Still waiting on the trim code since I don't pick up the car for a couple of weeks, but I don't think color will be a problem for the armrest since a local upholsterer can make it match.
Thanks much!
Jim

 

Ebay has a few 59's for parting out. Theres a green 4 door 88 and the interior looks good, has front bench and other things you may be after.

 

Thanks very much for the info. This is my first classic car and I don't know which parts match up between the 98 and the 88 but I'll figure that out. It's nice to know my car's brother is driving around down under! I would love to see some photos, and I'll attach a couple of mine here. Oh yeah, do you know where the plate is that shows the trim and paint codes? I haven't even picked the car up yet and the seller lives 700 miles away and can't find the plate....

Thanks again,

Jim

 

Hey, nice car and great condition too. Thats a gem.
When you lift the bonnet look on the top plenum shelf in front of the drivers side. Hope its there, if not, I saw a few on Ebay recently.

 

Thank you kindly. I can't wait for the first time I'm able to put myself behind the wheel! The mechanic repairing the brakes is on vacation for the next couple of weeks and I need to have that done before I pick the car up and drive it about 1,200 km home.
Jim

 

Looks great! I have owned 8 Oldsmobile for 1959. The arm rest on the 98 4 door sedan fits that car only, no other model is the same. It is a totally different confirguration than the hardtop or 88 sedans. Just thought I would let you know, before you bought something that wasn't the same. Paul

 

Beutifull chrome on your car too, thats a bonus less expense.
I notice you have different reverse lights to mine, tail lights are the same though. As Paul says, check before buying and feel free to P.M me if you want to clarify anything. Some parts interchange, a lot dont.
John.

 

Thanks much, Paul & John. I heard that SMS fabrics restores armrests in addition to door panels. Have either of you seen their work on armrests? Their door panel restorations are really nice.

Hold the phone, I just got an email from the seller:

Style 59-3819
Body BC 887
Trim 372
Paint CCC
This car is finished with Magic Mirror Acrylic Laquor.

I think this means the paint should be Polaris White, but paintref.com only has "C" instead of "CCC" so I'm not sure what is going on there. I sure like the sound of "Magic Mirror Acrylic Lacquer"

Uh Oh, I put in the 372 trim code into the SMS quick search form and only got one "green cloth" item for "material available". I'm going to request the full samples of course, but am concerned now that SMS doesn't have any NOS vinyl for the armrest.

Also I thought from the photos that the interior is more of a turquoise than green, but that doesn't take away from the car's beauty......

 

Keep in mind also that if you are not getting sms to do the panels and going to get someone else to do them, look at marine vinyl suppliers. Automotive here was not much chop but I found marine suppliers had stuff almost identicle colour wise to what I would need if I was going that way.

 

Yeah, that's good advice. I am going to do my best to keep it as original as possible, although I am strongly considering painting it in a two tone green using the factory colors even though the trim code says white on white. I have seen a lot of two tones painted that way at the factory and they work really well with the color separation matching the body curves on each side (I'll post a photo of one here green and white). With the green interior in my car it really would look great. I bought a paint chart from 1959 and when I put the greens next to the interior fabric samples....... I'll post a photo I found online of that paint chart. I am thinking about Crystal Green on top and Emerald Mist below. What do you think? Or do you think I should just stay with the original (I don't think the paint is in bad shape)?

The wife has a long-term illness and she has been really sick lately so I can't go pick up the car until she is feeling better. I'll post more photos then.

Thanks,

Jim

 

SMS did the door panel on my '62 conv. I had them send the arm rest material and I redid them myself. Not difficult at all.

 

Thanks, Dave. As a newbie, I'm not experienced at any interior restoration but it's time I got my feet wet. You've given me a boost of confidence here and I believe I'll give it a whirl myself. The worst that could happen is a screw it up so badly that I l end up peeling everything off and sending it in anyway......
Jim

 

Jim,

Just take it slow, a-step-at-a-time, and all will be well.

First: Note and photograph how armrest is now covered, paying particular attention to the corners.

Second: Separate cover from pad. Do this slowly so as not to remove chunks of foam rubber pad.

Third: Cut material to size.

Fourth: DRY FIT new material, experimenting with corners.

Fifth: Spray contact cement on material and pad and glue it into place

Your done!

 

Here is mine before:

'EEE' Green, green, green , green, green (Emerald Mist).

After: Emerald Mist/Polaris White.

 

Also try this, if it does not work let me know and I will work something out.

Paintref.com

(Paint reference). I have used the site for my paints on the Olds and Chev Truck.
Shows the same colour in a few different brands eg PPG, Dupont etc and shows the cars it was used on like Chrysler, Olds, Ford.....

The beuty of this site I found it showed about 15 shades of green in a row so you get to see the variety and bounce the colours off each other.

Hope it helps,
John.

 

Dave,

Some people say that "real men don't ask for directions." On the other hand, I myself always like to hear all the advice and directions I can get. Your step-by-step primer on armrest repair has emboldened me to definitely try to do it myself. I will go out on a limb and commit now to posting photos even if it turns out to be a botched job. That should be sufficient motivation to take it slow and do it right.......

Thanks again,
Jim

 

John,

Great minds think alike! Your car's color scheme is absolutely beautiful. Mine is CCC (all three Polaris White). I was thinking that if the current paint still looks good with the Magic Mirror finish, it would be a lot easier and less expensive to keep either the top or bottom white so there wouldn't be any need to repaint the door jambs, etc. I have already been checking out paintref.com and it has been helpful.

It's killing me to not have the car yet. Perhaps in the next few days......

Thanks,
Jim

 

We will hold you to the promise of posting pics of the arm rest make over. Again, not that difficult. Just pay attention to how the corners are folded on the original and you wiil be fine.

 

I will be watching this one!!! Mine are crap and need to be redone.