How to identify an original interior?

[supergnat]

When I purchased my car, I was told that my 28 Leatherback had the original interior. A local antique car person feels it is a 1950's vintage interior. Is there an easy way to dertemine what I really have? Which area of the interior should I photograph to get guidance?

Also, I saw a recent post that indicated that the door panels were attached using clips. Mine are attached with small nails which are not visible when looking at the surface of the fabric. Is that unique to fordors?

Thanks,
Supergnat

[Aerocraft]

The wooden door frames of the Fordors require nails to attach the door panels. It is unique to all the Fordors except the slant window bodies. Gar Williams

[Marco Tahtaras]

There is no simple answer. Many "original" cars that come up for sale are not what the owner truly believe. If you want to post some pics or send me some I should be able to tell you what you have.

[Hicktick]

Take the front seat cushion out and flip it over and look at where the material is tacked . Do you see any old tack holes ??? If the wood is original you should be able to tell if the material was replaced .

Now if someone used new wood and did a great tack job a long time ago it will be hard to tell . A good tack job is an art .

I can see my daddy now with a mouthful of tacks .


I dont really know just what im tole ,,,,,,,,,,,Pops

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Hicktick

Take the front seat cushion out and flip it over and look at where the material is tacked . Do you see any old tack holes ??? If the wood is original you should be able to tell if the material was replaced .

Now if someone used new wood and did a great tack job a long time ago it will be hard to tell . A good tack job is an art .

I can see my daddy now with a mouthful of tacks .


I dont really know just what im tole ,,,,,,,,,,,Pops

That is a good point! Actually the seat covers on wood framed cushions were finished to size and the edge that was tacked to the wood had edge binding (similar to that on the edges of a convertible top) sewn on and most of the tacks will be through that binding. I'm the only one I know that has ever duplicated that.

[supergnat]

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Thanks for the responses Marco, Aerocraft and Hicktick. I just created an album under my profile called 28 leatherback interior but I don't know how to add that link on this thread. I wasn't sure what photos to take so if I need others let me know. I will check the seat material fastening in the morning. The material on the side walls in the rear area is very fragile (possibly fron dry rot).
Thanks for all the help,
Supergnat

[Aerocraft]

It certainly has the appearance of an original interior. Gar Williams

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by supergnat

A local antique car person feels it is a 1950's vintage interior.

I looked at the very first pic and knew that your local specialist is indeed clueless. I looked through about four more but it's late for me and will look through the rest in the morning. It is indeed the "real deal".

[supergnat]

Thanks for all of your tips and opinions. I took six additional photos this morning. I pulled the front seat cushion and took photos of it. I feel confident that I have an original interior. The local person who felt the interios was an old replacement is not a Model A persob so I was skeptical of his opinion so I turned to my friends on the Barn. Any additional comments are welcome. You are all amazing.

This car has the original self equalizing brake system and I now have a complete set of non-adjustable service brake rods installed after replacing the only adjustable one with an original non-adjustable rod from Berts. Too bad the car was painted blue and the top black.

Thanks again for your help.
Supergnat

[Richard Wilson]

Original interior IMO. Nice car that could be repainted to original color without messing up the interior since the inside of the door jams weren't painted blue. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

If I were you, I would start at one front corner of the interior and go around the interior to the other side taking at least 100 close up detailed pictures of every corner of every panel, welt, fit, mouldings, handles, cranks, switches and dome light, etc. Your interior could become a good reference for anyone restoring a similar model.

[theHIGHLANDER]

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

That is a good point! Actually the seat covers on wood framed cushions were finished to size and the edge that was tacked to the wood had edge binding (similar to that on the edges of a convertible top) sewn on and most of the tacks will be through that binding. I'm the only one I know that has ever duplicated that.

Interesting observation, and props to you for making all the details remain. Of note, same application in the same area, many Packards had a single-fold binding in the tack area, but it wasn't sewn in, more like an afterthought or just a wear application. A few tacks to locate the seat cover, then tack the binding over. Different for sure, and 99% of the folks who see those cars may never know.

[Marco Tahtaras]

I guess I wasn't quite emphatic enough. It IS the original interior and essentially untouched except for the front mat. I don't see any pics of the cowl cardboards (kick panels) but suspect they are original as well but likely chewed up a bit from the driver dragging his left foot across the lower rear edge.

Although the design of the interior appears somewhat plain and simple many of it's characteristics are very difficult to do on a custom basis and wouldn't have been implemented by a trim shop in the 1950's or any other time.

[Steve Wastler]

I too agree it IS original, looks almost the same as the interior in my Fordor. I dont have pictures yet, it has not come out of the garage since it was delivered. The garage is quite tight, only have room to squeeze between vehicles. Agree 100% with Marco regarding characteristics.

[d.j. moordigian]

Informative, nice!
Someone here on the Barn used oven cleaner(I think) too remove the top coat
of paint without hurting the original paint below, just a thought. The window frames
are Black, Is that correct? If not , that would be a good place to start....

[700rpm]

Wow! That is a beautiful interior. Please do everything you can to preserve it. Don't replace anything.

On a side note, it is interesting how often it is the Fordors that are the low mileage original cars. I wonder why that is?

[68HILLBILLY]

THAT INTERIOR is very nice. good find

[Brentwood Bob]

Yes. Bob

[V4F]

Smell !

[Cape Codder]

Why am I unable to view the pictures that everyone is commenting on? I don't have any links that are showing to get to them.
Thanks for your time.
Joe Grobleski

[Blessyouboys]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

Why am I unable to view the pictures that everyone is commenting on? I don't have any links that are showing to get to them.
Thanks for your time.
Joe Grobleski

Click on his avatar, so you are viewing his public profile. His album is accessible on his profile.

Or you can click on this link: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=1916