Need recommendation for Headliner kit.

[Dan 1939]

I need a "Cardboard" Interior Panel Kit for my a 1939 Pickup.
Inside panels for roof area, kick panels and corners for both sides.
Anyone already done this and would you recommend a company to buy this from?
Thank you,
Dan Terry

[Jay in Mass]

Le Barron Bonney in Mass.
However they may be in the process of moving.

[19Fordy]

I installed complete LeBaron Bonney 40 coupe headliner kit in 1988 and it still looks fine. They provided good instructions but you have to mentally prepare yourself by carefully reading and understanding the instructions in advance of install. Don't cut anything until you are sure. Be sure to get new tack strips.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

I installed complete LeBaron Bonney 40 coupe headliner kit in 1988 and it still looks fine. They provided good instructions but you have to mentally prepare yourself by carefully reading and understanding the instructions in advance of install. Don't cut anything until you are sure. Be sure to get new tack strips.

Your advice just flies in the face of what every American male's instincts demand that he do.

[Dave Castle]

If ALL else fails, read the instructions !!!!

[19Fordy]

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Originally Posted by ford38v8

Your advice just flies in the face of what every American male's instincts demand that he do.

Yes, you are correct. But, you must have the patience of a toothache. One of the tricks is how to make the 45 degree miter joint on the windlace corners. Practice first.

[95476]

I received part of my order from them yesterday. Cam at L/B said they moved the EZBoy Division to Maine and the other division moved across the street.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Dan 1939

I need a Headliner kit for my a 1939 Pickup.
Anyone already done this and would you recommend a company to buy this from?
Thank you,
Dan Terry

39 pickups had a headliner? News to me...

I'd recently restored a '40 PU and got my interior kit from LB. I had the headliner left unfinished so I could make it fit perfectly. I'm glad I did.

[39portlander]

Dan the headliner and panel set I got from Joe's antique in Uxbridge MA, the part # VPHP39B. This was done in 2012, the newer kits might be a little different and I believe it was produced through Cartouche in Lockport NY.

Back then the kit was about 250 and shipping about 60. Good luck with your project, as always ask questions here there are many of us with these great P/U and can help you get it back up and run'n Scott

[Dan 1939]

Thanks for all the replies about the headliner kit.
As always Ford Barn has come through for me.
Dan

[51504bat]

I installed a cardboard one in my '39 p/u that I bought from Macs only because they had it in brown and I couldn't find any other supplier with brown. The quality and fit was OK. 2 of us installed it in several hours. The instructions were decent. The top is starting to sag a bit but that could be because I glued sound deadening material to the roof and it may be coming loose in places. Rod Doors makes a kit in ABS that I probably would have used but it was black and I wasn'r sure how well it would take brown paint. https://roddoors.com/shop?olsPage=pr...d-trucks-31-47

[Royal Ryser]

I used Cartouche for the entire interior in my 36 Tudor. The material quality and color were excellent. The headliner would have been excellent if the upholsterer had know what he was doing. After seeing this job done, I am sure I could do it myself now and get a better result. It isn't all that difficult. However, Cartouche didn't send any instructions. I must explain that I ordered the panels and fabric. The upholsterer did the fitting etc.

[philipswanson]

Le Baron Bonney is nice but way too expensive. Any good custom upholstery shop can do it much cheaper for the same quality.

[Tinker]

Not sure that half of these posts have anything to do with your question. Trucks had panels.



You have three available aftermarket options. Cardboard (being original and most commonly available), abs, or custom. A nice tuck and roll job wouldn't suck.


I'll check my paper work.

[19Fordy]

Tinker and "Kube": That for clearing the air.

[TJ]

Try "Quiet Ride Solutions" in Stockton, California. They do the headliner and panels in ABS and they look good.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by TJ

Try "Quiet Ride Solutions" in Stockton, California. They do the headliner and panels in ABS and they look good.

I've looked hard at these. Look very good.


On the fence about abs for esthetics. Certainly not for authenticity. If it doesn't matter, you can get abs in a few colors and it's probably less likely to wick moisture.



Cardboard was only green. Not that I don't like green.


