Customs Traditional interior - advise me please - 51 Buick

ok, so i have been wanting to begin the project of doing my interior on my 51 Buick. i want to stay very early 50's looking with this car. the car is originally black, is black and always will be black.

the straight 8 motor will be painted in a very close to factory light green one day.

there is no "color" to pick up from. my thoughts were either a wine / brandy red or a very dark green (to compliment the motor). that would be used for the carpet with white t*******. then that color could be accented on the panels and seats. i guess most of the interior will be white.

i am not sure what is "correct" for early 50's tuck and roll, roll and pleat, ect.

so now that you have a very basic idea of what i had in mind, i have decided to start with the trunk. i want to make 2 side panels and a rear panel and fully carpet it. perhaps a tool area, not sure about that though it would have to flow for me to like it.

so please any reference pics or suggestion would be great!

some pics of the car as is now:







thanks.
Yaril

 

whats wrong with the black and white?

mine's in the shop right now. we're doing black carpet, black headliner, black pleated package tray and black seats with red pleated clamshell inserts and red pleated inserts in the door panels.

should have pics up soon.

get your self a copy of 'kustomland' or similar. you can pick up sme ideas.

 

its ok in pics, put the black is fading its a soft material. the front bench is not ripped by a miracle and its in need of some new cushioning. i have gotten good use out of it. bought the car with that interior, i painted the dash and made the knob though. i just want to take it to the next level / phase.

 

i think the green/white combo would work really nice, but the majority if it would have to be green for that real authentic look.. maybe white pleats with a deep green 'horseshoe' roll around the front with the door trims reversed, green pleats/white tops would be real 50's driver custom.

the deep red might work better with the black body but could be a bit boring, too standard looking.

but i definitely agree that green carpet with the white binding would be killer.

check riksters site for period interiors..... http://public.fotki.com/rikster/

 

B & W would be OK, but green and white would be outstanding...like the Hirohata Merc!

 

you kinda sold me on that "white pleats with a deep green 'horseshoe' roll around the front" i can see it already.

i have been studying the Hirohata Merc, i bought the 1/24 scale model, the detail is amazing. i love the door panels on the Hirohata, the seats are reversed to what SixFive suggested but thats ok.

thanks guys.

any links to where i can buy correct materials?
would like to know what kind of carpet was used or is best used?
what size pleats are also correct and where can i buy good quality material?

thanks again.

 

Here's a pic of the trunk compartment in the 52 Buick I had. My upolstery guy put a "curtain" across the front of the compartment to hide the air suspension compressor, tool box and jack etc. Snaps across the top and velcor along the bottom edge.

 

white roll and pleat, green piping, green carpet with white piping!

 

chpper99 the pic does not enlarge. can you post it larger? the 52 Buick is almost identical to my 51 would love to see it as refference. i too have my air ride stuff on that rear part too.

thanks.

 

I'm trying to post a larger one.

 

That didn't work.

 

I don't know how to make it larger and the car has been sold, so I can't take a new picture.

 

ah yes i remember your buick. Cason top and light blue. very nice car indeed. thanks for trying.

 

thanks Mattimus, i went through his photobuck album and saw that pic.

so, i still need to know:

any links to where i can buy correct materials?

would like to know what kind of carpet was used or is best used?

what size pleats are correct and should they be s***ched or pressed, i remember reading something about s***ching each pleat and have seen them glues too.

 

I usually use 1 1/2" wide pleats sewn-in, but you can go with whatever suits your taste. I used marine carpet, but that was what I needed to get to get the color I wanted. I always get my materials thru the upolstery shop who does the work.

 

"Very dark green" sounds too close to black for me. I think if it's going to be dark it should be black. A lighter green and white combo would look great in that car. Maybe even dark green piping separating the lighter green and white.

Can you post any pictures of your interior?

 

thanks for your insight, Sean! i really appreciate it.

here are some decent pics of my interior:

here you can see the basic door panel design and dash:


the back seat and rear panel:


this is with no carpet obviously but you can see the full back seat better:


thanks again,
Yaril

 

i dont know man.
i'm REAL hip on the black and white.
maybe get 'er done in pleated vinyl ala fat lucky style...

did i say i LOVE the black and white?

 

white & black, needs some fuzzy carpet remover too, imho.

 

I agree with you guys, black and white is *****in and lose the cat fur dash treatment.

 

I have the clone to your Buick in New York. Only differences are , mine has a two piece front window and a one pice rear window and I don't have the side spear (Model 46S). Otherwise , the same inside and out (colors and all) No fuzzy dash tho' . I'd retain black/white inside and black outside. I'm going to add Kelsey Hayes spokes ($ permitting) Mine is a 72k original car. If I can figure it out I'll post pics for ya'. Ralph S. Long Island NY

 

Rod and Custom Sept 1955 has a cool how to article about rolls and pleats. You may find it interesting. I'll try to scan it and get it posted later.
Smokey

 

whered you get that black grey and white blanket?

 

Yeah-black and white and shave that dash. I have a 51. ***le says coupe, but it's gotta be a sedan. 48k miles, can't wait to get on it.

 

I like two tone roll & pleat in the horseshoe pattern. contrasting piping too.
The **** dash on yours is ***s

 

For the "very early 50's look" you say you want, the car is a bit low. The only car I can think of from the mid 50's that was extremely low is G****vine, and that hs lakes pipes that made it look lower than it actually was. A rearward wake is more appropriate for the era your looking for.

As for the interior, lost the fur dash, thats not early 50's at all. All black T&R would be out as well. All white came in the late 50's.

Two colors, usually off white for the pleats, and a darker color for the "horseshoe" and flat areas on the doors was standard.