Well not exactly pennies but this guy did the whole interior for his Model A for $300 and that included buying the sewing machine, it looks nice. www.classicroad.com/modelA/interior2.htm
...in case you didn't know, that is Rolfs car here on the Hamb...one of the baddest Model A coupes ever...
Rolfe it is but great to still bring up . His and info in tech forums on interior is making me think of getting a good machine and some steel gloves .
just in time!!!! im fixing to start on the interior in the 51 ford and this helps big time. my mom is going to help me since she knows how to sew, but the big kicker is the machine i bought to do it on........ a 1911 Singer treadle machine. talk about old school if i can pull this off i think i have done something!!
Lots of people on here complain about OT threads - but this one is dead nuts on target! I have been following the Rolf coupe too, but it's always good to remind (or enlighten the FNG's) that it is possible to do ANYTHING yourself with a little knowledge and a lot of determination. And in my mind that home made interior looks just right in that car.
This is exactly the kind of stuff that makes we want to head to the garage right and get to work...no more exscuses. I think the best desription is "motivating". You never know if you can do something until you jump in and give it a shot, and in this case, it turned out bitchen!
Great interior and even a better site, Your build up was very educational, as I start my 1930 coupe build , I would like to borrow a few of your ideas, thanks for the post,,,,,,
well said hoovs42!! i have been dancing around the interior thinking about options. people have been telling me horrifying dollar amounts for interiors. so i have been contemplating just waiting and saving money, but this is step by step and seems super simple and straight forward. im not very good with a sewing machine, but hell if a guy can do it, i better be able to!!!! jk. i give any guy who can do that HUGE BROWNIE POINTS!! job well done and now i have hope for myself!! and my car!!hahaha! the HAMB continues to amaze me with all the knowledge and great help!!
Look at Big A's post with a link to gary's uplostrey supply. Just finished checking out the sight, they have just about everything including metalflake, man I love that stuff. Anybody know where to get industrial sewing machine parts. I bought one at auction cheap but it is missing some stuff.
great thread, I will be keeping this in the back of my budget mind for my Tudor. Are there special needles you need to sew that stuff?
Industrial sewing machine parts....Keeton Supply Co,Ft Worth,Tex 817-268-2031..in Tex watts 800-433-1710
Having taken the more difficult route of making my own tuck and roll, I would highly recommend the premade stuff on gary's site. While there is some satisfaction from making your own completely, there's little visual difference and much less work using premade. Additionally, my red vinyl 2/3 of the project was more than was spent on the entire coupe interior. good on ya rolf and thanks for sharing (OP).
Thanks for kind words, fellas. As someone said, Gary's upholstery sells the pre-made "tuck and roll". Also, I think JC Whitney sells it by the yard, as well as pre made kit for many seats. As far as needles goes, just a heavy duty version, just keep your fingers out of it. My life has been a bit "O/T" for many reasons the last year, but I hope to finish the headliner this summer, to add to the article.
http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/ My gf got her machine there and the owner has been very helpful. He finds hard to find parts and comes down to fix the machine if it has problems.
I used to do my own car interiors for fun. You can do it all for about $150-200. Best advice I can offer to a first time DIY-er is to buy the cheap thin stuff because a standard sewing machine will quickly choke on the thick stuff. Take your old seat covers off, and cut the threads out so you can use them for patterns. Chalk all your sewing lines so you can make nice staight seams. Take your time, use your brain. And if you make a mistake, no big deal, just start over. BTW, older stuff is much easier. Newer stuff with lots of "contours" is more difficult.
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