68-69 Firebird Console Restoration
 

Has anyone had any luck restoring the burlwood trim on the 68-69 Firebird consoles?
Nicks, scratches, fading... Any tips on how to revive the finish?

From what I've seen/heard, the repro consoles don't have quite the same pattern/finish of burlwood as originals.

What exactly are the original parts made up of?
Stamped metal with embossed adhesive overlay or...?

Thanks!

I thought the burlwood on the repop console looks pretty good. It is not the original but it looks a lot better then the old faded burlwood. I thought they did a good job on it.

The repo console is very nice in regards to the burl wood, certainly not the same can be said for the repo applique to apply to ones existing console.

Take your original faded console to someone who is gifted in air brushing and have them touch up, highlight the areas in question, don't know of another option other than go to a repo console. I have not seen a nice applique available separately..

If you find a source please share with the rest of us.

Tim john---

Here is some pictures of the original compared to the repro. The first three are the original and the net ones are the repro.

More repro

Thx for sharing the comparison pix Harold!

Repro does appear to be very good considering how unique the burl wood finish is.
Other than the difference in tone or sheen, does there appear to be actual texture to the repro?
Any other discernible differences...shifter cup, base, chrome?

Thx!

Here is a pic zoom in. You can see the texture. Everything else is the same.

I bought the repop as well. Honestly, I'm not sure if there is any difference at all in the woodgrain of the repop to an original console when it was new. If definitely isn't as glossy, but years of Armor All and age may have done that to the original. I'm going to look in an original GM brochure to compare...... but even that isn't a guarantee since the literature often used proto materials.

Old Joe

By the way, I also bought a complete set of repop stick on woodgrain. Not anywhere near as nice as the stuff on the repop console.

Harold, Joe...
Thanks as always for your feedback.
With such a nice repro console, I'm amazed at the prices some are asking for original consoles...faded, mis-matched, dented, pitted, broken, etc. Perhaps I should sell off my console collection and get a repro.