1926 Dr Coupe Upholstery Kit or Otherwise

[lirogo27]

My Favorite Folks of all things T - The A Team - Is Classtique the only thing left for 1926 interior upholstery kits? Any thoughts are welcome. Interior - would like to go back to the original interior scheme. It is time. Let me know. Thank you! Lisa

[varmint]

No, not the only thing left. We bought yards of Duck Cloth - grey herringbone and sewed green lines, replaced broken springs, redid the padding for the seats. The side panels we got from an upholsterer, cut to size, and covered with grey herringbone. Covered the package tray with it. Different cloth for the canopy/headliner/roof interior (whatever you want to call it).

[RajoRacer]

Might be others BUT you'd be hard pressed to find a better quality kit than Mike's !

[ModelTWoods]

Since Cartouche went out of business, Classitique is the only source of T kits. A year ago when I talked to Mike, he was taking orders for a year out. He had that many orders. He did say that he would sell bulk material to a customer who wanted to have his own upholstery made.

[lirogo27]

No, not the only thing left. We bought yards of Duck Cloth - grey herringbone and sewed green lines, replaced broken springs, redid the padding for the seats. The side panels we got from an upholsterer, cut to size, and covered with grey herringbone. Covered the package tray with it. Different cloth for the canopy/headliner/roof interior (whatever you want to call it).


custom cloth 2.jpg

so you basically did not have a pattern to work from, you basically did by measurement and eye?

[lirogo27]

Since Cartouche went out of business, Classitique is the only source of T kits. A year ago when I talked to Mike, he was taking orders for a year out. He had that many orders. He did say that he would sell bulk material to a customer who wanted to have his own upholstery made.

I wonder what the price differential is between bulk and not, and if that price difference is worth it. I might call him next week. I spoke to him a few years ago during COVID and I recall him saying their kits were more for show cars. My car is not a show car per se. But let me think on it. Would also need approx measurements to go bulk

[lirogo27]

Might be others BUT you'd be hard pressed to find a better quality kit than Mike's !

Steve, yes, that is what I hear. The quality is phenomenal but it is - so I thought - show car quality. I just want a nice true to original fabric. Which I believe was grey with stripe for a 1926 dr coupe

[varmint]

Lisa, I had no patterns, no interior at all to go by with our T. I used photos from the Internet, discoverd that there was either a white stripe or green (memory fades) and went with green stripe for a green coupe, guessing 1 inch spacing between stripes. Original samples look like they were printed on the cloth.

The down (reverse) side was laid face up, marked every 1" both sides, drew connecting lines with a thin black marker (which you can see), sewed the lines, and flipped the cloth over (finished side). We looked at patterns (more photos) of how to cut and connect the pieces for the seat bottom and back. The panel board pieces were easy to cover with spray adhesive. We have done this with a few cars ourselves, not show quality, but pleased.

[Upholstery Mike]

Thank you for the kind words on here. FYI interior kits are only out a few months because I have trained in more help.

Mike Francis
Classtique Upholstery

[Chris Barker]

I used genuine Harris Tweed to replace worn-out material from a kit from around 1988.
It matches the existing headlining and has the vertical stripes.
In the attached photo, the door cards have been done, but the seat is the old material

[ModelTWoods]

Since Cartouche went out of business, Classitique is the only source of T kits. A year ago when I talked to Mike, he was taking orders for a year out. He had that many orders. He did say that he would sell bulk material to a customer who wanted to have his own upholstery made.

I wonder what the price differential is between bulk and not, and if that price difference is worth it. I might call him next week. I spoke to him a few years ago during COVID and I recall him saying their kits were more for show cars. My car is not a show car per se. But let me think on it. Would also need approx measurements to go bulk

Lisa, You are correct on needing an approximate quantity when buying bulk from Mike. I thought that since he and his company had made so many kits in the past, that he would know at least a 'ball park' estimate of how much material would be needed to recover just the seat bottom and back cushion of a 26-27 coupe (which is what I needed). He said he didn't, and that i would have to order the amount necessary to successfully do the job. He said let my upholsterer make the call.

[jiminbartow]

Back in the 1970’s, “Carter’s Cut and Cover” was the upholstery kit supplier of choice so, that is what I used for my 1926 Coupe. It was very reasonably priced, of high quality materials, fit well and was easy to install. It is still in my T, but I am about ready to install a new kit.

[ModelTWoods]

Yeah, Jim, I remember Carter's Cut and cover ads from back in the mid 1960's in Hemmings Motor News, when the book was a small booklet sized magazine, about half the size or less than it currently is.