It's surprising there are options.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 51504bat

I installed a cardboard one in my '39 p/u that I bought from Macs only because they had it in brown and I couldn't find any other supplier with brown. The quality and fit was OK. 2 of us installed it in several hours. The instructions were decent. The top is starting to sag a bit but that could be because I glued sound deadening material to the roof and it may be coming loose in places. Rod Doors makes a kit in ABS that I probably would have used but it was black and I wasn'r sure how well it would take brown paint. https://roddoors.com/shop?olsPage=pr...d-trucks-31-47

There was a small bracket in the very center of the roof that the headliner was to be attached to. It dropped down perhaps 1 1/4" or so. Of course, as headliners were not available until 1940, your vehicle would not have one. Easy enough to fabricate...

[bosborn38pu]

Originally Posted by Kube

There was a small bracket in the very center of the roof that the headliner was to be attached to. It dropped down perhaps 1 1/4" or so. Of course, as headliners were not available until 1940, your vehicle would not have one. Easy enough to fabricate...

I installed a Cartouche kit (headliner, door panels, kick panels, etc.) from Macs in my 1938 PU. (At the time, LB told me they did not provide kits for pickups.) Reasonably pleased with results. Kube: Want to make sure I understand what you stated above. Are you saying that pickups did not have headliners until 1940? Mine had one in it originally albeit needed replaced during restoration. Was it originally an add-on or possibly factory? Just curious.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by bosborn38pu

I installed a Cartouche kit (headliner, door panels, kick panels, etc.) from Macs in my 1938 PU. (At the time, LB told me they did not provide kits for pickups.) Reasonably pleased with results. Kube: Want to make sure I understand what you stated above. Are you saying that pickups did not have headliners until 1940? Mine had one in it originally albeit needed replaced during restoration. Was it originally an add-on or possibly factory? Just curious.

It would not have been factory for certain. I suppose a dealer could have installed at a later date.
I no longer recall the exact date when headliner's became available but it seems to me it was sometime early in 1940.

[Tinker]

I think the confusion is just nomenclature. There was a substance between the driver and the metal roof. It was cardboard and it was only green cardboard, at least in 38-39.

The cardboard "headliner" or panel prior to 40 (maybe 40 too), the trucks weren't just an exposed metal roof.

Post are, of course, correct entirely that there was not a "traditional" cloth headliner like we think of when talking about cars/trucks.

There was certainly a panel in pre-40 trucks. Certainly 38-39. In 40 trucks too.


Not sure how we got to this point of no headliner vs panels? oh ya nomenclature

There was a overhead band in 38 also to hold the panel. Runs the length of the cab center.

[Cecil/WV]

I had a 1938 Ford pickup in 1953 that appeared to have never been modified and it had a headliner.

[Dan 1939]

Originally Posted by Tinker

I've looked hard at these. Look very good.


On the fence about abs for esthetics. Certainly not for authenticity. If it doesn't matter, you can get abs in a few colors and it's probably less likely to wick moisture.



Cardboard was only green. Not that I don't like green.


It's surprising there are options.

Tinker, Thanks for commenting on the headliner. I should have been asking about an interior "Panel" kit made of cardboard.
Is green the only color that the 1939 panels came in? I want my truck to be as original as I can make it.
Thanks, Dan

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Dan 1939

Tinker, Thanks for commenting on the headliner. I should have been asking about an interior "Panel" kit made of cardboard.
Is green the only color that the 1939 panels came in? I want my truck to be as original as I can make it.
Thanks, Dan

1938 for sure was green only. Believe 1939 was also. 38 had door panels in cardboard, 39 was metal panels.

http://www.rasloto.com/specs/ospecs.html


https://www.macsautoparts.com/early_...cks-green.html

[Kube]

I'd like to know what proof anyone has that headliners / cardboard panel (whatever you choose to call it) was available prior to 1940.
I'm not talking about "well, my truck sure seems original" - but PROOF.
All of the documents I have indicate '40 was the first year the pickup trucks had headliner available and even then, it was optional for a good part of the year. Ford started to install them on all 40 pickup trucks early in 1940 as it was such a popular "option".
I am not saying they didn't get installed now and then and perhaps by a dealer but I find nothing that indicates any earlier release than 1940.

