Highlander experts....little help?

[Highlander72]

Hi, just bought what I'm pretty sure is a '72 Highlander. Truck is white/orange/white, 350-4bbl, A/C, etc. Has an white vinyl/orange plaid bench seat, but the plaid doesn't seem to match up with what I've found around the 'net. Glovebox sticker says "Orange Highlander P"....as in plaid? Package?? Door panels appear to have been white, now painted black.

Also, truck does not have tilt steering, word around the 'net says it probably should. Have also heard about 3 levels of Highlander package, A, B, and C?

I'm attaching pics of the glovebox sticker and upholstery. Any help would be appreciated!

[too much stuff]

There is a group A, B, and C. The tilt would come with group B or C.
As far as the seat, it doesn't look quite right to me but i am no expert.
I had some highlander brochures for sale awhile back that would show what packages came on what.
Eric

[JCD]

This came from a previous post on Highlander identification..


If the truck is a Highlander it will have YG8 as an option code number. The description of this codes varies from nothing to highlander option. The key is the YG8 option number.
A Highlander truck will have a minimum of the following:

Group A:
Plaid seat in Blue, Grey, Avocado or Orange. and black carpeting wall to wall.
The special wheel covers (C10 only). Chrome caps for 20 and 30 series trucks.
Custom Deluxe Equipment.
Bright metal rear window moldings, vent moldings, windshield molding, cigar lighter, fender name plates, full foam seat, door operated dome light. etc..
Chrome bumpers.
Upper moldings.
Door edge guards.
Below eye line mirrors.

Group B:
TH auto trans.
Power steering.
Tilt wheel

Group C:
Air conditioning
Soft ray glass

The sales pitch for the Highlander package was you saved $260.50 on this option group.

The plaid seat only came in the Highlander.


Option group B alone is not a Highlander.

[Highlander72]

Hmm....so, is it not a highlander because YG8 isn't listed, even though it has all the interior cues (excepting the funky plaid pattern), including the 618 Orange Highlander Plaid option?

I'm confused here If you couldn't get the highlander plaid without the highlander package, then is my truck some anomaly without the YG8 option?

[71 super]

Can you tell when your truck was built. I suspect mid year 72 (early in highlander run) It has options that would put it at option package "b" with exception of air and tilt( has air no tilt). Simply put the truck may have been early in run and before option group was locked in. Seat has been replaced, my guess is because the original fabric is very difficult to find especially if you are not aware of sms fabrics. Has truck been restored or repainted?

[Highlander72]

By the VIN, looks to be about 45000 out of 273000 units, roughly. I guess the inserts could have been replaced (looking under the seat, there's an extra layer of padding on top of the springs on the driver's side, definitely been apart!), vinyl does have a correct-looking scroll in the center.

On the 'YG8' subject, poking around this site I've seen YG6, YG7, and YG8. Presumably, they correspond to package A, B, and C?

[Bill72]

I have a Highlander without the YG8 code on the SPID. Has all options except tilt. Lists the correct Avocado Highlander plaid that is still on the seats. I believe that yours is a Highlander that has had the seats recovered.
As stated, the only source for the correct material is SMS Auto fabrics.

[Slick67]

The plaid area wore quicker than the vinyl that surrounded them, so they replaced your's at some point. There is now a manufacturer that does make the plaid pattern now, SMS. The vinyl area on the seat looks to be original. The door panels on all Highlanders that I have seen are white and the dash pad was black. Here are a couple of pics of a completely original 72 Highlander (my nephew's) to hopefully help you out! The seat, doorpanels and hubcaps are original to the package also, they are the same as the 71 Monte Carlo hubcaps.......I checked.

[JCD]

It's safe to assume that all options could be had with or without the Highlander YG8 code.
There's nothing in the options on any truck that couldn't be had alone or all together..
Saving a bit of money is what happened if you bought it as one promotional package.

My 1972 is a Highlander, the spid is written as follows:

A11 Tinted Glass
A28 Sliding Glass
BX2 B Side Molding
B85 Belt Molding
B93 Door Edge Guards
C60 4 Season Air
DF2 Camping Mirrors
F52 Front Shocks
F59 Front Stabilizer
F60 Heavy Front Spring
G50 Heavy Rear Spring
G70 Rear Suspension Leaf Springs
LS9 350 Engine
N33 Comfortilt Steering
M49 350 Turbo Hydramatic Transmission
NL2 Aux. Fuel tank
N40 Power Steering
PO3 Chrome Hub Caps
UY1 Camper Wiring
U63 Am Radio
V46 Chrome Front Bumper
YF5 California
YG8 Special Promotion Package C
Z53 Gauge Package
Z62 Custom Deluxe Equipment
466 White and Dark Olive
613 Green Plaid bench Trim

[Highlander72]

Thanks for the help, guys!

Is there a registry for Highlander trucks?

About the hubcaps, is PO3 used just for the Highlander (Monte Carlo) hubcaps, or is it used for the regular truck hubcaps too?

[Steve Hafner]

PO3 is the code for the "dog dish" type hubcap that came with C-20's and C-30's ( like on the Highlander camper below )

PA1 is the code for the "Monte Carlo" wheel cover.
. . . . .

[special-K]

Originally Posted by JCD

It's safe to assume that all options could be had with or without the Highlander YG8 code.
There's nothing in the options on any truck that couldn't be had alone or all together..
Saving a bit of money is what happened if you bought it as one promotional package.

