1930/'31 Standard Roadster interior

[Brother Hesekiel]

I have a 1931 Roadster. It has the "intermediate" indented firewall, where they stamped over the old channels, flattened them out, as described in the Judging Standards. This would date the car to about April 1931.

My car is a bastard. It has a replacement engine from Long Beach Ford, dating to about 1934, and that number is also the VIN, which really impacts the car's value. I have not have the body off the frame, so I have no other number as a reference.

The rolling chassis is an older frame-off restoration, and the body has been on a hot rod once, visible on the cut-outs for the dropped rear axle that have been welded over from the outside. It has an earlier fuel tank, probably because they couldn't find a good late one, and thus the earlier instrument panel and gauges. Did I mention that it's a bastard?

Now, I don't have a problem with all of that, try to remedy some of it in the years to come, and that's part of the fun to me.

Initially I thought that I have a Deluxe Roadster, missing some of the Deluxe features, such as the carpeting, the cowl lamps, and the chromed windshield frame. The more I dive into the car, the more I'm convinced that I have a Standard Roadster that has received the Deluxe treatment in form of cutting the windshield frame down, installing a Deluxe frame and top (missing the chrome), and calling it a day. There is no indication that the car ever had cowl lamps, and the way they brazed and welded the body suggest that no magician was able to close the mounting holds so perfectly that no trace remains.

That's all good stuff for me, as I dislike the tan top, dislike the cheap tan interior (missing the leather surfaces), dislike carpet in a roadster. I'm not into chrome, love black, and envision a really standard, all black, rubber mat, plastic interior and top, Roadster at the end of the road, perhaps a couple of years from now.

I have never seen a Standard 1930/'31 Roadster interior. Le Baron Bonney and Snyder's sell it, using material "A-1" for seats, panels, and top. I like that stuff. It's called short/long cross grain if memory serves me. Now, finally, I should ask my questions:

1) What do YOU think of my idea of going back to standard? I would NOT get a taller windshield and standard top though. I would ask Barron Le Bonney to make me a standard top that fits the Deluxe frame which I would paint black, looking like a standard.

2) The way I understand it, standard door panels were more or like imprinted cardboard, not covered with the material. Does anybody have a photo of a standard cardboard door panel and/or a replacement one?

3) Do I have to anticipate any problems in regard to the interior when going back to standard? Will I be able to "nail" in the door panels whereas mine are screwed in? Is the area behind the seats different for the Standard and the Deluxe?

I'm just trying to do my homework before I get started. My plan for this winter was to do the interior; next winter I want to take the body off the frame and have it painted in black, incidentally the only color that was available for both Standard and Deluxe Roadsters in 1931.

[Roadster Rich]

I have a May 1930 Standard Roadster. The interior was done by LeBarron Bonney in 1968 and is still in tremendous condition on the car. I had done all the mechanical work as a young boy and used the car as a driver until 1974. Then Paige's Garage in NH did an upgrade restoration with new paint and lots of mechanical work.

The door panels are done with the same material as the seats and back shelf and I am pretty sure are screwed on to the doors but I will check tonight.

I will take some pictures tonight after work and post them.

I would certainly try to take it back to the standard height of the windshield and top. It is so much more comfortable to get into and out of and visibility for driving, but that is your choice.

[Patrick L.]

I'm planning on doing the same, whenever I get around to it. It seems to keep getting put off for one reason or another.
Mine still has the STD windshield [ but chrome frame] and top. I like the look of the STDs. and believe they are rarer than the DLX.
I guess I can't help with your questions, just giving moral support.
Not sure what you mean regarding your firewall, I'll have to look to make sure but I think if I remember correctly mine is a May '31 but has a 'normal' [ non-indented] firewall. Didn't know about anything else.
My panels are screwed on. The upholstery is completely wrong and is an old 'genuine imitation leather.'[smiley face]

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Mine is a late 30 Std. roadster with a LeBaron Bonney interior, interior looks black with a green tint vinyl upholstery, very comfy with the higher black windshield, has an original dark vinyl rumble seat, round speedometer and one piece side aprons and spare tire on the rear. (Looks like Roadster Rich's). The only thing I'm missing is the pouch on the cowl panel (left off on the std. roadster) I remedied that by attaching a Model A tool bag to the panel.

[Roadster Rich]

Here are some pictures of my LeBarron Bonney work done in the 60's.
Left Door Panel
Left Door.jpg
Seat
Seat.jpg
Seat Back Ledge
Back Ledge.jpg
Kick Panel
Side Filler.jpg
Rumble Seat
Rumble Seat.jpg
Top Back
Top Back.jpg
Top Front
Top Front.jpg

I have no idea how close this material is to the original. Some of the guys on here are much more knowledgeable than I. These are just some pictures of pretty expensive work done by LeBarron Bonney in the 60's.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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L/B doesn't make the seat covers correctly. The seam should be lower than the top front edge, and this would require making folds as it wraps around the outside corners. Guess it's cheaper and easier to make them wrong.

Classtique makes them with the seam lower, like it should be.

Wish we could buy embossed panels like original, but everyone has the fabric glued to smooth panels to simulate original panels.