed N.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

Doug-----


That could very well be what happened. I just did a little more research (any parts situation can get incredibly complicated and I sometimes have to look deeper than I thought I'd need to). It looks like there was only 1 part number for the seat back lock bezel for 1994. Although I can't say, for sure, this was probably a black bezel. The multiple part numbers for different colored bezels began for the 1995 model year and continued for 1996. However, the 1994 bezel was discontinued in October, 1994 and replaced by the 1995 black bezel. Checking further, the other-than-black colored bezels are shown as applicable only to the 1995-96 model years (but for both standard and sport seats).

Interesting Joe, It just seems that there is no set standard on this issue. Personally, I like the matching latches and bezels if it would considered correct for standard seats. My sport seats came with matching latches and bezels and that seems to be the case for all others sport seats owner. I think the sticking point is with the standard seats. The latches were installed by the Lear Corporation who was the company who built the seats for GM. I'll try to reach out to them and see if they have any record of this issue.

[Ed N.]

Re: C4 Seat Release Latch and Bezel

My low mileage late '96 with torch red sport seats has red bezels. If the TIMJG says black only it needs to be corrected.

Jim

Jim, all sport seats came with color matching latches and bezels. I think only standard seats came with black, of course with the exception of tan standard seats.