Interior Trim

[depmike38]

What are the instrument panel and the mouldings along the inside base of the windshield covered with as original equipment. It looks like vinyl but the friend I got it from thinks it may have originally been leather like the seats. As soon as my carb gets here and I get it in the sun I'll post some photos. The car is grey metallic with a two-tone grey interior and I think the main part of dash is supposed to be the darker of the two colors. It's actually the only interior bit that needs attention.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Mike,

The dash (including the instrument pod cover) and moldings are covered in leather.

[Mad Scientist]

Yes they are leather. Vinyl OH heavens bite your lip.:):):)
If your leather needs some restoration you might check out.

http://www.leathermagic.com/index.html


I used their products on mine and was quite pleased.
They offer kits to restore cracked and faded leather. I sent then a couple samples of the leather to match the color. They came back with leather dyes that were an absolute perfect color match.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/mscientist/MKII%20rebuild/wmkll10.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/mscientist/MKII%20rebuild/wmkll11.jpg

The color change here is due to camera lighting.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Looks great, Mad. You have the same interior colors as my car, only my seats are all white with deep gray welting. Did you spray the dye on?

[Mad Scientist]

The kit came with a foam paint brush and a spray bottle for the finial coat. I did not bother using the spray bottle as the brush worked just fine.

[depmike38]

Okay,okay I promise not to mention vin__ again. I've been told for years it was leather but the heat has really abused it. Does the dash have to come out to re-cover it or does it "tuck-in" around the edges? I think it was originally the darker of my interior colors as I mentioned but there really isn't a mention of it in all the paperwork and manuals I got with the car. Thanks,Mike

[Nick DeSpirito]

Actually, I read somewhere that when they were producing the last of the 1957's, the parts bins were practically depleted and they did substitute vinyl for leather on some cars, but I think it was just on trim work.

I didn't recover my dash, so I really can't answer your question. Best thing to do is when you take the interior windshield bottom molding off, look and see if the leather is wrapped around to the underside of the dash. If it is, then you know what you have to do. Or, if you have the panels and or glove compartment off, you will probably be able to see the underside.

[depmike38]

Thanks, as mine was built in 12/55 it's bound to be leather and I do want to keep it as stock as possible. I'll work out what's involved and post it.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Mike,

If it's possible, it would be great if you can post pictures too. Sort of a step by step tutorial with pictures on your progress. I'm sure everyone would appreciate that and we could all learn.

[Mad Scientist]

The leather is glued onto the trim pieces and is wrapped around to the back side.

If you take off a trim piece and look at the back you should be able to see what the original color looked like.

[depmike38]

Thanks, I'll look at it this week-end. By the way, on several of my cars you can purchase a complete interior screw kit with the correct plating. Do any of the fastener houses do this and if not are any of them stainless or are they all chrome?

[Nick DeSpirito]

Mike,

I think they are chrome. I used to see the kits for the Mark II on Ebay, but haven't recently. Have you tried MarkII.com?

[Barry Wolk]

If you have holes that are stripped, Au-Ve-Co has screws that have normal size heads with oversized threads.

[depmike38]

I haven't called anyone yet but I have purchased from Au-Ve-Co before. Another fastener place I can highly recommend is Henry's Automotive Warehouse. I've had excellent service from him at my shop and you actually get to talk to Henry. He just doesn't sell the complete interior kits like you can purchase for a Mustang.

[Barry Wolk]

Well, a Mustang's a belly-button car, and the Mark II is not.:D

[naifmakol]

Hi, all 1956 and most 1957 MKII's were leather covered. The later(I don't know when) 1957's MKII's were vinyl covered as were parts of the door panels, as they knew the MkII would be discontinued so when they ran out of Bridge of Wiers leather they used vinyl.
Naif Makol

[Barry Wolk]

I think the program was cancelled before the '57 changeover. I read the letter in the Continental files informing WCF that the program was finished. Pretty gruesome finale.

[depmike38]

Barry I have to know, what's a belly-button car?

[Barry Wolk]

Everybody has one.:D