Stirring the pot a little bit here but I can't resist. Nothing bothers me more at a car show than to walk up to a nice "period" looking piece, lean in the window, and see late-model high-back buckets, a dinky leather steering wheel and a bunch of mismatched aftermarket guages in an otherwise nice (aka "factory") interior. It seems like '46-'48 Fords are the biggest victims in this. To me the biggest thrill of owning an old car is the aesthetics - give me an era-correct (even if that means restored stock) interior any day. Nowadays, it seems, all you see are sick hybrids of 1940s and 1980s (or 70s, if the build is that old). What's up hot rodders? The custom guys seem to get it right most of the time - and their interiors are modified!
Don't forget about the late 80's tilt column with the ugly *** wheel still attached. oh and those goofy interior lights from late 80's conversion vans.
[ QUOTE ] lean in the window, and see late-model high-back buckets, a dinky leather steering [/ QUOTE ] Exhibit A: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2488790834&indexURL=11&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting
I have a question about interior panels since we have everyones attention on this. I have seen tuck and roll side panels done by taking some kind of thick plastic material and cutting a v-groove into it with a knife. Then the material is pushed into these grooves to give the tuck look. The question... Where do I get this type of panel to use????? Sorry.. You can now go back to *****en about poor tastes
Headrests are a safety feature. I like the 69 Mustang seat my self, but have used Omni seats in muscle cars.
So are bulky steering wheels with airbags. They're still ugly. Good brakes, steering and driving habits are much better safety features.
Oh baby, are you guys onto something. You have no idea how much the hair on my neck goes like straight up seeing a '40 Ford with an S-10 steering column and velour seats, then look right across to the billet gauge cluster. 'Scuse me whilst I vomit I mean, if yer gonna DO a car, get it all the way done, or leave a sign in the window that says sumpin like "excuse our mess, the wife needed the extra padding while we drove here". Just sayin'
Boy, I'm all over this one. Period correct should be just that. Keep the interior and exterior in the same time frame. This INCLUDES the wheels! Module wheels look like **** on a '50s style custom. If you really want a tweed interior and billet wheels, build a "modern" custom with monochrome grille/bumpers and Mercedes headlights. I really need to get rid of that tilt column in my '49.
Do you ride without rearview mirrors or seatbelts? I don't worry about myself, but the ***hole tailgating behind me. I perfer the 69 stang seat, because it is a lowback seat with a movable headrest. All that said, to each there own.
PeteJoe, I'm having a hard time visualizing what you are talking about.... Do you put the grooves on both sides then tuck the top and bottom in? I've made roll panels before but just by sewing the tucks with foam backing and attaching to a hard board.
The way I have seen it is to glue the foam on to the panel and cut out V notches in the foam even;y spaced. Spray glue into the V's and stretch the vinyl into the V's. Use a putty spreader to get the vinyl to stick into the very bottom of the V.
This particular "*****" was a topic in a CUSTOM RODDER's Stylines article, oh, aboout a decade ago. Seems people have been screwing up period interiors for a long time and haven't learned a thing. But then we don't want to listen to what Dave Hill wrote, here on the HAMB do we? To point out the style blunder, intentionally or not, CUSTOM RODDER folowed up Dave's similar criticism of out of era and style interiors in customs by running a '49 Merc with a 70's C10 TRUCK DASH on the very next page! (Guess this is also why I'll never get used to "dubs" on anything without FWD and a foreign accent.)
Hey PeteJoe... ask for Landau Top foam. It comes in 1/8" and 1/4". Local trim shops can get it for ya. And yes you just glue the material down and press it in with a dull putty knife. Working one "pleat" at a time. I think this is what you mean....
[ QUOTE ] Hey PeteJoe... ask for Landau Top foam. It comes in 1/8" and 1/4". Local trim shops can get it for ya. And yes you just glue the material down and press it in with a dull putty knife. Working one "pleat" at a time. I think this is what you mean.... [/ QUOTE ] Yes! thats exactly it! That really looks like an easy quick way to do those side panels. Thanks for the location information!!
