Hey, friends. As I’m getting farther along in my prewar build, it’s time to start considering my interior. The car is a 28/29 Phaeton that is being built as a circa 1936-ish soup job. It’s not exactly a restoration, nor a “patina” car… though the car will have some honest wear when I’m done. An 8-10 year old open car in the 30s showed some age and a shiny new set of seats and panels aren’t going to match the overall look. Something worn in with a few miles on it would be most appropriate. So… Any thoughts on where to search out a used interior? I’ve posted want ads here and on the Ford Barn, but I’m not exactly hopeful. Especially since I have a Phaeton. Not sure about upholstery shops that may be pulling interior as someone updates an older restoration or… maybe searching out a custom builder that’s gutting a tub for more stylish seats? I think there are a lot of guys that are building ‘30s or ‘40s era cars that would be interested in used stock interiors. So if you’re pulling something to upgrade, don’t trash it! Post it for sale, especially here on the HAMB. Some guy building a postwar lakes roadster or a 30s jalopy might really do well with a worn stock interior. It’s often more authentic than some of the alternatives. Any thoughts appreciated. Just something I’ve been pondering lately. Ryan
Pretty sure they no longer function as they did, however the beat goes on. There may be someone left to know of what still exists of Renningers' old shop. Their final show and meet was 2013 They did business in Bird In Hand PA on Philadelphis pike
friend did his coupe interior using a "free" old couch that was covered with stressed look leather upholstery. think outside the box
This is what I was going to suggest, seek out a piece (or ideally, a set) of furniture that has old upholstery on it, skin it out and cover your seats and door panels with it. I bought a set of boat interior panels at a rummage sale a couple weeks ago to do this with, but they're much more 50's vinyl than what you're looking for. To find an intact original interior that's worn but not completely destroyed, I think that's going to be pretty tough. Maybe you might run into a used set of seats and door panels from a 30's or 40's sedan and you could cut the door panels down and recover your seats with those covers. But even that might be hard to find, the shit's 80-100 years old already.
Good thoughts, everyone. I realize I didn’t necessarily make myself clear in my first post… I wasn’t necessarily thinking original interior, but used… like from an older restoration.
I have a friend who did the same thing on his '32 Ford Tudor. He wanted a worn look so went to a local furniture upholstery shop and asked if they had any leather removed from old couches. They gave him a lot, and said if they got more they'd call him. He left some pieces of what he got so they could match up colors, and they soon called to come get more. The shop owner said it saved him from filling up his dumpster with old leather. And the interior looks amazing, like it was decades older than the build.
The old furniture leather furniture idea is the way to go. Make sure it’s leather. I would avoid anything made from Naugas.
I have bottom wood and springs, both front and rear. The side and back wood is in place in both front and rear tubs. Seat back springs would “hang” on clips. Clips are there, but I don’t have seat back springs. They ARE available through Snyder’s. Phaeton seat back upholstery all gets nailed to the nailers on the back of the tub and the wood framing on the sides. Seat bottoms can be removed. Not the backs without pulling nails/tacks.
depends one what you want most people do leather, maybe find an old couch on craigslist and have covers made up and hog tie down. Those almost look like restaurant stools, maybe check the craigslist for old stool with backs. maybe you will find something? I was going to suggest you find your local Model A club and see if there is a swap or a member letting go of things. Do you follow Tebo_barn on IG, maybe he can give some leads? https://www.instagram.com/tebo_barn?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== I actually think I saw Whitter_George post and old interior, but not bucket On think you can do is make the panels for the doors and back of the seats and kick panels- so you have an ideal of how much fabric you need. or make the trek to Hershey
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