MTFCA Forum

Hey guys, I know all the vendors sell kits to re-upholster our cars, but has anyone found fabric that closely resembles the original and done it themselves. My plan for re-doing my interior also does not involve the entire interior, nor will it all be one color. I am trying to come up with a look that will honor the barn find look that it has while offering a glimpse of what it looked like in 1924. My interior is complete, but very worn and torn, so I have all the panels, templates etc to cut the fabric, and my mother in law has a commercial sewing machine and has done vehicle interior fixes before. I'm looking for a little direction before I go waltzing into Jo-Ann Fabrics and asking for the best fabric for the interior of a 1924 Model T. Maybe they will have an idea, but I'm guessing I will get the same look as the deer I almost hit last night.

Thoughts, ideas, direction?

Thanks in advance - John

Mike at Classtique will sell you material by the yard as well as other supplies.

https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/

Bill Hirsch also sells upholstery material - don't know if he carries anything that is correct for Model T sedans or coupes but you can do the research. Hirsch is also a good source for wool carpet for antique cars.

https://www.hirschauto.com/

Mac's sells stripe wool cloth materials by the yard, but the stripe pattern is not original.

Best just going to joann. For around $9/yd there is some plain black cotton chair canvas back in the corner with their small selection of upholstery fabric. Nobody makes correct closed car seat fabric right now, so just put in something cheap that looks okay and wait. You can sometimes make real nice seat cushions for a “family car” by carefully wrapping what’s already there and safety-pinning in back where its hidden. I own a Tudor thats been like that for probably 50 years and is fairly presentable.

The exception is the grey wool “suitcloth” for the headliner. You should be able to buy something real close to correct. If you have the top off for any reason, you should put a correct headliner in.

We bought this at Joann's or similar store. It worked well for our coupe.
Rich Only problem is we tried to stain the headliner and it is water resistant.

Rich, that looks great ! Corduroy is a good choice.

Bill Hirsch used to order up authentic wool broadcloth stuffs for the restoration trade, but even 30 years ago it was mighty expensive and required him to make massive orders with woolen mills in the U.K. He may still have some Model T patterns. Worth checking.

Does the headliner go in before the top goes on? My headliner is completely missing.

Hello John,
YES, the headliner is done before you install the top. It is almost impossible to do a good job with the top installed.
Here is a link with some excellent information that may help.

Best regards, John Page, Australia.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/28607.html

John, Here is another link that has more information.

Best regards, John Page, Australia.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1363463351

Photo of our 1924 Fordor I restored over thirty years ago.

John Page wrote: ↑

Fri May 22, 2020 4:19 pm

John, Here is another link that has more information.

Best regards, John Page, Australia.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1363463351

Photo of our 1924 Fordor I restored over thirty years ago.

This tells me so much! Thank You!