Howdy guys, as some of you may know Dale at NOS was checking into the possibility of obtaining repro covers for these particular buckets as I think they were one year only, one model pattern and there currently isn't anything correct out there.
He asked me if I would have any idea what the market was for these to see if the manuafacterer would consider setting up a die for the pattern.
Here was my thinking on it. Do you think I might be anywhere near correct?
...So I take it that the pattern is not the same as an American Bonneville Brougham. That being probably settled I am going to have to do some research on this. I do know that there were 5147 Grande Parisienne Two door Hardtops made as well (as about 1200 4 door hardtops which would not have had bucket seats obviously.) It seems to me that there was a split bench option as well so not all of the 5147 2 doors wouuld have come with buckets. I am going to throw my speculation below out as a thread so carl s and others can have a crack at it.
My best guess is that about 3000 would have come with buckets and there may be a market for maybe 300 overall if you assume there is a 10% survival rate. (They were a pretty high end car so maybe they tended not to be trashed as much as say Strato Chiefs?) How many of those actually are going to get restored- maybe 1/10 of that. So maybe 30? I know that is not an answer that is going to get anybody interested in getting these dies made but that is probably in the ball park.
Ditto on the Caprice upholstery. Each year of Grande Parisienne (66 - 69) uses the corresponding year of Caprice seat covers and door panels (and consoles on bucket seat cars). Now I don't know if you can get the Caprice seat covers; perhaps everything is geared towards the Impala SS.
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
Cameron, I haven't paid attention to other years really but the 66 Caprice and 66 Grande Parisienne don't share door panels or seat pattern. Is that what you meant?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Howdy guys, as some of you may know Dale at NOS was checking into the possibility of obtaining repro covers for these particular buckets as I think they were one year only, one model pattern and there currently isn't anything correct out there.
He asked me if I would have any idea what the market was for these to see if the manuafacterer would consider setting up a die for the pattern.
Here was my thinking on it. Do you think I might be anywhere near correct?
...So I take it that the pattern is not the same as an American Bonneville Brougham. That being probably settled I am going to have to do some research on this. I do know that there were 5147 Grande Parisienne Two door Hardtops made as well (as about 1200 4 door hardtops which would not have had bucket seats obviously.) It seems to me that there was a split bench option as well so not all of the 5147 2 doors wouuld have come with buckets. I am going to throw my speculation below out as a thread so carl s and others can have a crack at it.
My best guess is that about 3000 would have come with buckets and there may be a market for maybe 300 overall if you assume there is a 10% survival rate. (They were a pretty high end car so maybe they tended not to be trashed as much as say Strato Chiefs?) How many of those actually are going to get restored- maybe 1/10 of that. So maybe 30? I know that is not an answer that is going to get anybody interested in getting these dies made but that is probably in the ball park.
ken (66 Grande Guy)
Ken, I would say most of the above I agree with. If anything, maybe the bucket seat cars would have been more than 3000 but that is strictly speculation based on the cars I've seen and owned. I am thinking maybe only 10-15% of the cars had the Strato Bench.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
OK it took a while as I have been bit under the weather but here is a link to a 66 Caprice bucket seat picture (from a great site called the Old Car Manual Project by the way)
the Caprice are different in 1966. My contact thought that the Bonneville Brougham might be the same but apparently not. He checked all his US factory info and did not come up with any hits The 63, 64, 65 Gran Prix & Custom Sports had the same interiors with the exception of a fold down rear arm rest in the GP. By the way we have these seats available as reproductions both convertible & htp
Thats pretty much that then. I guess I'll have to go the custom shop route eventually. For the time being I'm going to swap them side for side so the drivers seat is at least usable.
Dale from NOS and everybody else, I really appreciate the help and work it took to get this info.
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Monday 21st of February 2011 11:42:31 PM
Im just looking where I can close to original material to get my seats redone, any ideas?
If it's (fabric) you might be able to order the original fabric through a company in the us because I have noticed some of the American cars have the same fabric print as are Canadian cars. Is your car still for sale?
My Strato Bench and rear seat are at the upholstery shop. He asked if I could get him a picture of how the original seat looks, so this will help lots.
However, I am thinking I want to put a fold down armrest rear seat in. I know the 66 Grand Prix uses it, and I know where I can get one. However, am I right in remembering the 66 Grande Parisienne 4 door hardtops also use a fold down armrest on the rear seat? The brochure doesn't show a rear seat but I'm hoping someone here has one that they can look at.
Nailhead, do you have one by chance?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
OK it took a while as I have been bit under the weather but here is a link to a 66 Caprice bucket seat picture (from a great site called the Old Car Manual Project by the way)
and here are a couple of pictures of a 66 grande bucket and the door panel patterns.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Sunday 10th of March 2013 12:43:56 AM
Hey Ken, if I would make a drawing of your bucket picture, could you fill in some measurements for me showing where the pleats/lines/buttons etc are located?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
One of my seats is intact (the pass of course) so it should be a good reference. If you end up being really happy with this job let me know because mine need help too.
I will be real surprised if I'm not happy. This guy is a neighbour/friend and I've known him for over 30 years. He has made a living doing upholstery out of his home for about that long too. If there's any complaint that can be made about him, it would be that he is never in a hurry and will often tell you he doesn't think he can make it look nice (even though he always ends up with happy customers!)
I will keep you posted, that's for sure.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I forgot you're using the Strato bench so his stuff wouldn't fit mine although I think the backs are identical eh? Still, I don't know of a good upholsterer here and while I will prably run with the originals for while I will need soemthing done. The drivers was pretty worn (bottom) and although the passengers looks good I suspect it will not last. I have swiched them side to side so at least the drivers will get limited use and shouldn't get more wrecked.