You couldn't order carpet alone. It's not listed on your SPID,either. The Highlander Promotion A,B,& C are the "only" packages offered. This truck must be a Highlander since it has it on the SPID. I'm sure the seat inserts were replaced with as close as the shop could find. SMS doesn't make the fabric. It's N.O.S. and limited supply,unless they recently began making this fabric. My friend who bought my K/20 Highlander bought the blue plaid from them a couple years ago and they said after his order they had a little more than enough for one more seat.

[JCD]

Originally Posted by special-K

You couldn't order carpet alone. It's not listed on your SPID,either. The Highlander Promotion A,B,& C are the "only" packages offered. This truck must be a Highlander since it has it on the SPID.

If it couldn't be ordered alone, then it had to come as part of a package.
If the Highlanders were the only package.. then carpet could only be ordered with a Highlander?

Curious to see if anyone has a carpet in a bare bones truck.

J.

[JCD]

Looking up that "Highlander" option,..
618 does not appear on the RPO list that I have.
It appears to be the code for the Orange Plaid Upholstery

My own SPID lists the YG8 Highlander Promotion, and separately at the bottom 613 for the Green Plaid upholstery.

Could you get that Upholstery without the Highlander package?

J.

[MacGyver72]

When I was 17 I had an orange highlander and didn't know it. Funny thing was no chrome front bumper. The wheels had been changed before I got it but it was definitely the orange plaid stock seat, custom/10 on the side, and white, orange, white, orange paint. From what I've learned here, the bumper was probably a replacement. Too bad I don't still have it. Still have the '62 impala that replaced it though.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by JCD

If it couldn't be ordered alone, then it had to come as part of a package.
If the Highlanders were the only package.. then carpet could only be ordered with a Highlander?

Curious to see if anyone has a carpet in a bare bones truck.

J.

I can't edit. What I meant was a price saving package,which Highlander was the only one. Technically,that's the only "package". The optional trim levels included specific features,most of which were offered as options and some only available on that trim level,such as the seat covering,door panels,woodgrain,etc. So,I don't consider trim levels a package. Carpet was part of the Cheyenne and Cheyenne Super trim level option and,later,the Highlander promotional package and not offered as an option.

The orange plaid is listed just as all interior trim color is listed,along with body paint color. No other truck was offered with plaid inserts.

[Highlander72]

So it looks like the early Highlanders didn't have the YG6-YG7-YG8 designations. I'm trying to compile some Highlander SPIDs to try and figure out where the break was, and what options may have come with the early package. Would you Highlander guys be willing to post your SPIDs and serial #s?

I thought I was getting a plain 'ol '72, but I'm all excited about this Highlander package that I never knew existed!

[Steve Hafner]

Here are the ones I have saved:

. . . . .

[fastwillie 696969]

love that first one orange plaid

[special-K]

All the highlanders are from late in the model year. The three packages were uniform throughout,yet a buyer could spec out a truck with exceptions. So yes,there were deviations but it had nothing to do with when it was built. My first truck was a Highlander with solid paint and 3spd manual trans. I didn't even know the difference between trim levels back then. I bought this truck off the OK Used Car lot at Sport Chevrolet in '73. It was Ochre with the grey plaid and upper trim only. First thing I did was take the wheel covers off and put wide steelies and tires on it with '55 car hubcaps. I didn't know what was what.I just thought it would make a hot California-style truck being a yellow shortbed with white interior,402,and posi. I did think the plaid with scroll was pretty neat,but wanted to do a vinyl roll & pleat and never got the chance.

[Highlander72]

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

Here are the ones I have saved:

Thanks!

All the highlanders are from late in the model year.

I've heard that too. Yet...my truck is about unit 45000 or so...I wish I could figure out when my truck was built, if it's on the door tag, it's too ugly to read

[Highlander72]

Anybody else? Esp interested in pre 1543xx VINs, still looking for the break

[special-K]

Maybe they weren't a late year promotion. But,that is what I have always understood,that they did them to help sell off these trucks to make way for the new-style '73. Makes sense to me,who would want a '73 if there were still beautiful '72s on the lot? Just kidding,I like those trucks,too. And actually,the mentality was "go with the new look" back then. I had so many say to me how they had to have the new style and now (then) regret getting rid of their '72. My first truck was a Highlander off the OK lot in '73. The truck was like new,not a scratch in the bed. Can't recall the mileage,but it was under 10,000. I always figured it was traded in because the p.o. just had to have the "new look". Maybe it was because they came out with the 454. I'm pretty sure whoever ordered my truck was a motorhead.
Anyway,I never paid attention to numbers. If your truck is down that low the Highlanders must have been made all year,or most of it. Basically,the Highlander package was the pilot for things to come with packaging options as the savings. One more reason I look at these trucks as the last of the old and the first of the new. The transition from good old trucks to what they have become today.

[Joesjunk]

special-K, here is a truck with carpet listed as an option. I have only seen two like this. It was a Custom Deluxe. Sorry, this was not from a Highlander truck.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

special-K, here is a truck with carpet listed as an option. I have only seen two like this. It was a Custom Deluxe. Sorry, this was not from a Highlander truck.

Dangit Joe! Now I had to learn something I never knew. My dern head just ain't got much room and thar ya go puttin' more stuff in thar.!