1969 Corvette Floor Mats

[Steve M.]

Did the 1969 Corvette originally come with floor mats? Floor mats do not show up on the Options list? Just curious?
Thanks,
Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

1968 to 1972 did not come with factory installed floor mats. A set of plastic floor mats (either black or clear) were available as a dealer installed accessory in 1970. The black mats were available in the other years cited, and clear was available in some of them -- but all of them were from the dealer. Thus there is nothing about floor mats in the option list for Corvettes in 1968-1972. I believe it took a few more years before floor mats were available from the factory, but I will let others speak to that.

[Oliver B.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

1977 appears to be the first year floor mats were offered as a factory option (B32)...

[Steve M.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Thanks for the information

[Mark D.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Something I'm sure you already know is, the 69 Corvettes did leave St. Louis with a protective perforated floor mat that was designed to protect the carpet for its ride to the dealership.

Mark

[Ralph S.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Mark, The paper was the same stuff that was between the trim rings. It was put in the car before the sill plates were installed because we used to cut along the sill plate with a razor blade to remove it.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

I have one of those papers from a later 1970s Corvette from years ago thanks to Ralph Spears. I could take a picture if someone is really interested. But remember our standard is "... with the customary dealer new car preparation" which would exclude those paper mats. So why do you need to know?

Even Bloomington Gold, even though their standard does NOT include dealer new car preparation, does not expect those paper protectors. That is one of the interesting things about that organization. Their standard expects window stickers, but not those paper protectors or the trim rings or wheel covers in the storage area. Just one of the things John Woods and I discovered in preparation for our short-lived class on the differences between NCRS & Bloomington Gold.

Edit add: The above paragraph about Bloomington Gold applies to the 1968-1972 classes. I have no idea what the Bloomington Gold judges' expectations are for factory installed shipping protection for the newer classes. I think it would be even more interesting to see a C4 displayed with the spray-on paint protection -- but I have no dog in that race.

[Mark D.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Thnx, Ralph

Terry,
I would really appreciate seeing a pic of the paper protector.
Thnx
Mark

[Ralph S.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

The protector paper i gave Terry is the style that began with 1977 when they changed the console and dashboard design. Please post the picture, this is something that the customer never saw.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Thnx, Ralph

Terry,
I would really appreciate seeing a pic of the paper protector.
Thnx
Mark

I think if you were a nice guy and asked politely, you just might be able to talk Terry into bringing it to Bowling Green next week so you could see it in person...but that's only if you're a nice guy...

[Steven B.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

The protector paper i gave Terry is the style that began with 1977 when they changed the console and dashboard design. Please post the picture, this is something that the customer never saw.

Thanks Ralph. I remember removing some of the remains of the paper from my '77 at the dealer's in late '76. I had requested all protection be left on but one of the energetic new car prep guys was trying to be extra nice doing Corvettes and didn't take the note on the interior at 100%. I think I still have some fibers in my '77 documents note book.

When did the factory go to clear plastic??

Steve

[Mark D.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

I think if you were a nice guy and asked politely, you just might be able to talk Terry into bringing it to Bowling Green next week so you could see it in person...but that's only if you're a nice guy...

The nice and polite always comes easily and naturally for me. And notice, I did say pleeeeeeeeze.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Why is there always "a catch"?

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

I think if you were a nice guy and asked politely, you just might be able to talk Terry into bringing it to Bowling Green next week so you could see it in person...but that's only if you're a nice guy...

Vinnie -- That would actually be easier than taking a photo. Good idea. Just like I brought the hardtop panel to Gettysburg. Let's see, how many brewskis is this worth?

Edit add: That is why the Museum Delivery is so nice for us. I received a ball of clear plastic upon delivery of my 2008. I was told it was all the interior protective material. Those guys save everything for us, and no front license holder or dealers nameplate on the car.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Corvette Floor Mats

Thnx, Ralph

Terry,
I would really appreciate seeing a pic of the paper protector.
Thnx
Mark

a) I should have known better than to think Ralph gave me the only one he had.

b) Ralph you just cost me some brewskies frpm Mark.
Mark, do you want to touch and feel it?

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