Interior color questions

[RattVette]

Ok so I have been working on my interior the last few days, pulled the old carpet and pad, layed down some sound deadner and some new pad and carpet and wouldn't ya know my door panels that I thought looked ok well I need to dye them and a couple other pieces to make them look right now ya never realize just how much something has faded or worn until you put it up against the original color

SO all that said where is the best place to get the dye I need, I took a run into town today and I quickly realized it wasnt going to be an easy off the shelf thing to match the red interior I have, the autostore stuff seems to be only available in bright red and a maroon, what would be the correct color of this red and where would be the best place to pick it up.

I'm needing to dye my door panels, rear deck surround, halo panels and seat backs

Also I'm not sure really what year this freaking car is I was told by the precious owner it was an 82 but I'm not buying that it was originally a stick car someone converted to auto, and has the iron diff not the aluminum so it has to be somewhere between 78-80, car is a theft recovery that was retitled in 84 so MI lists it as an 84 making it a mystery as to what year it really is.

So all that said heres a couple interior pics, does anyone know what color GM called this as I need to figure it out to get the correct dye for the panels, the carpet was just called red by the ebay seller I bought it from

[6880 Mike]

My recommendation is SEM automotive interior dye. It's good stuff and available through automotive supply outlets. My local NAPA dealer carries it.

Take a piece of your interior trim to a SEM dealer and they can match the color.

The VIN will tell you the year. The trim tag on the driver's door hinge post will have the codes for the original factory paint and interior color. Based on the pics, it looks 78-82 to me.

The two tone seat upholstery is not stock.

[RattVette]

Originally Posted by 6880 Mike

My recommendation is SEM automotive interior dye. It's good stuff and available through automotive supply outlets. My local NAPA dealer carries it.

Take a piece of your interior trim to a SEM dealer and they can match the color.

The VIN will tell you the year. The trim tag on the driver's door hinge post will have the codes for the original factory paint and interior color. Based on the pics, it looks 78-82 to me.

The two tone seat upholstery is not stock.

Will check around to find out who sells SEM products here locally

Unfortunately MI re-vinned the car it has a rebuilt title from when it was stolen, it was put back together in 84 so the Re-vinned it as an 84 rebuilt ,I will check to see if the trim tag is still on the door hinge post though now will the trim tag have year of mfg on it? As it would nice to know what year this car really is

[7TRoadster]

I ordered the correct dye for my interior from Zip, it came in an aerosol can and worked great. They have factory colors already mixed, although you will likely have to figure out what year it is first.

Hope this helps.

[Topless82]

Maybe it is a 82 that had a earlier frame put under it. The trim tag might narrow down the year by paint interior codes but I think that is it.

The red almost looks like claret

[6880 Mike]

Originally Posted by RattVette

...now will the trim tag have year of mfg on it?...

81 and 82 Bowling Green cars have a model year code on the trim tags. B for 81 and C for 82. Trim tags for the 68-80 models do not have model year identification on them.

If the engine is original, the engine assembly stamp and suffix can help identify the year. Original engines also have a VIN derivitive stamped on them.

[D_B]

Originally Posted by RattVette

Will check around to find out who sells SEM products here locally

Unfortunately MI re-vinned the car it has a rebuilt title from when it was stolen, it was put back together in 84 so the Re-vinned it as an 84 rebuilt ,I will check to see if the trim tag is still on the door hinge post though now will the trim tag have year of mfg on it? As it would nice to know what year this car really is

Shame they didn't VIN it as a 1983. LOL. Then you could tell people you actually have a 1983 Corvette.

[RattVette]

Heres what I can find for the trim tag




I'm really thinking this is a 79-80 car, it has the tranny crossmember with the exhaust pass thru's, it has a third pedal for a stick and is an iron diff car



Does firethorn red sound like the right color for the interior, one of the local autoparts store is a SEM dealer and this is the closest I can find that seems to match (atleast the cap seems the same color as the interior in the car)



original motor is long gone so no hopes of a vin number from it

[RattVette]

trim plate reads

trim 59c 67l paint

so no date code anyone able to decifer this

[Mooser]

According to my book (known for errors)
59c is light doeskin cloth interior 78/79/80
67i 67l 671 doesn't show as an exterior number though...

[BPASSMORE]

It looks like it has a hatch, maybe a scrambled '82 body?

[Poncherello]

firethorn red was definitely the color of choice for GM in the late 1970's. My Trans Am had firethorn red carpet, dash, trim pieces along with the white seats. Your door panels, trim pieces, and carpet look exactly the same as my Trans Am interior pieces did.

[6880 Mike]

Originally Posted by RattVette

Heres what I can find for the trim tag......I'm really thinking this is a 79-80 car

That is not a Bowling Green trim tag.

[RattVette]

Originally Posted by Mooser

According to my book (known for errors)
59c is light doeskin cloth interior 78/79/80
67i 67l 671 doesn't show as an exterior number though...

67L is the paint code

but from what I can tell the car was dark red or burgandy at one time

the interior when I bought it was red (dash, door panels, halos, center t and console)

Originally Posted by BPASSMORE

It looks like it has a hatch, maybe a scrambled '82 body?

The window seems to be a BUBBA effort as its not a hatchback, complete hinges are on the window but their not mounted, and only some of the latching system for it is present, but its non functional as thewindow is glued/sealed in

Its on my list of things to do though removing that window and replacing it with the correct fixed window

I have been fighting bubba every step of the way removing all his bubba handiwork from the car but I knew I was in for a battle when I picked it up a few years ago for $1200, but the frame was rock solid as was the bird cage and the body was in good shape so I dived in head first

And it seems the firethorn is a bit to light

Well back to the drawing board I may have to see if I can get them to mix me up a quart of SEM color matching it to one of the halo panels

any ideas

[Mooser]

Following up
Found a reference
Corvette Black book (2000 ed?) says color code 82, Corvette Dark Brown, may also be coded 67.
And another reference that states 68 can be marked as 82
Hilton brown metallic (dk brown metallic) Which does list the 59c as a possible interior color
...