Factory-correct 67-69 Camaro convertible top dust boot bag 4485356

[bowtie68iho]

I made this post to provide our Camaro community with detailed information on the factory-correct 1967-69 Camaro convertible top dust boot bag (Part Number 4485356).

It was over a decade ago that I purchased on eBay an NOS convertible top dust boot bag for my 1968 convertible.  The boot bag was in its original GM parts envelope.  See attached photos. 

Neither the boot, nor the boot bag, however, were depicted in any of the First-Generation Camaro assembly instruction manuals (AIMs).  More specifically, it was not listed anywhere in the AIM Miscellaneous Shipping List (i.e., 1967 AIM UPC 0, Sheets C1-C1.5; 1968 AIM UPC 0, Sheet C1; 1969 AIM UPC 0, Sheets C2-C3).  The boot and boot bag were also not depicted in either the “1967 Custom Feature Optional Accessories” booklet or the “Custom Feature Accessories for 1968 Camaro” booklet that were included in the Camaro’s glovebox by the factory in 1967 and 1968, respectively.  A similar accessories booklet was not listed in the 1969 AIM Miscellaneous Shipping List (i.e., 1969 AIM UPC 0, Sheets C2-C3).  I believe that it is unlikely that GM would sell their convertibles without a boot (and by extension, a boot bag), leaving it/them to be sold by dealers only.  If offered as an optional accessory, they would surely be depicted in the custom feature accessories booklets.  It would therefore be reasonable to assume that the boot and boot bag were furnished by Fisher Body and placed in the luggage compartment (i.e., trunk) with the boot stowed inside the bag…even though neither were on the Miscellaneous Shipping List.

For those looking for this part for their car, it is Part Number 4485356 under Group 13.450 and has had several descriptions over the three plus decades that it has been in GM parts catalogs: Bag, Dust Boot; Bag Assembly, Boot Retainer; Bag, Folding Top Dust Boot Storage; Bag Assembly, Folding Top Dust Boot Retainer; Bag, Soft Dust Boot Storage; and Bag Assembly, Dust Boot Storage.  It appears to have been in various GM parts catalogs from at least 1942 through 1976.  Page 295 of the General Motors Parts History Catalog 87B (1990, November) lists the part as “discontinued.”  At least one GM parts catalog described the bag material as a “(polyethylene film) (black)” (Source: Chevrolet Parts and Accessories Catalog P&A 30 (1970, October), p. 13-2).

For those interested in possibly reproducing a factory correct version of this boot bag for our hobby, here are the particulars of my NOS one:

Color: Black (i.e., the only color manufactured by GM)
Material: Tubular construction (i.e., with no flap or closure mechanism on the open end) of polyethylene material cut to length and heat-sealed about 5/16” from the closed end.  See attached photo.  The material was most likely linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)…similar to modern tear-resistant trash bags. (However, one cannot be certain without either the original GM specifications or conducting a chemical analysis.) 
Dimensions:
Length: 41-3/4”
Width (measured while flat): 16-1/4”
Diameter: 10.345”
Thickness: 0.19 mm (7.48 MIL)
Approximate Volume: 15 gallons


Hope this helps everybody,
Bernie

[Petes L48]

One showed up on eBay late last year and I bought it, over buying a plastic repro bag.  Same P/N but mine looks a little different.  The bag had more of a cloth/material look to it, and a snap on the flap.  It was in a GM box so didn't come from the assembly plant in a luggage compartment.  This is the poor photo from the auction.  I'll get a better shot of it, to include the box and any dates, and post later.

[bowtie68iho]

Some GM parts boxes have dates on one of box flaps (sometimes the 1 of 4 flaps that is obscured by the other overlapping flaps).  If you still have the original box, could you check for a date?  Something else to check: Did the text on your box look more modern and possibly have a computer-printed label?

[bowtie68iho]

Several different GM parts catalogs from the 1960s and 1970s listed the material as "polyethylene."  I listed the one parts catalog in particular because it also showed the earliest date for the part number as 1942. 

I have seen cloth repop boot bags sold on eBay with a flap and snap.  Is it possible that the eBay seller of your boot bag swapped out the original with a repop and put it in the original GM box?

[bowtie68iho]

Attached, is a close-up of the GM parts envelope.

[Petes L48]

If you look at the "OE style" ones on HBC website, the inside is white.  Mine is black.  Looking at it, it almost appears they used black convertible top material "inside out" to make it.  It didn't cost much more than a repop.

 

 

[Petes L48]

More photos

[David K]

$3500 car…$.05 Glad trash bag.

