hard-plastic center consoles

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Barjavel
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 12:43 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat 2000

hard-plastic center consoles

Post by Barjavel »

Does anyone know if there are any differences in quality/fit between the hard-plastic replacement lower center consoles (not he caps, but the actual console) offered by the main parts sources? I need/want the beige one; A/R says theirs is high-quality, but they are out of stock. I see what look to be similar ones from others, but am not sure if I should wait to order from A/R.

There's also some dude on eBay who sells them, under the name "MrFiat".

It looks like I will need to cut the square for the rear ashtray in any case, but I also am hoping not to stray too far away from "plug and play" here. Anyway, just wondering if anyone knows whether these are all the same items or whether there are quality differences between the various suppliers.

Thanks for any advice/input! I was pretty upset when I cracked by OE console by leaning on it when trying to remove it, but in retrospect I think it was time for it to go. It was brittle as an egg shell, and started cracking all over when I pried up the (very stuck) gear-shift-lever panel.
bobplyler
Patron 2022
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Posts: 823
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: hard-plastic center consoles

Post by bobplyler »

I recently replaced mine using the hard plastic one(black) from AR. It definitely isn't plug and play. On the upper console, I had to grind down around where the wood trim goes. It just wouldn't fit. Also had to grind out the place for the rear (early ashtray, later cointray). I also had to grind down around the gearshift. I used a Dremel tool.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).
Barjavel
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 12:43 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat 2000

Re: hard-plastic center consoles

Post by Barjavel »

Thanks Bob, this is helpful. I can Dremel. Do you recall what bit you used to grind/cut the plastic?
bobplyler
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 823
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: hard-plastic center consoles

Post by bobplyler »

Barjavel wrote:Thanks Bob, this is helpful. I can Dremel. Do you recall what bit you used to grind/cut the plastic?
I just looked around in the box, and used what I thought was reasonable. I bought this
https://www.harborfreight.com/276-pc-ro ... 62440.html
which has a large assortment.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).
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