My '61 Buick Electra has plastic armrest structure that once had a "Chrome" finish. (Surprising, with all of the real chrome on steel on the Buick) This Chrome is looking anything but chrome-ish and has gone to the plastic yellow under-color. What have any of you used for repairing/restoring the look of these pieces? My thought was to use a good quality spray can metallic "Chrome paint" and then clear coat over the metallic paint for longer life, but know some of you have already successfully (or unsuccessfully) dealt with this situation and am interested in knowing what has worked and what to avoid. Thanks for your input! :TU:
I stumbled across an old catalog. Look at part #PA255 for the "front chrome arm rest bases" listed as 1960-64 @ $33/pair. It also lists #PA260 for 1960-64 "ALL 2 dr. sedans and ALL 4 dr. rear doors" $38. The picture looks like it has space for an ashtray. It seems a little contradictory....like both are for the front.o No: They also have replacement arm rest pads. Looks like PA274 MIGHT be correct for you. You should get a catalog and look page by page for the parts that cross all GM brands. Keep in mind this is a Pontiac catalog. I would look at the pictures to make sure it is the correct one for your car. I will warn you they will ask you what car you are working on and will align that with your customer #. They would not send me a catalog when I said a Buick Wildcat. I had to call back and tell them I was working on a '65 Bonneville in order to get them to send me a catalog. I have ordered part #'s that were correct for my Cat and been told "That is not the right part for your '65 Bonneville". They must cross check to avoid returns.
I'm still researching. Looks like www.cvvacuumplaters.com could be a good a good bet, but am still downloading prices. They restore the "chrome" on your original plastic parts. :grin: http://www.amesperformance.com/ could work as well, but I have a thing about keeping all of the original parts I can. I'll keep you posted!
Maybe this NOS will work. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-...ies?hash=item588250331a&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245 Rick
HEY!! Theres a guy over your way that rechromes that plastic stuff!! How do I know? Local guy has a '61 Invicta Convertible. He got it done there. I'll post info sooooon.
Business Card says: CHROME PLATING E.F.S. COMPANY 8320-A BARNEY WHITE ROAD PORT ORCHARD, WA 98367 Phone: 360-674-3825 Fax: 360-674-3234 Metal Polishing Type II Anodizing Stainless, alumninum, Brass Colors available
Check out all the Impala stuff. I Purchased a set for my 63 Cat from classic industries. They are the same. Pat
Thanks to you all for all of the information. The old Buick has taken a back burner for a few weeks so I can catch up on my spring to-do's now that it is nearing the end of summer... Gotta go chop wood now. Catch you all later!
This is a subject I'm also very interested in. Just about everything in my '63 Wildcat is in good shape, but not those armrests. They've gone to yellow in places and are cracking a bit as well. I'm pretty sure every GM car from that era has the same problem. The car I sold to buy the Wildcat was a '62 Bonneville and those armrests were no exception. I bought the repros from Ames (along with new window & vent cranks and door handles) and was very happy with everything. BUT... I know from experience the front arm rests for the '63 Wildcat are definitely not the same as in a '62 Bonneville. They are longer in the Buick and incorporate the door handle, whereas in the Bonneville they are shorter and have no attachment to the door handles. So--do not order PA255 from Ames and expect it to work on the front doors of a '63 Wildcat or similar. What I am not sure about are the back door armrests, with the ashtrays. PA260 from Ames may well work for this application. When I get home from work I will check this out. As for Classic Industries, I took a look and I'm thrilled because I think K7949 might be correct for the front doors. Kqqlcat, is this what you got? Sgt. Maj.--take a look and see what you think as well. Phil
I took a look at 'em at 5:10 am (at work) and I'm not sure. That's why I was asking Pat. They look awful close. Not sure about the back ones either. Hopefully they're both of what we need Phil. ray: I've been looking for these for quite awhile.
Looking at Classic Industries, the N7952 seems closer to what I have in my '62. Not sure if mine are the same as the '63 Cat or not o No: . Just thought I'd throw that out there.
It'll be interesting to see which armrests are really correct. I thought I had things figured out a while back, but time has gotten away from me and I've misplaced my notes on the armrests I thought were correct. I'll sure be happy to be working on the Electra interior again, someday. Too many chores and to-do's to complete before the bad weather sets in. Veggies to harvest too! For now, in my spare moment, I'm going to be busy cleaning, lining and re-installing my fuel tank followed by new water pump gaskets or a water pump and figuring out my brake master cylinder. It seems to want to become a parking brake when the vacuum line is connected. I'm hoping for an easy and inexpensive fix... Have a great weekend everyone!
