Restoring a 65 Barracuda
BLUE INTERIOR WOES
My Barracuda has paint code N (Barracuda Silver) with blue interior (code B). Be prepared to pay a lot more to restore the blue interior. A couple of examples:
(1) Dash pad
.mine needed restoring. In hindsight, I believe I chose the most expensive option. Just Dashes does good, very good work, but cheap theyre not. The price to restore the pad was $500, but they charged an extra $100 to match the original blue color. With a $65 return freight charge, my wallet took a $665 hit for the dash pad. The alternative might have been to buy a good used one and paint it blue using a spray can of vinyl paint. The problem is finding a good used pad without cracks or breaks, but with patience, they can be found.
(2) The headliner
blue headliners are readily available from several vendors for under $100, but they dont match the correct factory shade of blue. (which is almost a light metallic blue) To get the correct color, I had to order a correct color headliner from Original Auto Interiors (
www.originalauto.com) and the price was $285 plus shipping.
(3) While the correct blue color seat covers and carpet can found at Legendary, the blue reproduction door panels are unavailable.
(4) The color problem goes away if you have a black, red or white interior.
273 HP VALVE COVERS
I sent my black wrinkled painted finned aluminum covers to Phoenix Specialty Coatings (731-613-9192) or
http://PhoenixSpecialtyCoating.com for restoration. I was very satisfied with the quality of work and the excellent service they offered. I will be a return customer. Thanks for the great job.
PLASTIC RECHROMING OF DASH PARTS
I hesitantly chose AutoInstruments in Virginia as the place to send my dash bezels and arm rest bases for plastic rechroming. I say hesitantly chose because of a less than satisfactory experience I had with them about 3 years ago with a 67 Charger dash cluster bezel. Somehow during reinstallation of the lens, they managed to crack two of the very hard to find lens and returned the bezel to me with the lens broken. In the end, AutoInstruments purchased replacements lens and the job was finally finished at no extra cost to me, but 6 months had elapsed between the time I sent them and got them back ready to install.
When it came time to have the dash bezels and arm rest bases rechromed for my 65 Barracuda, I called AutoInstruments and spoke with the owner about my past experience. He assured me the new shop manager would have the job done on time and with a high standard of work quality. I mailed the pieces and waited to see how things would go this time.
I got the pieces back within the time span promised and the quality of work looked excellent. Two months later when reassembling the instrument cluster and bezel, I discovered AutoInstruments had reversed the position of the metal lens retainers for the speedometer and engine gauges. At my expense, I sent the bezel back with an explanation of what was wrong and within a week I had them back home. Unfortunately they didnt get it right this time either, because both metal retainers had been glued to the engine gauge lens. Trying to remain cool, I sent a terse note and the bezel back a second time with another instrument bezel to use as a guide. Three weeks later, I finally got the bezel back and it was correct.
I think quality control is an issue that needs addressing. Perhaps my most recent experience may have been a little less troubling had an apology been offered or better yet a coupon with a little off my next order, but neither was offered.
AutoInstruments (276-647-5550 or
www.autoinstruments.com
