Topic: Original 32 Roadster interior


alumcantandthd    -- 09-18-2021 @ 10:48 AM
  Several questions, please.

Where might I find good detailed pictures of a original Deuce Roadster interior? You know, like a 'blueprint' or something, that I can take to an upholstery shop?

Has anyone bought a Deuce Roadster and removed the original interior for some other reason, that I 'might' be able to buy, bum, beg, borrow or steal?

I have some decent detailed pictures of a DeLuxe Roadster interior from Cartouche. (rolling eyes, while shaking bowed head slowly back and forth) Reminds me of those 'custom fit' seat covers, upholstery panels, etc, JC Whitney sold in the '60's-'70's. I understand the kick and door panel pictures, but the other panels they have pictures of, I have no ideal where they are to go!

Is the seat, part of the side, rear or back panel? Or does the 'back' panels goes from door post around to door post, then the seat set in? What I seem to have pictured in my mind, isn't what it actually is. Receiving a vague description is worse, because having Dyslexia doesn't help to get a fully 'mental picture' either.

Thanks!


3w2    -- 09-19-2021 @ 7:11 AM
  You can obtain copies of the original engineering drawings (blueprints) of the various upholstery components from the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn. However, you will the original part numbers of those components in order to obtain those drawings. The part numbers are listed in the 1932 body parts catalog (known as the "Body Parts Price List"), which is available in reprint form from many hobby dealers. (Used reprints and originals often show up for sale on Amazon and ebay.)

The illustration below is from that catalog and it shows most of the various components of the deluxe roadster interior. It is a fairly simple interior consisting of a pair of cowl side, door, and seat side trim panels for the front compartment in addition to the seat bottom and back cushions. The seat side (or shoulder) trim panels terminate beyond the back of the sides of the seat back cushion. They are independent and do not attach to the seat back cushion sides. In other words, in response to your last paragraph, no upholstery trim or multiples of it, extend from door post to door post (B pillars in automotive speak).

You will not likely find any good photo of the area behind the top of the front seat back cushion known as the package tray. The first attached photograph is from Ford's archives and gives an overall elevated view of the interior upholstery. Unfortunately, with the top down, and the top boot in place, nothing of the area behind the top of the front seat back cushion is shown. It is very narrow, front to back, and with the top in place even a photo inside would not be either easy to take or be all that informative. You can see part of the vertical portion of the trim on the belt rail in the second photograph (the fasteners shown are for the attachment of the top boot).

The horizontal or bottom portion of the package tray is formed by two upholstery-covered curved and lipped steel panels, which you presumably have in bare form. The rear of the two is permanently attached to the front of the upper back panel of the body and the front piece is attached with wood screws to the back of the framework of the front seat back cushion. When the seat back cushion is installed that front piece fits beneath and is attached to the rear piece with oval-headed nickel-plated screws and finishing washers thereby securing the back of the front seat cushion to the body structure. (There are two sets of holes for each attachment point allowing a slight adjustment of the front seat back cushion.) The remainder of the trim for the package tray involves the trim covering the curved wood rail on the top edge of the upper back and quarter panels.

If you provide your email address I can send you LeBaron Bonney's instructions for the front seat back installations and how the curved wood rail and the rest of the package tray is trimmed.

The rumble seat compartment upholstery consists of five components, namely the two cushions, a pair of side trim panels, and textured heavy cardboard panel covering the back of the front seat back cushion. Portions of all of those components are shown in the attached photos.

David (as in DavidG on fordbarn.com)

P.S. While I loaded the photos in the order of the text, this site produces them in reverse order; sorry. (Bruce, That's something for your to do list.)

This message was edited by 3w2 on 9-19-21 @ 7:15 AM


alumcantandthd    -- 09-20-2021 @ 3:55 PM
  THANK YOU! I 'see' now sez the blind man! Your picture there really helped me understand! Thanks again!

Ok, I have to 'make,' or get ideas on how to make, a (#?) piece panel for the sides and back from the "B" pillar all the way around to the other side pillar. For I have 'made' my seat. It's a couple inches wider, bottom and back than the replacement OEM seat frames they sell. I used three of those rear seats that are in the Ford Econoline Vans to make the frame, hinges, springs and foam.

Plus, my windshield is chopped, so my seat has to set a little lower, and still have spring and foam comfort. Not just the hi-density sculptered foam I see the 'custom' seats are made of.

The simple stitching design pattern that are on the door panels, I can 'extend' around to the panels beside and behind the seat.

The back of the seat I made, folds forward, and the bottom part lifts up, (not at the same time) for storage space, also the hinges are hidden. It will 'resemble' a OEM roadster seat somewhat.

I was thinking, I could use the Cartouche interior kit, then 'copy' the panels design behind the seat. Not now, after seeing 'their' picture construction, no way!

Here is my email addy, for you to send me LB's picture instructions. (or ANY other pictures)
alumcantandthd@aol.com

Thank you again for your help.


3w2    -- 09-20-2021 @ 7:10 PM
  So, why here and on fordbarn.com did you make no mention up front of using a non-original seat and your ideas as to the rest of the upholstery? Quite the contrary, you strongly implied that you wanted original type upholstery.

HAMB is the site you need for your kind of car as this one is for information on cars that more or less fall with the mandate of the Club which is to preserve the cars as they were built by Ford.


alumcantandthd    -- 09-25-2021 @ 2:58 AM
  Wow!

I really do know know how to respond to your __________ (rolling eyes while shaking bowed head slowly back and forth) ____ comment!

Please accept my humble, sincere, apology for insulting your ego! I did NOT know that I am required (by law?) to build 'my' car, with 'my' $$$, to 'your' standards!? Do you also 'correct' others that have a 'restored' looking car, only the entire body is fiberglass,,,,,,,,,?

However,,,,,,, your pictures helped me a lot on understanding how the OEM interior panels were installed around the seat, and how I can 'make' the seat upholstery, and the panels around and behind the seat I made, look OEM. Thank you. Googling, 'original' Deuce Roadster interior pictures turned up everything but OEM. I asked for pictures on the HAMB site, but was refered to 'this site.'

I thought NOT cutting up one of those $$$ re-production '32 seat frame and springs, modifying it to sit a little lower. That taking 3 seats given to me for free, and making a 'folding' OEM looking seat would be a better idea. But (sigh) I was wrong.

I won't mention how I made a 1940's-early 1950's OEM 'looking' oil bath air cleaner outta' a couple of hubcaps.


3w2    -- 09-25-2021 @ 8:59 AM
  If you did not know how to respond, why did you bother? I repeat, HAMB is the website for rods, this one isn't for rods.


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