65vistacruiser

I've looked at OPG and Year1 for a full set of arm rest pads and bases for my '65 Vista Cruiser with paddle style door handles. I can find the correct 14" front bases, OPG# CTL9077, but not any Dk. Green pads. Will I need to paint some?

Please point me in the direction of a possible source out there for the 14" pads in Dk. Green.

Also the rear arm rest bases for the 3 seat custom wagon (long rear doors) seem to not exist. My rear bases are 15.25" long, paddle style, with ash trays. The rear pads are 10.5" I've tried looking at other car makes and models and not found them reproduced.

Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.

ent72olds

You will have to paint a set to match your green. There are plenty of ways to accomplish this. Bring a sample to your auto body paint supply house, and ask if they have a Dupont Spectro Master Book. Match it up in there. Or, see if they Have a SEM color chart. Match it up there. As far as the rear bases, they can be sent out to have the plastic chrome redone!

65vistacruiser

I hate to buy a new set of pads and then paint over them, but I'm getting tired of no arm rest on my driver door.

Do you think Black is a good choice to paint over with Dk. Green? I'm thinking if it ever scuffs through, Black would be least likely to show. The Green is very dark, almost looks black to me.

ent72olds

If you prep it properly, and use a good adhesion promoter, it shouldn't scuff...

JATA

Why not just make a set to the length you need by grafting two/three pads together and wrapping in the color vinyl material needed. Or find some foam core and cut to length. Bases would be a little harder nut still could be done with a little work.

ent72olds

I've seen people wrap the pads in vinyl to match the interior. Wasn't done that way at the factory, and never looks correct.

65vistacruiser

I guess I'll just buy a black set, and if they look out of place try to get some dk green paint. The orig is almost that dark.

As for the back door, 15" base and 10.5" pad, with ash trays and paddle style handles, I'm wondering if any one knows of another car they might fit. Another way to track down some repro's?

66400

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I'm wondering if any one knows of another car they might fit.

64-67 Buick SportWagon

Henry

tecar442

I needed new red armrests on my '67 442. My foam was still good but covers were shot. I found the correctly colored vinyl at an upholstery shop. I used a heat gun to warm the fabric and easily stretched the material over the pads. No wrinkles, no deformation of the foam. They look great and it was cheap.

65vistacruiser

Ya see here I was thinking that if the rear arm rests in my VC would happen to be the same as those in some larger sedan, like say a Dynamic 88 or an Impala, and that if repros were being made for that larger car, why then if some one here was to let me know about that, why I just might be able to get me some of them arm rests for that car and be replacing the ones in my car with those. Doncha see?

I already figgured about the Sportwagon and I recon they got the same trouble we got, what with the rear doors being all longer and such. It just seems to me that rather that producing a special size arm rest, just for the rear door of a sky wagon, that the manufacturer might just have gone ahead and borrowed a set from some place else and saved their self a whole heap a money. You see? (You recon I been watching too much Gunsmoke) ?

Thanks for the replies, good ideas!

ent72olds

Well, they did "tool up " to make specific doors, interior panels, glass, and several other "sky wagon only" parts.....why stop at an armrest?

2blu442

I've got some arm rests from 1966 and 67 vista cruisers. Not sure if the pads are good enough to use without recovering them. If your interested in seeing some pictures let me know and I'll try to dig them out this weekend.

John

65vistacruiser

Yes 2blu, please post 'em here, let's see how they compare.

That's a very good point 72, I was hoping that not to be the case.

2blu442

I found a pair and a single. But don't think these pads are better than what you've got. You may have to fabricate something to get a really nice one.
John

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65vistacruiser

Thanks John, for digging those out and posting the array of photo's. They are in fact the same part #'s as in my '65, and the condition is about the same. I did discover by searching the part #'s that these rear door arm rests are the same as those used in several full size GM's in '65,6&7 and I hope to find new bases and pads by looking at whats available for those cars. (LeSabre, Catalina etc.) Also, I will re-attach my own arm rest in a more horizontal fashion, using the proper hole for the screw.
Brad