The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Arm Rest Question

Hi Guys,
I was just wondering what is the difference between an arm rest off of a car or sedan and the arm rests in our old trucks? I know the car arm rests have a chrome or stainless strip, but if the metal core is the same it should be possible to rebuild a car arm rest into a pickup arm rest. Do you have any ideas, opinions, suggestions?

If the mounting holes are the same, go for it.
Cleon

Aren't you suppose to hang your elbow out the window for an armrest? I think that's part of the "cruising creed".

I found my armrest out of a 1951 Buick 4 door straight 8. They are almost exact to my 1948 except for the mounting holes, they are just a little off (nothing that can't be fixed )I had 4 doors to get the best from and I don't have to fix or cover them . The back doors looked like no one ever used them.
Another treasure yard find!!!!!!!!
Good luck

Yeah but bow, when was the last time I saw a 1951 Buick 4 door straight eitht in the junk yard, bout 1961 or so??? I think Maybe we need to come on over thar to VA and scrouge thru some of your scrapyards!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Uh-Oh, an eBay link... Run for your life, I hear the hobnail boots coming this way!

Shhhhhh! You cover your ears Woody, I'll cover my mouth and Joe can cover his eyes and maybe they won't see or hear us!

Yeah but there is the "junk" price and then there is the "antique" price. At those "antique" prices on evil bay I think I'd just go with the repop rests, I looked for "junk" arm rests for quite a while and then in the end I finally sprung for a couple of the repros and for once they're not to bad. On a 10 scale I'd give them bout a 7. They did fit right out of the box and I didn't have to make any mods. The 7 is because of the upholstery job, it's kind of course looking, doesn't look like a factory job.
But then again, I've never seen a genuine GM factory AD armrest, hint, hint, do any one body have a picture of one of those animals???
Another solution is to carve your own from wood and upholster it your self with Moose hide like Alan Horvath did. Take a look at his web page where he documented the process last year. Sorry but I don't have the link to that.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

1954 standard color armrest - maroon (not a very good photo)

1954 two-tone green/green interior armrest (a good photo)

The armrests that I have bought from Jim Carter and Chevy Duty (Classic Parts of America) have looked like the above.

Your right Denny, This has been a few years back...and the only thing i bought was the armrest(2)and the dist.cap.($3.00) This was a whole car, with the antenna at the top center of the windshield that turns around with a round knob to zero in on your favorite am station, seats and even the straight 8 still in place along beside a set of looooong trumpet horns. But one of those things I didnt have money, time or place for it.
But at least I got my armrest. Come on to VA anytime .I'll show ya some places.
Take care,
bowtie

Jimmy D,
There is a guy in non GM parts for sale , selling parts from a 1950 Buick. Might want to check him out.
Good Luck

Everybody, thanks for the input. I am waiting for an email from a guy that has a set of 52 Buick arm rests. I also see that there is a trashed chevy arm rest on Ebay. I will keep you posted on how this turns out. Maybe if I ask Alan Horvath nicely he would give me the patterns he used to rebuild his arm rests.

I'm sure he would, no problem!
Good luck