LeBaron Bonney vs Cartouche

[Lona]

Getting ready to replace my '31 deluxe roadster top. Did a search on tops but could not find any opinions on comparisons between LeBaron Bonney and Cartouche. Does anyone have experience with these two suppliers? The LB top is 25 % more than Cartouche. Is their quality that much better? Also, LB literature says my roadster was only offered with a green-on-green topping but I've never seen a roadster with a green top, only off white on the deluxe or black on the standard roadster.

Would appreciate any opinions on the subject.

Glen

[Cape Codder]

Several years ago I bought a front carpet for my Fordor from one of the vendors, it being a Cartouche. Reason was, like you said, cheaper. When I received it the carpet was not finished around the gas pedal area and foot rest. I called the vendor who told me to ship it back, at my expense, for a refund but I believe I had to pay a restocking fee. As it turns out I haven't bought another carpet but when I do I know who it won't be from. I think the old saying applies here "you get what you pay for". Just my two cents worth.

[2manycars]

Yes the extra expense is worth it. You only do the job once, do it the best you can. The quality of materials and workmanship are vastly different. I have had experience with both, and when I ran my restoration shop, I would only install Lebaron Bonney interiors. It's your car, but personally I would not install a Cartouch set in my car if it was free. Others may dissagree, but that is my opinion.

[P.S.]

I have purchased floor and seat upholstery from LeBaron Bonney, and it is flawless.

Some people here have complained that the material used by Cartouche wears out quicker than the material used by LeBaron Bonney, however I cannot verify.

[Mitch//pa]

my car touche interior wore out quickly.
as mentioned you get what you pay for.. spend the extra and do the job once

[Tom Wesenberg]

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I guess there's a reason someone called one company "car douche".

I've read enough from those that have tried each to know you want to use L/B or Classtique upholstery.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I guess there's a reason someone called one company "car douche".

I've read enough from those that have tried each to know you want to use L/B or Classtique upholstery.

who did that

here is an old thread that will reveal the answer
https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...ght=car+douche

[Aerocraft]

The olive green is correct. Glen, the reason you haven't seen the "green" is simply that, until the recent past, that fabric was not available for reproduction tops. My '31 40B has both the correct top and the leather interior as supplied by LaBaron Bonney which I installed some six years ago. I would use LB again, in fact, am installing their kit in my '34 Fordor.

Gar Williams

[Brianfrench65]

LeBaron Bonney is definitely a much higher quality. Cartouth is very poor quality, like the rest of Macs. The very cheapest quality, just above junk.

[brito36]

Purchased several items over the years from Lebaron Bonney and never had a problem with the fit or workmanship. "The bitterness of poor quality lives long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten'. You get what you pay for!

[springerpete]

LB or Classtique. 'Nough said.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Lona

Did a search on tops but could not find any opinions on comparisons between LeBaron Bonney and Cartouche.

Would appreciate any opinions on the subject.

Glen

A search on the forum will provide a wealth of info on this subject.

Here is just on thread from January,

upholstery vendors

[T Scott]

Go with Lebaron Bonney without a doubt. These people are top notch. I had them make a kit for my A coupe using material I sourced elsewhere since I didn't want wool which was original but requires more care. They did the seat for me in their shop but the rest I installed myself. Now I have never upholstered a car before but this kit went in unbelievably well and fit with no gaps, wrinkles, or anything that would suggest an amateurish installation.
As to roadster tops, I observed while in their facility, that their tops are cut and fitted to a fixture not unlike a set of top bows to insure a proper shape. I think some of the other suppliers just cut and stitch on the dotted line which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

WHOEVER ??? made my headliner, DIDN'T sew the tacking strips to the headliner+#@#%&%$---Apparently they just used IRON ON strips & they came loose!
Anyone else have a SAGGING headliner?
Bill W.

[Lona]

Thanks to all for the quick replies. Seems like there is no question about the better supplier. Did not know about Classtique but after looking at their site, there is not a great price difference between them and LB on tops so LB will be my choice. The comments on the original green tops were also informative.

Glen

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

WHOEVER ??? made my headliner, DIDN'T sew the tacking strips to the headliner+#@#%&%$---Apparently they just used IRON ON strips & they came loose!
Anyone else have a SAGGING headliner?
Bill W.

dad
did you pull it down and look at the backside to see.. maybe just the tacks came loose...
son

[HoarseWhisperer]

Originally Posted by Aerocraft

The olive green is correct. Glen, the reason you haven't seen the "green" is simply that, until the recent past, that fabric was not available for reproduction tops. My '31 40B has both the correct top and the leather interior as supplied by LaBaron Bonney which I installed some six years ago. I would use LB again, in fact, am installing their kit in my '34 Fordor.

