Anyone have a 1972 GMC with an OEM plaid interior?

[DeadheadNM]

Plaid GMC's seem uncommon. Does anyone have interior pics to share? I'm curious if the cluster bezels were black or followed interior color. Also curious if 1) the metal on top of the dash is black matching the dash pad (my guess) or the same color as the dash and 2) A/C vents black or dash color.

Thanks,

Pete

[davepl]

AC vents are dash color.
Upper dash is dash color but with flattening agent. May actually be a different color mix too (like no metallic). I actually hate the way mine looks. They had done it body color and I made them do it the correct (per PPG sheets) color to be 'correct', but honestly I like it the dangerous shiny color better.

I think the bezel stuff depends on the trim level. Some were woodgrain, but I doubt all were. Others will know more.

[Hutch]

I read an article that stated that the Gmc Plaid seat option had the stripes in the plaid seats laid out different

Another example of General Motors saving production costs: On the 1972 GMC only, the Chevrolet Highlander seat material was an option on their Wide-Side (fleetside) and Suburban. To give this seat insert a different appearance, than the Highlander, it appears the material was turned 90o so the stripes ran the opposite direction.

[davepl]

I always thought that was funny (rotating the material like it made a difference between Chevy and GMC).

Not entirely related but in terms of badge engineering I had a Lexus salesman tell me once that the Lexus LX-470 was built better than the Toyota Landcruiser because while essentially the same vehicle, the Lexus workers have a carpeted assembly line so they don't get tired and make less mistakes. I'm not making this up.

Like if it made a difference a multi-billion dollar corporation wouldn't buy some carpet to up its vehicle quality.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by davepl

AC vents are dash color.
Upper dash is dash color but with flattening agent. May actually be a different color mix too (like no metallic). I actually hate the way mine looks. They had done it body color and I made them do it the correct (per PPG sheets) color to be 'correct', but honestly I like it the dangerous shiny color better.

I think the bezel stuff depends on the trim level. Some were woodgrain, but I doubt all were. Others will know more.

The flat/matte non-glare dash finish helps and is one of the little details that sets off a nice resto. The plaid/highlander trim wasn't available on Chevy trucks with woodgrain (i.e. Cheyenne/Super) bezels/GB doors/panels from what I know. GM painted the dash top to match the dash pads (i.e., my orange truck with a black dash pad has matte finish black on top of the dash and my green K5 with saddle dash has matte saddle top of dash). All Highlander Chevy trucks had a black dash pad and I suspect the top of the dash was painted black as well rather than to match the rest of the dash.

Originally Posted by Hutch

I read an article that stated that the Gmc Plaid seat option had the stripes in the plaid seats laid out different

Thanks, I've heard rumor of that too but find it hard to imagine that was actually the case at time of assembly but I'm regularly wrong. Hoping pics will set the record straight - I'm eying a possible "Highlander" build.

Thanks!

[69 MOD]

On my recently acquired Highlander the A/C vents on the lower dash are black with chrome balls, as is the top of dash from pad to windshield (semi flat black).

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by 69 MOD

On my recently acquired Highlander the A/C vents on the lower dash are black with chrome balls, as is the top of dash from pad to windshield (semi flat black).

Thanks - very helpful! Your truck has inspired me to a possible GMC "Highlander".

Highlanders also have Below-eyeline mirrors IIRC.

Any GMC plaid trucks?

[Hutch]

Thanks, I've heard rumor of that too but find it hard to imagine that was actually the case at time of assembly but I'm regularly wrong. Hoping pics will set the record straight

This picture is the only one I have seen.
It’s obviously a promotional picture.

[leh72super1500]

I have a 72 GMC with the 611 Custom Trim Combination, (blue plaid cloth) but unfortunately a PO had changed it for some reason. I have acquired new plaid fabric from SMS fabrics and my plan is to have the seat returned back to the original look. I will have it installed with the stripes vertical as I just think it looks better than horizontal. It would be nice to see some pics of GMCs with the original plaid cloth to see if the vertical vs horizontal thing is true.

As for the top of the dash mine is painted flat black.

[DeadheadNM]

Good info thanks. If I do a plaid GMC, until I see a seat with OEM vertical plaid I'm going horizontal. I'll hunt through more threads and see what if any I can scare up.

[davepl]

If it were and my GMC I'd follow the lead of the promotional photo unless and until someone comes up with an original photo of a GMC with this option built otherwise. Just me.

[leh72super1500]

I guess with some hard evidence (pictures!) that GMCs actually were built with horizontal stripes I would change my mind and go horizontal. However I found this post that shows a Chevrolet Highlander brochure that has a pic of a seat with horizontal stripes like the GMC brochure. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=571994
So I don't think that promotional brochures should be relied upon.

Please post your pics of GMCs with plaid seats!!

[davepl]

Have you ever seen a GMC with plaid that wasn't horizontal? If the brochure shows horizontal and there isn't any contradictory evidence, I'm not sure I follow.

I mean it's your truck, you can put it in diagonal if you like. I'm just trying to follow the logic.

[leh72super1500]

I guess "diagonal" would be a good compromise . I'm just saying that the Chevy brochure is not conclusive either. It would be nice to see pics of any GMC with horizontal, vertical or otherwise.

