69 Chevy - Seeking Upholstery Color Match

[69 Mischief]

Tommy and I are new to this forum. He has a 69 Chevy C-10 (in the family since it was new). We're making some cosmetic improvements, starting with re-upholstering the bench seat (bed replacement also but that will be a separate thread).

We took it (the seat) down to the Hills of Kentucky last week to a friend who does this work and she had some vinyl in stock that was close, but when we got the sample home we found it's just not "close enough" to the original color.

It's a really cool turquoise blue. I searched all over online trying to find what the original color might be and came up empty handed and frustrated, then I found this site.

We've never done any restoration work and we're on the lower-end-of-budget-and-time-plan but we care very much about getting this right.

I appreciate any suggestions to find a good match for the original color!

[FirstOwner69]

If you are looking for original fabric or vinyl to repair an existing seat, SMS Auto Fabrics (http://www.smsautofabrics.com/) is the place to go. You can request fabric and vinyl samples through the SMS website. They aren't inexpensive though. Otherwise, most truck parts vendors sell reproduction seat covers which, in the long run, may be the most economical alternative.

Welcome to the forum!

[Chrome8]

I have the same issue, looking for a replacement seat cover for my 69 GMC C20. Turquoise Custom Cloth. I have come up with nothing. I'm going to have to try SMS, thanks for this info.

[69 Mischief]

Thank you FirstOwner69!

I requested samples from SMS, I did a search but was unable to find the C-10 truck listed. When I put in the truck info it matched:
Vinyl 1969 Chevrolet Caprice Coupe Turquoise L-3648
Vinyl 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible Bright Blue 69-9019
Vinyl 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible Bright Blue L-3604

I haven't found it's trim code (and it's raining buckets right now in Ohio, so I'll have to look more closely later).

So we'll see what we get!

[69 Mischief]

Originally Posted by Chrome8

I have the same issue, looking for a replacement seat cover for my 69 GMC C20. Turquoise Custom Cloth. I have come up with nothing. I'm going to have to try SMS, thanks for this info.

That looks real similar to our seat, but ours is in worse shape.

That blue is a beautiful color and I really hope we can match it. In this case "close" just won't cut it!

[69 Mischief]

Thanks for the Welcome, this is going to be a blast!

[Chrome8]

You're right about this color very unique, not sure if mine is a GMC only code or not. 624 Turquoise custom cloth on the SPID. It may be the same as in a Chevy not sure. Welcome to the board! You'll find there is a lot of people here with a wealth of knowledge and it is a friendly place to hang out. You'll have to update this if you get a good color match.

[73737373]

69 Mischief and Chrome 8,

Who ever reupholsters their seat first sends his used seat cover to the other. That way, a good upholstery shop can take the good parts of both seats and make 1 good one. Don't laugh, have done it several times over the course of the past 25 years, or so. Check w/your local upholstery shop. My upholstery guy keeps all the old ones he takes off for this very reason. Luckily on my 70 GMC, the wear on the seat was minimal, so he was able to "save" the original seat cover, although the pic is "before". Given the color variances between manufacturers, quality/fit issues and overall scarcity of original "aqua" ("green vinyl custom"....see SPID) interiors, reusing the originals is my preferred course of action.

[69 Mischief]

I followed the referral (above) to SMS auto fabric and filled out the sample request form. Several days later, I got my sample in the mail (scan is attached).

Our truck fabric is a match for "G" but it was still tough to determine vinyl match. I emailed SMS asking if they could tell the vinyl color knowing the exact fabric and they emailed back promptly that it would be E.

So we're sending the info to the upholsterer and we'll be on our way! The seat itself is at the upholsterer's shop in the hills of Kentucky, I'll have some "before" pics taken to share (forgot to do that before we took the seat out, silly me!)

This is all very exciting, so glad I found this group which led us to matching the upholstery exactly. We couldn't have done it without you!


Here's a link to the sample, please let me know if the link works or not!
http://www.evernote.com/l/ANcP_mR0C8...xL_PQMrVOuWBI/

[69 Mischief]

Originally Posted by 73737373

69 Mischief and Chrome 8,

Who ever reupholsters their seat first sends his used seat cover to the other.

7373737373,

It took me a couple of readings for me to process this, now I get it! We'll first take/post pictures to see if it's worth salvaging/sending it but if it is useful to anyone we'll definitely pass it on. Great suggestion!

I don't yet know the time frame for the upholstery project, we're not in a hurry since we don't drive the truck in the winter.

