[tbanks64]

I believe the original covers were a rubber sleeve, but no one reproduces them currently. Looks like the best option is the plastic reproduction covers. Has anyone used the aftermarket plastic hinge covers for their 64/65 split bench seat?

Some vendors have them listed as 1964-1972, and some vendors have them listed for 1966-1972. Curious if they actually fit the 64/65 split bench hinges.

OPGI 1966-1972

Ground Up 1964-1972

Thanks

 

[Pete 67]

64s had a stainless molding that runs up the length of the outside of the upper portion of the seat. I might have an extra set of them.

 

[tbanks64]

64s had a stainless molding that runs up the length of the outside of the upper portion of the seat. I might have an extra set of them.

My Malibu has these type of covers for the split-bench:

But from this page 1964 Chevelle Bench Seat Interior Photos it looks like 64s came with either that style cover or the stainless trim you are talking about. I wonder why different cars got different side seat details for the split-bench.

 

[David Bates]

I believe the original covers were a rubber sleeve, but no one reproduces them currently. Looks like the best option is the plastic reproduction covers. Has anyone used the aftermarket plastic hinge covers for their 64/65 split bench seat?

Some vendors have them listed as 1964-1972, and some vendors have them listed for 1966-1972. Curious if they actually fit the 64/65 split bench hinges.

OPGI 1966-1972

Ground Up 1964-1972

Thanks

The originals were very similar to the ones OPGI and Ground Up sell. They were used on the outside hinges of the split bench seat and the inside hinge of bucket seats which also has a chrome "spear". Bucket seat outside trim was a full length chrome cover with a chrome button retainer at the lower hinge pivot. Many folks buy a second set of outside bucket trim and use them on the inside.

 

[tbanks64]

The originals were very similar to the ones OPGI and Ground Up sell. They were used on the outside hinges of the split bench seat and the inside hinge of bucket seats which also has a chrome "spear". Bucket seat outside trim was a full length chrome cover with a chrome button retainer at the lower hinge pivot. Many folks buy a second set of outside bucket trim and use them on the inside.

Thanks Dave. I will be ordering a pair of the plastic reproductions then. The originals were long gone by the time I bought the car.

 

[jeffschevelle]

My Malibu has these type of covers for the split-bench:

View attachment 708671

But from this page 1964 Chevelle Bench Seat Interior Photos it looks like 64s came with either that style cover or the stainless trim you are talking about. I wonder why different cars got different side seat details for the split-bench.

Every one with the chrome side trim in the pics on the page in that link is a 5680 series Elcamino. So maybe the 64 "Custom Elcamino" bench got the chrome ?

 

[Pete 67]

Every one with the chrome side trim in the pics on the page in that link is a 5680 series Elcamino. So maybe the 64 "Custom Elcamino" bench got the chrome ?

My car is a 5415 series 2 door wagon & I'm positive the chrome seat spears are original to the car. The seat still had the original upholstery, albeit in horrible shape, but it was the 300 series cloth/vinyl combo that isn't reproduced, so there's no doubt it was factory installed.

My wagon was kind of strange build from the factory...there's a few oddities that were factory installed that were "mistakes" by the line workers, so maybe this is another one. The car came with a Malibu wagon tailgate emblem which is about 15" wider than the 300 emblem. Both emblems use the same plastic insert, but the bigger one was for the Malibu trim. I'm certain the gate is original the car, because it was hit in the rear & there was some decent mud work done at least 30-40 years ago where they drilled a bunch of holes to pull out the dent. What was still in place was the correct factory medium fawn interior paint color on the inner panel of the tailgate, but the original Desert Beige body color was still on the sides of the inner tailgate where it wraps around to the outer skin. If the gate was replaced, it wouldn't have had the bondo & the holes...nor would they take the time to mask the paint breaks so nicely if they did such hack bodywork.

Also, back to my seat covers, they were a bit of a mystery until I contacted Doug @SMS. The vinyl portion of the covers had the correct Chevelle 300 triangular heat stamped embossings, but the cloth part had the completely wrong pattern. When I sent pics to Doug, he confirmed they were incorrect for a Chevelle 300, but correct for a Corvair.....& of course he had the NOS material for them in stock. I didn't wind up choosing that pattern when I ordered my seat covers, but it was nice to know it was an original GM fabric that Fisher Trim installed by mistake.

So after all this rambling, I guess I'm trying to say I have no idea why the seats in my car came with that chrome in my lowly 300 series wagon....but I will be reinstalling them....if SMS ever gets me the covers. I digress.

 

[jeffschevelle]

The car came with a Malibu wagon tailgate emblem which is about 15" wider than the 300 emblem. Both emblems use the same plastic insert, but the bigger one was for the Malibu trim. I'm certain the gate is original the car, because it was hit in the rear & there was some decent mud work done at least 30-40 years ago where they drilled a bunch of holes to pull out the dent. What was still in place was the correct factory medium fawn interior paint color on the inner panel of the tailgate, but the original Desert Beige body color was still on the sides of the inner tailgate where it wraps around to the outer skin. If the gate was replaced, it wouldn't have had the bondo & the holes...nor would they take the time to mask the paint breaks so nicely if they did such hack bodywork.

With that much damage, could it be that the 300 emblem got damaged, and the Malibu emblem was installed (incorrectly) to replace it?

 

[Pete 67]

With that much damage, could it be that the 300 emblem got damaged, and the Malibu emblem was installed (incorrectly) to replace it?

That's a decent theory, but the original Malibu emblem was also damaged in the center where it was hit & was still in place when I bought the car. I still have that damaged original & a spare emblem in nice pit free condition (that came installed on an extra tailgate laying in the cargo area), which is currently being rechromed.

The tailgate wasn't crushed by any means, but it was a decent impact. No 5 mph bumpers, etc & made the slightest impact seem way worse than it really was. There's some pics of the tailgate being repaired in my build thread, along with the incorrect fabric on the seats.