[David K]

While not available any longer, the ad appears as correct pictures shown.


https://www.bowtiemuscleparts.com/products/66-67-68-69-70-impala-corvair-chevelle-gto-camaro-convertible-boot-bag-4485356?_pos=1&_sid=ab4682260&_ss=r

[bowtie68iho]

Thanks for the great find, Dave!  I went to the link you just provided and copied the text below in case the advertisement is later taken down due to product unavailability:

"Correct convertible top boot storage bag used on most all GM convertibles from the mid 60's through the mid 70's.

Bowtie Muscle Parts has just received a very limited supply of new old stock Reproduction top boot storage bags. These storage bags are very different from the bags sold on the market today. They are a plain, heavy gauge plastic bag. This is factory correct and what was originally available from GM. Today’s reproductions, though very nice are not what came with your convertible originally. Take a look at the picture of the GM Parts catalog 7-1-69 and it shows GM part number 4485356 as the "BAG ASSEMBLY". It also states it is made of, "black polyethylene film". These are perfect for only the most discriminating restorer who wants their car factory correct exactly the way it came from the assembly plant. Buy now because when these are gone, they are gone forever. We do not have another source for these.

Item is in stock and ready to ship with in one business day of receiving cleared payment.

Thank you for visiting Bowtie Muscle Parts on ebay!"

The photos of the product appear to match my NOS dust boot bag.  However, the advertisement doesn't provide the product's dimensions.  The dimensions provided of the NOS bag in my original post should help somebody to again make factory correct reproductions.

Bernie

[Petes L48]

New old stock reproduction - got to love the vendor-speak.  The P&A books sometimes just list "black", while most indicate black polyethylene film.  The only one I ran across with a different PN was for 64-65 Malibu.  Maybe the type with the snap were from an earlier era, or used on full size or higher-end cars.  But even Cadillacs indicate the same 4485356 part number.  I'll take another look at mine and see if there are any more details on the inside of the bag.     

[David K]

My car had no boot or bag in 1986 , so I got it from Classic Camaro…..not knowing the difference….my bag was a cloth with a snap.

[bowtie68iho]

A bad news update for those thinking of ordering a reproduction boot from Bowtie Muscle Parts...I tried last week and was told by one of the business owners that they "do not carry the boot bags any longer" and that they "never produced them, only purchased them for resale.  Our vendor went out of business."

So, someone in the classic car community with means and the right contacts has to take the initiative and get them reproduced.  BTW, these boots were not just for First-Generation Camaros, they were used for all GM convertible cars from at least 1942 through 1976...a lot of convertible cars that would require one for car shows and/or judging!

Bernie

[Petes L48]

I doubt the polyethylene bags were used back in the 40s and 50s.  The P&A would indicate the plastic bag was the currently available version/part that would work with 42-76 cars, not that this type is what originally came with the car.  Parts get superseded.  If you search GM top boot bag on eBay there are a few places still selling the plastic poly bag type.     

[bowtie68iho]

I do not consider Wikipedia to be either a respectable or reputable source for information, but here's a quote from a Wikipedia entry [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene] on polyethylene: "It was not until 1935 that another [Imperial Chemical Industries] chemist, Michael Perrin, developed this accident into a reproducible high-pressure synthesis for polyethylene that became the basis for industrial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) production beginning in 1939." 

It seems LDPE has been manufactured since 1939, so GM's use in 1942 would not be a stretch.

Bernie

[bowtie68iho]

The Chevrolet Parts and Accessories Catalog P&A 34 (1965, October), p. 525 states the following for GM part number 4485356: "62-66 CONV, (polyethylene film)."  That particular P&A was printed by GM in October 1965...before the First-Generation Camaro started production in August of 1966...so, polyethylene film dust boot bags were available for First-Generation Camaros.

Bernie

[Petes L48]

Yes that would appear to be the case.  Might also be why virtually no originals exist.  Owners probably removed the boot from the heavy plastic bag and tossed it out, without any thought.  Or it was only an over the counter parts item, and few paid that much for a heavy plastic bag.  I was going to try and chase back the part number and see if it was listed as superseding an early top boot bag with a different part number, under group 13.450, but lost interest. 

Is anything listed in the judging manuals?  A while back I was trying to  get info on original tops (the manufacturer's marking in the lower drover side rear window) but didn't get much response.  Not many originals left out there.

[firstgenaddict]

The White over White 1969 26k original mile RS SS convertible I found for DAVE BEEM had the top boot still in the original platic bag in the trunk, never opened.