Ok I don't normally go into these flamin post but this one made me a little mad. I understand there are traditionalists here, but think about this before you post a response to my reply. I don't have much cash and I am building a Hotrod, working going to college all paid for by me. I pulled a "late 80's tilt column with the ugly *** wheel still attached" it was free. My truck does not have an any form of a column, or a wheel. Hell it doesn't have much of anything. If you want to buy a stock steering column and a stock wheel or a banjo for me then great. But if not then be quit cuz who are you tell that guy on ebay that what he has done basically ****s. I feel your not cuz you did not build it. Also about late model high back seats allot of times there is a comfort factor. I know that hot rods are not brand new cars but for people with bad back problems it makes a difference.
[ QUOTE ] Ok I don't normally go into these flamin post but this one made me a little mad. I understand there are traditionalists here, but think about this before you post a response to my reply. [/ QUOTE ] I can see your point... We always bash someone who goes out and spends big bucks on a billet doodad. Yet we make fun of someone who treks to the boneyard to find something cheap to get their rod on the road. Irregardless. poor taste is simply poor taste.
I prefer the period interiors better than most of the over-ididit. I don't want to hyjack this thread but I have a quick question. Does anyone have pics of a custom with a t-bird wrap around rear seat? Do any of you have any experience with these installs. Thanks, swdobbs....
Custom means made for an individual. To that persons needs and desires. Customs weren't "period perfect" ever. They were (old) cars modified to suit the owners taste. Still are. Build your car to please yourself, and don't worry about what the other guy does. If your car is "better" then everyone who thinks like you do will know it . I will build my car to please me, and will blur the lines as much as I want to. Hot rod, Custom, Low Rider, it's my car. I didn't build it to sell to you. Why don't you post something about trailers, Von Dutch, or magazines if you are bored and want to stir something something up. I'm going out to the garaged now that I've finished my coffee.
[ QUOTE ] Ok I don't normally go into these flamin post but this one made me a little mad. I understand there are traditionalists here, but think about this before you post a response to my reply. I don't have much cash and I am building a Hotrod, working going to college all paid for by me. I pulled a "late 80's tilt column with the ugly *** wheel still attached" it was free. [/ QUOTE ] I understand not having money, I'm probably one of the brokest people around. But at least get rid of the wheel man. Look at what they go for new http://69.20.111.53/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=283 just think what you can get one used for, the junkyards don't charge much for a beat up old wheel. I've found cool old wheels attached to all sorts of things like boats, dump trucks, gokarts....etc. I find lots of wrecked bugs with cool 60's era aftermarket wheels in the s**** yard. There are all sorts of better things you can do with out spending a load of cash.
Please. A straight column, a good looking wheel and a set of headrestless buckets aren't that hard to find for cheap.
Right. You can cheap out on the interior in a lot of ways. The boneyards I've gone through ask the same price for an S-10 tilt column as a 42 Plymouth. It doesn't HAVE to be a Ford, just look like you put some effort into it, and things trying to harmonize. And, Gawd, don't tack any Avanit bits into it, either. Yellllch!
Sometimes free parts are oddball parts (that's why they are free) and cost more in the long run in adapter odds and more odds to put together than the "right" part would in the first place. With thzat said, there are pleanty of HAMBers cars running tilt wheels . If that's what works for you at the moment do it. nothing is permanent, unless you weld a '73 C10 dash into a Model A.....
Actually the lamest part of my ranchero is the late model buckets. But I searched and searched to find what I thought was the least lame chioce and ended up with these pontiac seats with pleated vinyl and open space-age looking headrests. They are still wrong to the purists but after 20 years of crawling under cars that adjustable lumbar support is niiiiiiiiiicccccccceeeeeee on a daily driver.
hell i put 96 cadillac eldorado seats in my old mans 48 plymouth... just right height full power and lumbar... much more comfortable on a long trip than the original seat... the back seat even fit in there perfect... but we are doing away with the headrests when they get recovered.
Why are you worried about safety when most of us have cars with no seat belts and are riding a few inches off the ground with a **** load of horses pulling us around??When I built my car I got it to run first and about 7 on my list was to get it to stop.