Many of you know, and have seen my 70 Malibu conv. It was customer ordered with a 307/3sp on the column, buckets and NO console.
It now has a Muncie and I have added a console and a tilt floor shift column.
Since it was delivered WITHOUT a console, and just buckets, I am giving very serious consideration to REMOVING the console (which I worked so hard to precisely install) and installing a bench seat type 4sp bezel, boot and hump (of course this will also require new carpet).
So, what is everyone's opinion? Also, should the shifter handle be the console or bench seat style?

Keep the console. To me, buckets without a console just doesn't look right. There's just something about that big empty space between the seats when there isn't a console. Just my opinion.
Steve graemlins/waving.gif

Keep the console, looks cool. graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Jim

Tom, you always try to help everyone and now it is our turn. I only wish I could. It is like my situation going from a SB to a BB in my original 66 Malibu. I have finally come to this conclusion in my 62 + here, It is your ride and whatever you feel good about doing to it just do it. Since it is now a 4 speed car anyway and not a original 3 on the tree, I would vote to stay with the buckets and console. But I am a 4 speed console/bucket guy for sure, since that is how I ordered mine in 66. Bench seats are for 4 door cop cars IMHO.

Jesse Robertson

I love the idea of the buckets/console w/a 4 speed..I vote to leave it as is graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Rich, my own personal feelings are if the console houses functional instrumentation I'd leave it. Otherwise, I'd be inclined to remove it. My 65 El Camino had a factory console/4-speed and that was one of the first things I removed. It served no useful purpose whatsoever aside from being a "decoration" and taking up floor space. I sold it to a fellow with a 65 SS in need of one. I sold my last 65 Auto Console to fellow TC'r Bad415 (aka Todd) for his Evening Orchid 65 SS drop top.

Just my two cents worth smile.gif

Consoles are ugly, I'll do you a favor and take it off of your hands for free :D

Tom,

I guess I'm going to go against the grain here. While my '66 4 speed Impala SS has buckets and console I, more and more, am drawn to cars that are a little different.

No offense to anyone at all but, honestly, just about any window you peer into these days frames a view of buckets and a console. An excellent look, to be sure, but it's everywhere.

There's a car I see from time to time at a local cruise spot. A full size '63 Catalina with a 421, solid cam, 3 two's, bench seat, floor shift. Nothing else. This thing is just too cool. I hate parking next to the d^#* thing - it sucks in eyeballs like a Kirby. I might as well be driving a Pinto.

In the end, to console or not to console is obviously your call. But to me just the buckets and shifter without the console kind of speaks to a minimalist approach, clean and purposeful.

It's different.

Dan

EDIT - David was thinking and typing faster than me!

Tom,
What kind of a bezel did the 70 non console use?

I also had this choice to make on my 67. I have a set of buckets a nd a console for it, but since it was originally a bench seat car, I took the trouble to find a bench, and the correct bezel, shifter arm, and boot(which was a chore to find btw). Personally I like the different look of a non console car, but it's like platinum or gold, I would take either one.

Thanks again for the help on the 4 speed.

Dave in Denver

Dave,
The 68-72 cars WITHOUT a console (bench or buckets) had a kind of plain square metal bezel and boot. The 68-72 shifter handle came up in the center of the tranny hump (67-earlier handles were left of center), so the bezel was right in the center. Also, the floor hump (welded to the tranny tunnel) for a console and non-console car were shaped different.

I agree with Dan the bench seat and no console are different than most of the cars around. I am usually the only one at the local shows with a bench seat.(besides my brothers 72 monte)

Tom,

I will be the voice of reason... well no that isn't correct...how 'bout just the voice from the other side of the opinion table. I happen to like the looks/thought of a bench seat 4 speed car (floor shifter). It was one of the deciding factors on my 70 SS purchase. Lots of bucket seat 4 speed SS cars. And, although I do like the sporty look of a bucket seat console 4 speed car as this is the set-up on my 67SS, I just liked the thought of the "granny" interior appearance with that Hurst stick coming out of the floor letting those that know, that this is no granny car. Mine came with an ivory 4sp patterned knob...but last year I topped it off with brushed aluminum Hurst T-Handle (old school nostalgia) and, to me, it looks just right.

I am in the minority I know but I just wanted you to know there are other opinions on your "dilema" ;)

Robert

Tom, sounds to me like you are wanting your car to look as original as possible.Yes,No??

If yes, then take the console out.It's cool that your car has some originality to it that sets it apart from most that are seen today.Like my 68SS,most people don't think it's a true SS at first since it has the standard Bench/column shift.Most are not aware the bucket/console was an option.I like being different.

Question: If you didn't order the console but you wanted a 3spd on the floor(if possible), what handle would you have gotten?

I would use the one you think looks best! graemlins/beers.gif

Joel,
You would have got the plain handle that looks like the MUNCIE stamped handle, but with nothing stamped into it.

Tom,
First, thanks for the help with my Borg Warner question. Second, if you put a lot of hard work getting the console just right, why not leave it the way it is. Even if no one else knows, you'll know what a great job you did!
Grover

Dump the console-leave the buckets. JMO smile.gif

Our '72 Lemans Sport is a bucket seat, no console car. Looks a little different with that big empty space between the seats. I picked up a console in case we wanted to change.

My old man's car is a 67 SS 396 with a factory bench seat and 4-speed. It has the chrome bezel that is factory for the 67 only. The 68-72 cars had a flat plate on the floor.

He used to want to put buckets in graemlins/sad.gif but I convinced him over the years not to mess with it. ;) It is rare to see a bench seat 4-speed car in 67 with all the right parts like the correct floor bezel and floor clock.

Not to mention you can fit 6 people in a Chevelle with a bench seat if need be. :D I like bench seats in the convertibles. Go with the bench seat 4-speed and put the buckets up in the attic for a while.