How blue is blue?

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Old October 22nd, 2024 | 10:27 AM
  #1  
AK Cutlass's Avatar
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How blue is blue?

My 68 Cutlass S convertible's body tag says that the trim is "953" blue with a bench seat. The vendors of new carpets and convertible top boots list three colors of blue. Bright blue, medium blue and dark blue. Although I can pretty well see the original unfaded color of the carpet under the seat belt attachment points it's hard to compare it to the sample colors of blue displayed on the laptop screen. As for the convertible top boot, is the original supposed to be what they call the "bright blue", the same as the seat and side panel colors?
Old October 22nd, 2024 | 10:46 AM
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Most vendors will send you a piece of sample material if you contact them. Take your best guess on what the color should be and ask the vendor to send you a sample of that color
Old October 22nd, 2024 | 02:35 PM
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Old October 22nd, 2024 | 02:35 PM
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Could you check your cowl on that 953 again? I see 33 and 13 blue available for that car.
Old October 22nd, 2024 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Koda
Could you check your cowl on that 953 again? I see 33 and 13 blue available for that car.
The two digit code is the sales code. The three digit code is the trim code on the cowl tag. 953 (sales code 13) is correct for a Cutlass S Holiday Coupe with blue bench seat interior. A good supplier will be able to cross the 953 trim code to the actual color blue. There were more than three different blues used over the years. If the supplier is only offering three blues, likely none of them is exactly correct.



Old October 23rd, 2024 | 07:29 AM
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There are very very few carpet manufacturers. ACC is really the only one worth talking to, and they'll send samples of their colors. You can even buy their carpet from RockAuto! Same stuff you get from Legendary, PUI, Year One, OPGI, etc etc. Even the exact same box.
If you want points-perfect then it might be a long search for an original carpet.
If you just want a nice car, then I'd recommend picking colors readily available that you just like.

Vinyl is a little different, there are more suppliers. I'd recommend calling Legendary and asking for samples of what they think would be the most likely colors.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 07:32 AM
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Thanks for the correction, Joe.

Then the 13 is correct. My color book does not have the boot color, but I THINK it's the same as the top color?
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
The two digit code is the sales code. The three digit code is the trim code on the cowl tag. 953 (sales code 13) is correct for a Cutlass S Holiday Coupe with blue bench seat interior. A good supplier will be able to cross the 953 trim code to the actual color blue. There were more than three different blues used over the years. If the supplier is only offering three blues, likely none of them is exactly correct.



So this is interesting. When I tried to upload this photo last night, it would not complete. Now there are two of them there. Go figure.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
So this is interesting. When I tried to upload this photo last night, it would not complete. Now there are two of them there. Go figure.
I noticed that this morning & was curious.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
So this is interesting. When I tried to upload this photo last night, it would not complete. Now there are two of them there. Go figure.

Curious. Which image did you UPLOAD? Obviously one is smaller than the other therefore some form of rendering had to occur on the back-end for one to embed/appear larger than the other.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:14 AM
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I was looking at archives last night on how and what to use on the 70-77 N34 sticky wheels. Most of the threads I went into were missing photos
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
Curious. Which image did you UPLOAD? Obviously one is smaller than the other therefore some form of rendering had to occur on the back-end for one to embed/appear larger than the other.
Both of them, actually. I tried my normal PNG first and when that didn't work after several attempts, I tried a GIF.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
Both of them, actually. I tried my normal PNG first and when that didn't work after several attempts, I tried a GIF.
Gotcha
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:53 AM
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Interesting (or not) I logged into IB FTE website where I've posted images. Interesting is the fact other members who have posted images which used to be in several of the threads those images were no longer in their respective threads; and, none of my images were contained in any of my previous threads/posts......UNTIL......BAM! Out of nowhere all the images began to populate & appear in their respective posts/threads. Apparently not germane to CO website & likely across several IB websites.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 02:01 PM
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The blue in the brochure that John (Koda) downloaded, is identical to the interior seat color that was in my buddy's '68 442 years ago. I would try and get a match for that.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by 1969w3155
The blue in the brochure that John (Koda) downloaded, is identical to the interior seat color that was in my buddy's '68 442 years ago. I would try and get a match for that.
I actually own the binder courtesy of some stuff bought along with my H/O from 442Fred.
Old October 23rd, 2024 | 11:28 PM
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try these guys.
https://smsautofabrics.com/
Old October 25th, 2024 | 11:30 AM
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Koda, I see from the chart that my trim color is 13, and the color chart confirms that it is what I have. Now where can I get front seat covers and be sure that I have the right color? I ordered front seat covers from OPGI (currently on back order) but all I had to go by was a color name, not a specific trim number. I really don't want to receive the wrong color and have to send it back. Shipping to/from Alaska is horrendously expensive. I can cancel my order and go to a vendor that can color match by a trim number rather than a vague description of the color. I know that many of the parts suppliers for our vehicles are resellers for manufacturers. Is there a manufacturer who can direct sell me front seat covers? Thank you for your very informative response. Where did you get that wonderful chart?
Old October 25th, 2024 | 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Koda
Thanks for the correction, Joe.

Then the 13 is correct. My color book does not have the boot color, but I THINK it's the same as the top color?

I think the boots also came in colors other than top color, at least that's what the catalogs show. I would like to know if that is something that can only be found on the build sheet or if a standard boot color was supplied if no preference was indicated.
Old October 25th, 2024 | 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by 1965CutlassGuy
Do they only sell the fabrics or do they also make the seat covers?
Old October 25th, 2024 | 01:27 PM
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Go with Legendary, the most accurate materials out there. SMS is good, but you will be waiting the rest of your life. You may wait a year for Lengendary, but longer for SMS, plus their communication sucks. Your boot should match your interior.
Old October 25th, 2024 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by AK Cutlass
Koda, I see from the chart that my trim color is 13, and the color chart confirms that it is what I have. Now where can I get front seat covers and be sure that I have the right color? I ordered front seat covers from OPGI (currently on back order) but all I had to go by was a color name, not a specific trim number. I really don't want to receive the wrong color and have to send it back. Shipping to/from Alaska is horrendously expensive. I can cancel my order and go to a vendor that can color match by a trim number rather than a vague description of the color. I know that many of the parts suppliers for our vehicles are resellers for manufacturers. Is there a manufacturer who can direct sell me front seat covers? Thank you for your very informative response. Where did you get that wonderful chart?
There are various dealer binders that Olds sent out to arm their salesmen with. The color and fabric selector is this one, and it would be pulled out to show a customer what he or she could order. They come up for sale occasionally.

Legendary, if they have what you need, is the better bet over SMS. SMS does everything, but Legendary does what they do faster and as a better package.
Old October 26th, 2024 | 12:59 PM
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Thanks for the info.
Old October 26th, 2024 | 05:01 PM
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The big parts houses (Year One, OPGI, etc) all resell PUI for all seat covers, door cards, and related trim.
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