[73737373]

After rereading my post, I was a little vague. The passenger side is almost always in better shape that the driver side. Easier to match some patterns than others. I'm struggling w/this one right now.

After you remove the orginal seat cover, wash the part of it you're going to reuse. I've had good results taking them to the car wash and hanging them up and washing them w/the high pressure soapy water. Pretreat w/th Formula 409, let it set for a couple of minutes, then start washing. Don't hold wand too close. Make sure you rinse well, then hang them up to dry. There's 45 years of dirt, dust, spilled cokes etc etc on and on....

[69 Mischief]

Our color code is also 624 Turquoise Custom Cloth.

Sample "G" from SMS matches the seat fabric for sure. SMS said sample "E" vinyl corresponds to sample "G" fabric.

We're going to order - our upholsterer said we need 1 1/2 yards of each.

[69 Mischief]

Originally Posted by Chrome8

You're right about this color very unique, not sure if mine is a GMC only code or not. 624 Turquoise custom cloth on the SPID. It may be the same as in a Chevy not sure. Welcome to the board! You'll find there is a lot of people here with a wealth of knowledge and it is a friendly place to hang out. You'll have to update this if you get a good color match.

Whoops I meant to quote this in my last post (see above). Chrome 8, We also have 624 Turquoise Custom Cloth. If we have a match, you should have a match. (I'll get the hang of this forum before long)!

One thing that threw us for a loop - the dash color didn't seem to match the sample - we realized today that at some point the dash has been spray painted (you can see some overspray around the edges). Now I hope to find a vinyl paint match for the dash!

I found and uploaded (I hope) the SPID.

[tommys72]

That will look good, I contacted sms myself the other day for a cover, the are expensive !

[69 Mischief]

Here are another couple of pics...

[69 Mischief]

Originally Posted by tommys72

That will look good, I contacted sms myself the other day for a cover, the are expensive !

Are you going to get one from them?

[tommys72]

No, I'm going to go with the vendor here on the board

[73737373]

SMS is sending me samples for my red custom cloth seat and the embossed/scrolling pattern in the middle. I think I saw them quote another fabric sample for $55/yard. Not too bad.....

69 Mischief, Oh, what I'd give for those door panels. Have you made out your will in the event of an untimely passing?

[Spartan]

Some trucks will have a build sheet tucked in the seat back or behind the cardboard gas cover there.

Blue interiors in 69, while not uncommon, are not exactly repoped.
I see your door panels have the Chevy logo. I think that was a nice touch added by gm.

Enjoy your truck and this forum is chalk full of information and really knowledgeable good folks.

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by 73737373

SMS is sending me samples for my red custom cloth seat and the embossed/scrolling pattern in the middle. I think I saw them quote another fabric sample for $55/yard. Not too bad.....

69 Mischief, Oh, what I'd give for those door panels. Have you made out your will in the event of an untimely passing?

Here is your seat cover. I ordered the Green for my '70.

http://carsinc.com/seat-cover-set-re...oth-10132.html

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by 69 Mischief

Whoops I meant to quote this in my last post (see above). Chrome 8, We also have 624 Turquoise Custom Cloth. If we have a match, you should have a match. (I'll get the hang of this forum before long)!

One thing that threw us for a loop - the dash color didn't seem to match the sample - we realized today that at some point the dash has been spray painted (you can see some overspray around the edges). Now I hope to find a vinyl paint match for the dash!

I found and uploaded (I hope) the SPID.

Contact CarsInc for a sample. This should be your correct seat cover. http://carsinc.com/seat-cover-set-tu...oth-10137.html

[Chrome8]

69 Tom, do you have any experience with this company? Ever ordered from them before? I was going to seek out the part number from the build sheet on my truck and check new old stock from chevy dealers but if this company has a NOS seat cover in turquoise for a 69 I think I'll just buy that.

[69Tom]

Yes I ordered a green cloth custom for my '70. Contact them and ask for samples of the cover in question to make sure it's correct for your vehicle.

[69 Mischief]

Sorry 73737373, Tommy has at least 9 lives and I think he's got about 5 left, but I'll keep you in mind just in case...

Originally Posted by 73737373

69 Mischief, Oh, what I'd give for those door panels. Have you made out your will in the event of an untimely passing?

[69 Mischief]

We're on our way to the hills of Kentucky to pick up the finished seat! I told y'all we were on the slow plan...


The original seat cover pieces are in a bag, I'll send full report when we pick them up.