Hey guys,
I'm restoring a 68 Cutlass vert and am looking for a few pictures. Originally the car was white paint, white interior, and white top. I'm not sure if I want to maintain that because I can't envision how it would look. I'm hoping someone here may have some pictures of this color scheme they would be willing to share just so I can wrap my head around it.
Also, is the dash normally black, as is the case now, regardless of interior color scheme? Any other parts in the interior normally black?
Thanks in advance!!

 

I have a Provincial White with a C-1 white top '68, but mine's in pieces right now !


Sooooo, maybe this will help....courtesy of 442Much

http://www.oldsnorthernlights.com/roundup_2009.asp



AFAIK, dash is color matched (mine has dark red int & dark red dash)....UNLESS its white int...If its white int, then the dash is black...

 

The entire dash along with your carpet and seat belts will be black. Rest of the interior trim parts should be white.

I actually think it looks pretty sharp all white. Definitely an interesting combo.

 

Yep....

 

All white looks sweet.

It would be a pain to do, but white exterior with a Willow Gold interior is magical looking.

 

My '68 is provincial white with black interior and a black top. The white interior and top looks much better than black, I believe. A white convertible top is hard to keep white, though.

Randy C.

 

My opinion based on my history is go with a black top. I put a white top on my 71 sport and it looked AMAZING, that is, for the first year or two, then it started to stain and gets a greyish tinge to it that forever looks dirty. I've had black tops on some of my verts that were 15 years old and with a wash and armor-all scrubbing, looked like they were brand new.

Once that eye burning white fades out of the top, it's always going to contrast with the white on the car.

Tough to see in pics because the white always washes out but you can see the grey fade on the sides of my 69 vert in this pic. I'm about to pull this top off and put a black one on it.

PS, Randy, stop posting pics of that sweet car! you're making me jealous!!!!!

 

I'm of the opinion that any time a ragtop's triple white or triple black, you have a moral obligation to keep it correct.

Triple white is a celebration of everything that a convertible is about, as it reflects the sun. This is pretty common on a ragtop like a Caddy.

Triple black, on the other hand, is giving the sun the finger. It says you prefer the way your car is trimmed over burning your *** on the black seats.

 

My vote is triple white as well, sharp looking from any angle. Mine is willow gold with white top and white interior. It is nice but nowhere near the triple white combo.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. I've decided to go with the original scheme of W/W/W even with the issue of the white top fading or getting dirty. Even though the drivetrain is not original I think it's the way to go with the exterior. The pics above look really nice....very clean look. Here's a pic of what I'm working with. That's an aftermarket convertible sunroof....put it in myself on the trailer ride home !

Thanks again!!

 

Triple white was very cool back when they were new. A lot of people liked it, but not too many actually had the nerve to order their car that way. Everyone will like your car when you are done with it.

As for the top, back then we would use Tide (powder) and a soft bristle brush. I don't have any experience with tops recently.

 

I agree with the triple white look. Years ago, I was driving south on PCH and, just north of Laguna Beach, a triple white '68 4-4-2 vert passed me. It was definitely eye-catching. That's the only time I saw that car but it left a lasting memory.

Randy C.

 

I have had the white top on my 72 Cutlass for 17 years and it still looks good.

 

One more question on this......Car will be buckets with console.....to be correct, should the console be white?

 

Yes, console should be white.

 

Are you sure about a white console? I've never seen a white console in the 68-69 range. The cars I've seen with white interior have black carpet, black consoles, black dashes and black steering wheels. I'm just asking the question; I don't know the answer. I just might be short-sighted in my exposure to consoles!

Randy C.

 

Well, technically it's Parchment. My information says for 1968 (Paint & Trim Specifications, Issued by: G.T. Jones, Date: 4-3-67):

Consoles:

Color................................Trim Combination Usage

Black.............................940, 970 (Black bucket interior)
Med. Blue Met.................943, 973 (Blue bucket interior)
Med. Gold Met.................944,974 (Willow Gold bucket interior)
Dk. Red..........................945, 975 (Garnet bucket interior)
Parchment....................947, 977 (Parchment bucket interior)
Med. Teal Met.................949 (Teal bucket interior)

I've also seen both black and white consoles in white interior cars, I don't think the black consoles are correct (I also don't think they look good there).

This applies to Automatic Transmissions only. Manual transmission consoles were (IIRC) Black & Chrome.

 

Here's two pics of white interiors with black consoles (neither interior looks stock to me. In the second pic you can see the console used to be white, was painted black):

2370973860106189342S600x600Q85.jpg

125796568_Olds_convt_interior.jpg

And a car with white console:



Bzu5gBWkKGrHqVg0Ew5BgNMeBMn2MnRQ_1.jpg

Bzu5fQEGkKGrHqZi4Ew5KTSpEWBMng0kP_1.jpg

I think the black console sticks out too much (visually, not physically)

 

I'd agree it would be a black console. On the Pontiac side of the A bodies, all white/parchment interiors had black dashes, kick panels, rugs and consoles up through 71. 72 was the first year they ran a white console in a white interior for the goats. Again, sorry I don't have the Olds knowledge from experience but I can give you the Pontiac base for sure!

 

I went to look at a 68 442 up in Ramsey NJ earlier this year. The interior was supposed to be original and it had a parchment interior with a white console. Dash, rug, and lower kick panel on doors were black.

 

Good thing - I learned something good today! White consoles it is!

Randy C.