[Goatracer1]

Can anyone tell me what the wood overlay is on the dash of a 1962 Bonneville? Is it stained or just clear coated?

[Rachelsdad]

I can't swear to the '62, but my '63 was always a really rich amber, with some gloss to it. My dad got the car in January of '65, so I've had the opportunity to watch it age over time (and yes, I do want to re-do the wood one of these days).

When I did get my new walnut and set it aside, I was struck by how pale it looked as compared to what was currently in the car (this was 20 years ago - yes, new walnut has been waiting in the box, patiently for me).

So, unless someone says otherwise, I would say a light walnut stain (look for that amber tone), and some clear on top (likely varnish, from the looks of mine, these days, or polyurethane - for the look without the aging properties of varnish).

I will also add that my dad was a smoker so some of the "amber" tone is/was no doubt attributable to nicotine (yech), but not too much, I suspect, as my mom didn't smoke while driving, and neither my brother nor I have ever smoked (and we all drove the car regularly at one time or another; me, from '76 to '79, when I retired her for show only).

HTH

PS - My '63 GP - all original - seemed to confirm the above (I got that car around '79, actually, and still have it...in my back yard). There was also more exposed wood on the dash (console shift vs column, so no indicator). Less gloss than my Bonneville, perhaps, but that could have been less polish. ;-)