[GaryU.]

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These are taken from an original brochure I have that is for the 39 trucks. Artist rendering of cab interior plus description of the cab. My 39 had the cardboard interior panels that I believe were original, my grandpa got this truck in 1947.

[Tinker]

Kube, according to Mac hills truck book. 1935-39 trucks had the Art-Leather interior panels. 1935 cab picture dated 3-26-1935 (page 50).


I have nothing from Ford (outside of a tonner ad for 1938 with mention of new interior trim) that definitely says from Ford they had panel headliners.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by GaryU.

These are taken from an original brochure I have that is for the 39 trucks. Artist rendering of cab interior plus description of the cab. My 39 had the cardboard interior panels that I believe were original, my grandpa got this truck in 1947.

Mack Hills book also shows this artist rendering only in black & white.


My 38 had the same interior pieces as pictured except with door cards. I'm very certain that it was original as it was a farm truck that didn't get upgrades or much care outside oil changes.


But it is true what Kube says. Saying it looks original does not make it so.

[Tinker]

Few pictures from my truck around 08. Had been off the road since 1962 and stored in a pole shed. Was used to pull bean wagons, etc. There was corncobs in the engine bay and soybeans in the ashtray. But maybe they installed a interior kit at one point, I don't believe so.

[Gary in La.]

This info from a 1938 ford commercial car sales brochure.
"The new cab has more headroom and is fully lined in attractive green art leather, rubberized and washable." The picture of the interior appears to be an actual photo not an artist rendering. Don't know why they went sideways.

[Kube]

Guys, I am more than willing to learn something new.

Please keep in mind that sales brochures were not always very accurate. My "specialty" are 39 - 40 Fords. Most of you know I've studied them extensively.
There are two brochures for '40 that depict a rear center seat (option) for a business coupe and a rear center bumper guard for all '40 passenger cars. Only problem with that, is neither was ever produced.

And, while I'm not knocking "I had this since 1960...: (as an example), but a LOT happened to these vehicles in ten, fifteen, twenty plus years that although may appear authentic, well, "it" isn't.

I'm enjoying this thread and welcome some documentation.

[Tinker]

Kube, please share your documentation. At this point we are just taking your word for it, no offense is intended. I know your research is right and your word is great. I'd just be curious what you have, if you are willing to post it.


The truck i posted received makeshift stacks off the cab once the exhaust and muffler failed. Guess they didn't want to spring for a muffler.


Kind of seems screwy they would take the time to weld in a center bow and 3/4 corner bows and install an interior.

[Kube]

Ya know, last night when I was supposed to be sleeping, I did my typical obsessing and it occurred to me:

Perhaps I am reading the service letters incorrectly. They state that because the headliner was ordered as an option so often that Ford will now start to install them on all pickup trucks from that date going forward.

I interpreted this to mean that 40 was the first year a headliner was available. How about it was the first year they became standard fare?

Methinks I got this one way wrong.

[JSeery]

Good input Kube, that may be the answer to the mystery.

[Tinker]

Kube, thanks for adding. My services manuals I have are for v12-v8 vehicles and only cover the mechanics, suspension, and electrical aspect. Seems as plausable as any other info.

I'm not sure where to ask, or find, other material to research this. Ford archive? It seems to me there isn't a lot of info on the 38-39 trucks.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Tinker

Kube, thanks for adding. My services manuals I have are for v12-v8 vehicles and only cover the mechanics, suspension, and electrical aspect. Seems as plausable as any other info.

I'm not sure where to ask, or find, other material to research this. Ford archive? It seems to me there isn't a lot of info on the 38-39 trucks.

Tinker,
I have quite literally thousands of letters that were sent to the various assembly plants and dealerships. These letters would not show up in service manuals. They are very interesting to say the least.
The Research Center is an incredible vault of knowledge just waiting to be opened by anyone so inclined.

[Tinker]

Thanks Kube.

[Wyhomie]

Kube,
I have a 1939 Pickup and wish to tap your wealth of knowledge.
Would you be so kind as to call me if possible, as I live in Wyoming and it's
very difficult to connect with guys like you.
My cell: 307-203-8334

Thanks, Chip White