Gar Williams

Has LeBaron Bonney been able to obtain the "Olive Drab" Stayfast top material again? I understood their supplier was not producing it?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

dad
did you pull it down and look at the backside to see.. maybe just the tacks came loose...
son

NO need to pull it down, as there's NO stitches showing
"SOMEDAY" I'll have Chris @ Cookie's Upholstery, make me a new one. '29's only have 2 tacking strips, He'll put 5 strips, like my '30 had. YES, I KNOW that's NOT "original" but it's MY CAR
Bill W.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

NO need to pull it down, as there's NO stitches showing
"SOMEDAY" I'll have Chris @ Cookie's Upholstery, make me a new one. '29's only have 2 tacking strips, He'll put 5 strips, like my '30 had. YES, I KNOW that's NOT "original" but it's MY CAR
Bill W.

try these

[Aerocraft]

HorseWhisperer, I don't have an answer to that question. You might consider asking the question of the Haartz Company. They made both the original fabric as well as the material I have on my 40B. Here is a link: http://www.haartz.com/exteriors/cloth-topping

[SSsssteamer]

Many times I have bought from both. La Barron Bonney always comes out on top every time. This last time around, after I had bought a new top for my '30 Phaeton from La Barron Bonney, I was very pleased with it on all points. I thought that side curtains would be the finishing touch to the car. Pricing the side curtains, LarBarron Bonney was about $700 and Car Touche was about $500. Wanting to save the $200 difference was a big mistake. Car Touche used a lesser grade material, and they had incorrect instructions about the curtain fasteners. The aggravation of lesser quality, poor fit of the rear quarter curtain, and wrong directions from Car Touche, was more of an added loss to me than a saving. I will know better the next time around. I will go with La Barron Bonney. I recommend that you do the same.

[LopezCarguy]

I went with LeBarron Bonney and find them to be the most impersonal people to deal with, the sales lady's do not return emails or phone calls and all this after spending $2,500.00 dollars...they are late in delivering the upholstery so will see after I get it..if I get it?? what it's like and service after that...dissapointing

[antiquepa]

I Installed a cartouche top on my 31 a few years back, it seems to have faded and stained, I will be replacing it with Lebaron Bonney, im hopeing this will be the right move..I wish I had installed Lebaron Bonney..from my experience with Cartouche..its junk!!

[KenCoupe]

I used LeBaron Bonney for the interior of my coupe. The quality was great. I had never done upholstery before, but it all turned out looking really nice. I happened to be in the Boston area while I was in the middle of installing the interior and the people were very nice and accommodating. I had a couple of questions, and their technical guy took about 45 minutes to talk to me. Also, when I called then during the project, I was given good answers.

I don't have any experience with Cartouche, but my experience with LeBaron Bonney was good and that is where I would go back to next time.

[gnolnor]

I have had complete interiors twice from LB. You will not be disappointed with the quality of the materials and the workmanship! If you want to save some money wait for a sale from LB, (which they have) or wait for the
once a year free shipping sale. I did and saved $500. I have a
(1930/155 D Model A and a 1936 Model 68/710)

gnolnor

[whirnot]

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LB is not infallible, when I bought their interior kit last winter the seat cushion was way too big. But they figured out the problem and sent a replacement quickly.

Good Customer service.

[BlueSunoco]

Lona,,,, spend a few extra bucks for LB there is a pretty considerable difference when you see the two side by side. Don't scrimp and go for Cartouche. That is just me, but I would spend the money for LeBaron Bonney and do it right.

[qmdv]

Was doing a search and found this thread. So now who do you go with that LB is no more

[duke36]

classtique.com

[jhowes]

Am I missing something? I thought that LB was out of business. Jack

[SteveB31]

This thread is from 2015

[rotorwrench]

Searches should have brought up more recent material. I guess it depends on the search string. Don't be afraid to start a new thread. There have been a lot of threads about this lately.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by duke36

classtique.com

Link doesn't work - try:

https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by SteveB31

This bread is from 2015

So that's why it's so stale!

[Dave Dta]

Hello, I thought LeBaron Bonney is out of business...Any quality kits available otherwise? Not interested in Cartouche. Thank you in advance for your replies. Dave

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Dave Dta

Not interested in Cartouche. Thank you in advance for your replies. Dave

Why not Dave? Since Cartouche is now the manufacturer of most Model-A fabric, what is it about Cartouche? Granted their kits are not 100% authentic, ...but neither is Mike's.

[rotorwrench]

Even LB had to compromise with replacement materials. Stuff that is no longer available anywhere has to have a compromise for the next best available replacement product. Someone who makes up their own trim still has to find sources for materials. The original founders of LB went out of their way to contract domestic and foreign companies to weave up cloth for them. A lot of the wool stuff likely came from the UK since that has been a specialty there for more than a hundred years.