[Eric71T37]

A final part of my vision for this car when I started building it in 1995 has finally been fulfilled...custom deluxe belts.

I happened to come upon a Sandalwood '71 Grand Prix in a local u-pull it yard a few months ago...looked inside, and found a Sandalwood bucket interior with custom deluxe belts! I yanked every belt but one rear that was badly frayed and rusted.

I took them apart and cleaned them by hand, scrubbing the belts and polishing the buckles. I painted the GM buttons. A '71 Cadillac coupe in a Virginia salvage yard provided the matching rear belt, and I finally have the belts I always wanted. Cost me about $150 total, no new parts used.

[Eric71T37]

Before and after

[Eric71T37]

That's better

[Eric71T37]

Shot of the rear...

[pggto]

Looks good! My 71 has the black belts in it as well, What did you use to clean them?

The sandalwood interior is a mess in my 71 project, could you send me some pictures of your interior? I would appreciate it, Thanks. pggto@yahoo.com

[tripower]

Those cleaned up nice! Does look better than the standard black color belts, especially against Sandlewood

[Eric71T37]

Originally Posted by pggto

Looks good! My 71 has the black belts in it as well, What did you use to clean them?

The sandalwood interior is a mess in my 71 project, could you send me some pictures of your interior? I would appreciate it, Thanks. pggto@yahoo.com

I'd be glad to...what specific areas do you want to see? This car originally had a Jade green interior, but I wanted it to look like it came with Sandalwood in every way...so it is correct.

I cleaned the belts themselves by scrubbing them with a fairly stiff-bristled hand brush and an orange spray cleaner I get in bulk. Spray, scrub, rinse, repeat. Belts were badly rusted and stained. Lots of elbow grease.

I cleaned the metal buckles with steel wool (easy, but had to scour salvage yards to find buckles not pitted with rust).

I painted the GM buttons with satin black and carefully used steel wool to brighten the logo.

[Eric71T37]

Originally Posted by tripower

Those cleaned up nice! Does look better than the standard black color belts, especially against Sandlewood

Thanks! It was a really nice option IMO, I am surprised by how few cars I find with them. There are black deluxe belts with the brushed buckles, and they look nice...but color-keyed belts are my favorite. I found a LOT of Cutlasses with these belts...almost like they were standard equipment. Skylarks too. Rare in Pontiac A-bodies it seems.

[Eric71T37]

I should say, my Sandalwood interior is (mostly) correct...for a '71 GTO or LeMans Sport (except for the lack of simulated wood grain dash). I combined all interior elements that I like from '71...turned aluminum strip from GTO, black dash panel from T-37, carpet and perforated headliner from LeMans/GTO, console with wood grain from LeMans Sport/GTO, etc). Added custom sport steering wheel, custom deluxe belts, AM radio with built in XM.

Nothing looks aftermarket or incorrect...except Pontiac never made a T-37 like this. Like all of my cars, it's one-of-one.

[Eric71T37]

Here is the cleaner I used.

[pggto]

Originally Posted by Eric71T37

I'd be glad to...what specific areas do you want to see? This car originally had a Jade green interior, but I wanted it to look like it came with Sandalwood in every way...so it is correct.

I cleaned the belts themselves by scrubbing them with a fairly stiff-bristled hand brush and an orange spray cleaner I get in bulk. Spray, scrub, rinse, repeat. Belts were badly rusted and stained. Lots of elbow grease.

I cleaned the metal buckles with steel wool (easy, but had to scour salvage yards to find buckles not pitted with rust).

I painted the GM buttons with satin black and carefully used steel wool to brighten the logo.

I'm interested in the dash and other plastic part colors. I know some pieces are darker than others. It's that contrast from the factory that I'm not sure about, from the arm rests to the seat backs, etc. Your hard work paid off, it looks really nice. Yeah, my car has black seat belts, I don't think I will like that look when the interior is finished. I originally thought someone swapped out the seat belts, but thats the way it came.

[Eric71T37]

Yes, Sandalwood is a sort of "two tone" interior, where the headliner, door panels, seats, and console are a lighter color, while the dash, kick panels, A-pillars, carpet, and steering column are a darker shade.

I parted a '71 LeMans Sport long ago that had a Sandalwood interior, so I had a great reference on an original (though disgustingly dirty) '71 to go on. I recovered the front buckets with parts from OPGI, and had the cracked dash redone by Just Dashes in CA. I had correct dark Sandalwood paint made in a rattle can by Tower Paints and resprayed the vented kick panels. I also used this paint to change the metal dash top and strip under the rear window from green to dark Sandalwood. New carpet and headliner. Door, quarter panels, console, and rear seats are original from that parts car. I resprayed the seat backs and arm rests with correct light Sandalwood from Tower.

Other than the code on the data tag under the hood, you would not know this car had a Jade bench seat column shift rubber floor AC interior!