Topic: confused about center consoles

[William-Fischer]

Can someone explain the center console to me? Was it a dealer installed option or was it on all cars? I have seen cars both with and without so I have no idea if I'm supposed to have one. If it matters at all I do have factory ac.

[jwc66k]

The simple answer is your car most likely did not come from the factory with a console. To verify this, look in the drive shaft tunnel where the front inside seat belt bolts come thru. If you have 4 screw holes, two per side for a short A/C type console (6 each, 3 per for full length) you had a console. Dealers installed them but no information exists as to the number of factory installed consoles or dealer installed. There are probably more cars with consoles today than were originally equipped. If you want one, install one.
Jim

[ChrisV289]

The 65 SJ fastback I drove in high school came with a full length console from the factory I believe.  According to the inspection sheet found by the previous owner, the bottom left corner says they forgot to drill the holes for the console...

[C5ZZ]

Consoles were indeed a factory option that could be ordered.

My parents ordered a new 65 fastback when they first came out in 64
and they had ordered a console which was listed on the window sticker.

[J_Speegle]

Can someone explain the center console to me? Was it a dealer installed option or was it on all cars? I have seen cars both with and without so I have no idea if I'm supposed to have one. If it matters at all I do have factory ac.

As mentioned consoles could be dealer or factory added/options. This is the reason the trim does not always match the care - both that is a whole thread by itself. The were not tied to any other option in 64-65  so not all deluxe interior, GT, 6 cylinder .... cars received them though any COULD have.

Only way to tell if you car original came with one (hopefully some past owner did not add one and remove it) is to look for all the mounting screw holes and bleached (from the sun) pattern on the original carpet.  If you have an early NJ car you can check the buck tag for info.  Often people adding consoles will not drill all the holes so make sure you look for all of them. Their location will differ between ac and non ac applications though you could have a non ac car with a factory console with a dealer added AC that might have both non ac and ac holes.


Confused yet/more ?