Convertible Question !

[hemiken]

Hey guys,

I have noticed that some of the interior parts on a 1970 E-body are plated in a satin chrome finish and that 1971 had a shiny chrome finish, on parts such as the cruise control stalk from year to year for example. My question is what finish of chrome is correct for the 1970 roof latch handles and sun visor/recievers as compared to the 1971 roof latch handles and sun visor/recievers.
Would the 1970 parts be a satin chrome finish - like the ones that are available currently as reproduction, and then in return the same part for 1971 would be in the shiny chrome.
Anyone have a 1971 with these parts and know that they are original to the car and care to chime in please.

Thanks,
Kenny.

[sprecks]

The roof latch handles and sun visor receivers are original on my '71 car. They have more of a satin finish to them. Definitely not a shiney chrome.

[hemiken]

Thanks Sprecks,

I have seen shiny chrome latches and recievers before and always wondered why that was.
I wonder if anyone does have the shiny ones in their possesion

[cbrxxtreme]

My 1970 roof latches are more of a brushed aluminum, however they may have been shiny 44 years ago? I'll have to ask the original owner if he remembers? they are original to the car ( I know original owner very well, as well as know the car very well). They also have a textured finish in the center... For grip I assume?

[hemiken]

Hey Judy,

Your 71 is all original convertible and you guys are the original owners. Any chance you could check your car too please, and any other guys with convertibles to tell us what they have also Thanks.

[JayBee]

Hi Kenny, sorry I'm late but I thought you just wanted to hear from '71 owners.

My latches and visor rods are NOT shiney chrome. They ARE are a dull finish, kind of like the "brushed aluminun" that cbrxxtreme said. The latch insides have that rough texture too. I've owned the car since 1979 so believe them to be original. That's evident from the odd pit marks.

I've seen those shiney chrome ones, only on the internet, and always thought they were just incorrect re-pops.

[anlauto]

  The only factory E Body ones I've seen are a dull finish.

[Nel]

Same dull finish on my 70 challenger to.

[marc7071]

My '71 still had the original latches in it and they had a satin finish. However, mine is an oddball as it is an extremely early production '71 and had quite a few '70 only parts on it (i.e. dash pad, floor console). That said, it's a possibility that the top latches were '70 left-overs as well and they were still satin finished.
Not sure if that helps or just confuses things further.

[1 Wild R/T]

They were all originally a satin chrome finish but most of the latches show their age & have pitting... Speaking with chrome platers back in the 90's the consensus was the plating process was common in the 60's but could no longer be done in the US due to the chemicals being controlled by the EPA.. Most platers wanted to replate your latches as shiny chrome... I know lots of guys who did exactly that... I was lucky my latches were pretty clean so I just re-used them....

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Late to the party but NIKKI's are also satin (dull) finish

[hemiken]

OK then, i will get my latches redone in Satin chrome when i have them restored then. Thank heaps to all you guys