[71blksuper4x4]

I have only seen these on Jimmy's and they were horizontal. Trevor

[DeadheadNM]

Here's a supposed OEM plaid GMC posted by a member - vertical plaid

[SS Tim]

There are several issues here with the material direction.

First is the material direction difference cited by oldchevytrucks.com which most of us have seen and relied on as correct, myself included. But that was also two years ago at the beginning of my Highlander Plaid research. Deeper digging has revealed that information page to be incorrect and incomplete.

Second is the fact that the material is very indistinct and in the right lighting conditions the stripes can appear to go in either direction. This is most noticable in the grey due to the lessened contrast of the black, white and the grey halftone. This effect can be more pronounced on the Blazer/Jimmy bucket seats simply due to less stripe area to set a visual direction.

Third is there are few original GMC trucks to compare to. Mine (a glovebox door/SPID and pictures) which I was fortunate to have been given is of little value. The seat cover had been replaced along with the seatbelts. In addition the interior was completely redone poorly and apparently at random. However it did document that the trim codes were the same as Chevy Highlanders and it has the original dark fawn interior color under and surrounding the SPID.

Luckily there are other vehicles.

Most people go to the only reference they have seen of the GMC plaid, the brochure picture. This is the same picture I believe was the basis of oldchevytrucks notation of a rotated material.
The problem is there exist Chevrolet brochures that show the same apparent horizontal primary stripe.
As an example here are the two side by each. This shows they may have at one time been intended to be horizontal and changed for production or more likely a simple case of the plaids changing with light angle and contrast.

Since the trim codes are the same and it would be unlikely they would use the same code for different products going down the same production lines, I feel they were all in the confirmed normative (to Chevy Highlanders) vertical primary stripes.

But there is more. Like the orange GMC above with vertical stripes there is also a Jimmy project that we have access to showing the original front and rear covers (with vertical stripes) and a new replacement cover that the trimmer had made with horizontal stripes showing a pronounced conflict. Interestingly the stripes were run that way as a convenience to the trimmer not in an attempt to match a "known correct" (horizontal stripe) or even to match the original worn cover.
So here are a series of pictures to get you started...

[SS Tim]

Highlander Trim codes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Pickups Custom Deluxe Z62 mandatory option
Avocado 613
Blue 611
Gray 604
Orange 618
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Suburbans Custom Deluxe Z62 mandatory option
Avocado 647
Blue 642
Gray 639
Orange 651
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Blazer CST Z84 mandatory option
Avocado 680
Blue 677
Gray 671
Orange 686
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Jimmy with reputed to be original seats.

[SS Tim]

There is more!

In the course of my ongoing research I have uncovered a 72 GMC Suburban. More importantly it is a 10K mile, original condition vehicle with the avocado plaid trim. Clearly (to me) it is a vertical stripe. If anyone has additional information or pictures of this vehicle or the auction please post or PM me.

http://www.chron.com/cars/article/So...ll-5565528.php

[special-K]

The lighter stripe runs with the length of the rectangles. That's how I can always tell which direction,even with faded and worn ones. I've never researched it but have seen two or three plaid GMCs in my day. I have no proof,but as I recall they ran different (horizontal). It's also just the type of thing GM did,like the interior matched dash pieces. They got a different look from the same part.

It's known that there were exceptions to the packaging on some Highlanders,with certain options deleted. The question about color on top of dash brought to mind an interesting little tidbit related to Highlanders based on one I had. It was a 3spd,so no tilt,either. Any other truck with Parchment interior would have Sandalwood steering wheel,column,and dash pad. This one had Black to keep with the Highlander scheme,I guess.

[nobolt]

maybe it could be some sort of subliminal advertising?
horizontal stripes in the literature would make the Wide-Side "appear" to be wider than the Chevy.
and as for the production vehicles, not many would notice the fabric running the same direction as Chevy.

it's just a thought....

[Bigdav160]

Weird, those first two trucks posted have seat material (gray) running in opposite directions. One is horizontal and the other vertical. Also the yellow truck the stripes appear slightly wider than the red truck.

Or it could be these old eyes playing tricks on me.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

Weird, those first two trucks posted have seat material (gray) running in opposite directions. One is horizontal and the other vertical. Also the yellow truck the stripes appear slightly wider than the red truck.

Or it could be these old eyes playing tricks on me.

Those two pictures were chosen specifically to show how light can change the appearance. Both trucks have a vertical primary stripe and if you count the stripes they are the same widths.

So "....these old eyes playing tricks on me." is very true.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by special-K

... The question about color on top of dash brought to mind an interesting little tidbit related to Highlanders based on one I had. It was a 3spd,so no tilt,either. Any other truck with Parchment interior would have Sandalwood steering wheel,column,and dash pad. This one had Black to keep with the Highlander scheme,I guess...

Exactly Tim the Chevy Highlanders as part of the special trim combination had a black dash pad, column and steerinng wheel. The only color difference in the Chevy Highlanders was the color of the plaid stripe, everything else was black or white. he reason we are doing this is to try and nail down or at least bracket any GMC variations from the normative Chevy Highlander build.

[davepl]

As we try to document these we should perhaps make note of what factory built which truck. However, I'm going to guess/assume that the seats came as an assembly from a sub-contracted manufacturer, not built and upholstered by GM.

Or, if made by GM, likely not made separately at each factory, but rather produced at a central location and distributed to the factories. Anyone actually know?