[jiminbartow]

I believe “Carter’s Cut and Cover” went out of business when old man Carter passed away and his kids didn’t want to continue it.

[ModelTWoods]

I believe “Carter’s Cut and Cover” went out of business when old man Carter passed away and his kids didn’t want to continue it.

You are correct. I have read the same thing.

[lirogo27]

Thank you for the kind words on here. FYI interior kits are only out a few months because I have trained in more help.

Mike Francis
Classtique Upholstery

Mike! Thank you for weighing in! I spoke to you a few years back.
Will see how things align as I figure this out over the next month or two. I need to gather some more info but definitely know the green stripe was the std for the 1926 coupe.

Regards

Lisa

[lirogo27]

No, not the only thing left. We bought yards of Duck Cloth - grey herringbone and sewed green lines, replaced broken springs, redid the padding for the seats. The side panels we got from an upholsterer, cut to size, and covered with grey herringbone. Covered the package tray with it. Different cloth for the canopy/headliner/roof interior (whatever you want to call it).


custom cloth 2.jpg

Vernon - I absolutely love your fabric@!

[lirogo27]

I used genuine Harris Tweed to replace worn-out material from a kit from around 1988.
It matches the existing headlining and has the vertical stripes.
In the attached photo, the door cards have been done, but the seat is the old material

Chris, that is a ridiculously neat job! Gorgeous!

[lirogo27]

Might be others BUT you'd be hard pressed to find a better quality kit than Mike's !

don't disagree but my car is also not a show quality car. And Mike's stuff is - so I am told - show quality and used more often for show cars. Price point supports that! Just trying to unearth all option, metrics, measurements, before i make a decision which path to go down! Always best to have all options. As far as sewing my own - definitely don't have that skill set@! Wish I did but do not.

[Tinner12]

I bought Mikes kit for my 26 Fordor. It fit perfect. Top, interior and carpets. You get what you pay for. Very satisfied. Also bought a kit for my 24 touring. Top and interior. Very nice

[lirogo27]

I bought Mikes kit for my 26 Fordor. It fit perfect. Top, interior and carpets. You get what you pay for. Very satisfied. Also bought a kit for my 24 touring. Top and interior. Very nice

Vernon, That is VERY good to know! I will be calling Mike tomorrow to get some info from him. Thank you so much for the feedback. It is appreciated.

[lirogo27]

Thank you for the kind words on here. FYI interior kits are only out a few months because I have trained in more help.

Mike Francis
Classtique Upholstery

Mike I just called in to your shop. Thank you kindly for sending out samples of material. Let me figure out if best to order fabric, the kit or try to salvage something of what is there. I don't think the last one will be a real option but a girl can hope! Thank you again for weighing in on turn time. Lisa.

[jiminbartow]

I own an early 1926 Coupe that was painted black at the factory. Would my T have had the green striped upholstery or another color?

Back in 2011, I emailed Bruce McCalley and asked if My black 1926 coupe was accurate. For those with black 1926 Model T coupes and Tudors, you should be relieved to know that it is. When Ford ran out of Channel Green, they had to keep the coupe and Tudor production going so painted the cars with what they had on hand and since they always had black on hand, the alternate color was black.
Www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/19 ... 1298521747.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

An early 26 coupe would use the upholstery with a green stripe, even if it came from the factory painted black. The early 26 Coupe and Tudors used a brown material with a green stripe, then it was changed during 1926 to gray with a green stripe. I wish I could find the early brown material; Bill Hirsch had some perfect material made up at a mill in Ireland and had a hard time selling it. I wanted to buy some but at the time feeding the family and making the house payment came first. Then when I could afford it, it is no longer available. Wish I could find a few yards of it.

[lirogo27]

An early 26 coupe would use the upholstery with a green stripe, even if it came from the factory painted black. The early 26 Coupe and Tudors used a brown material with a green stripe, then it was changed during 1926 to gray with a green stripe. I wish I could find the early brown material; Bill Hirsch had some perfect material made up at a mill in Ireland and had a hard time selling it. I wanted to buy some but at the time feeding the family and making the house payment came first. Then when I could afford it, it is no longer available. Wish I could find a few yards of it.

Jones - 10/1/24 - Thank you. SO my car was a 13.7MM serial. Therefore July/August 1926. This greatly helps! I guess i am of the green and gray color scheme. I will figure out a game plan. Lisa