Interior costs question

[Johnnya101]

Hello again folks!


As you may have seen in my last thread, I'm thinking about getting an A. There's a A close to me, another Fordor town sedan... Has some wood replaced, sandblasted and primed, just needs a roof and interior. Seats are there.


At 17 and in highschool, I really don't have an extra $3k to get an interior kit...


I know a bunch of A people, and know some upholsterers.



There is the panel kit sold by Macs for $300. That's cardboard for the entire interior I would hope. I was thinking of getting some cheap gray fabric and covering that up.


The seats are the biggest concern. Can one use cheap fabric and get both seats done versus getting a kit? I would have to do this on a low budget, maybe $1-1.5k for the whole thing. Does it sound possible? Just use cheap fabric for everything and do it myself besides the hard stuff? Don't care about originality.


Do you NEED that soundproofing silvery stuff they sell? Do the interior panels need that cotton padding too? What exactly is the breakdown of what's needed to start an interior from scratch? Before I go through with anything, I want to make sure I won't be.priced out of it before I start.

[Mike Peters]

Johnny: Joanne Fabrics sells a gray headliner material that looks very nice in a Model A. Very inexpensive. We used it to replace the headliner in our 28 Tudor. You could use something like that for the cardboard panels as well. Why not just cut your own panels out of stiff cardboard using the doors, body as a pattern? Save $300. For the seats, Joanne has a lot of fabric available. No padding under the cardboard panels. Anything you do with your car will look waaay better than what you have now. In the future, you can always redo the interior with authentic material when $ allows. mike

[77Birdman]

Originally Posted by Mike Peters

Johnny: Joanne Fabrics sells a gray headliner material that looks very nice in a Model A. Very inexpensive. We used it to replace the headliner in our 28 Tudor. You could use something like that for the cardboard panels as well. Why not just cut your own panels out of stiff cardboard using the doors, body as a pattern? Save $300. For the seats, Joanne has a lot of fabric available. No padding under the cardboard panels. Anything you do with your car will look waaay better than what you have now. In the future, you can always redo the interior with authentic material when $ allows. mike

Great advice. For the seats there will most likely be more involved than simply putting in new fabric. If the original seat fabric (or a reasonable facsimile) is in place, be careful removing it. You should be able to find a local upholstery shop to make new ones using the old as a pattern. I havent recovered an A seat, but have done several 'newer' styles. With less than $50 you can buy the hog rings and a set of plyers and DIY. You should put in new foam, padding, jute, springs or whatever will be needed.

[bigd1101]

Can I ask what is the asking price of the car? Check your other post as I suggested eBay as a good source of A's.




Don

[Johnnya101]

It's $6k. Not sure if I want to get into a project or just get a ready one

[bigd1101]

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Originally Posted by Johnnya101

It's $6k. Not sure if I want to get into a project or just get a ready one

Look at eBay and my reply on your other post. What IS you budget BTW? How much are you willing to spend?

[Johnnya101]

I've got about 8k, give or take a thousand.


I have a Corvair I need to sell first though, then I can get an A.

[bigd1101]

Originally Posted by Johnnya101

I've got about 8k, give or take a thousand.


I have a Corvair I need to sell first though, then I can get an A.

Well.....here is a car that would have fit your budget and check out the pics. It sold recently on eBay. Again, check it out. Depending on where the car is you can have it shipped to you. Shipping cost varies depending on the distance and a closed or open trailer.



Go to this link and click on the car at the top that is "sold"......NOT the rat rod.




https://www.ebay.com/itm/1930-Ford-M...p2047675.l2557

[ronn]

for 8k, I would consider a coupe. easier to resell in my opinion then a sedan......


just my opinion.


the coupes are cooler........for a young fella!

[Johnnya101]

Yup, saw that sold one. Exactly what I'm looking for. I'll probably do that, but the info on interiors is good to know!

[bigd1101]

Yes, when you are ready and have the $$$$. Here is a direct link to all the Model A's for sale.......good luck and feel free to PM me when you find some you are interested in.



Don



https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...rd&_sacat=6001

[mike657894]

i did my interior in rhino canvas. it is black backpack material. I bought mine in two orders from amazon. got a cheaper variety for the headliner and doors and walls that was $3 a yard. got some $7 a yard for the seats. being amazon they were listed as the same item but different prices from different sellers. the cheaper stuff was thinner and looked less sturdy but you cant tell unless your holding two pieces. With the seat I sewed the fabric to sew foam. with a sew line spaced at 2 inches to mimic the original design. I made my own door cards from 1/4 masonite board. Its thicker, I didnt have the escutcheons so I dont know if they would fit with the thicker wood. The originals are a tarred carboard, I spent about $300 for the whole interior.

[Bob Bidonde]

Johnnya 101,


I was in the same situation as you are when I had my first Model "A."


I cut panels from cardboard appliance boxes for the interior and covered them using inexpensive black vinyl because I could only afford to spend a few bucks.


Later on in life I restored that Model "A" to look as Henry built it. Do today what you can afford, and make do with materials that are free or inexpensive.


Get the car in good running condition and let the cosmetic stuff follow later.



THE IMPORTANT THING IS HAVE AND ENJOY A MODEL 'A.'

[Ted Duke]

Where are you located?
Ted

[Johnnya101]

Northern NH

[nick c]

I'm cheap when it comes to the interior of my truck, for the headliner, back of cab, doors, and below the mail pouch,I used 5 mm lauan paneling from HD, I used 3mm lauan paneling above the mail pouch and the 2 kick panels. Online I bought vinyl cheap about $4.33 a yad, I fastened it to the paneling with contact cement and rolled it on the wood, I tried to put contact cement on the vinyl and it distorted it, I used stainless steel screws and ss funnel washers to fasten.

[Jeff/Illinois]

JohnnyA good for you for getting into Model A's!

You'll have a lot of fun! Welcome and keep us posted I was two weeks shy of 17 when I got mine and have had a blast ever since!

[Johnnya101]

I'll definitely keep you all posted!


I've talked with an A friend, he says it's a nice car and he knows the guy well, but as I said, why sink the time and money into it when I can buy a complete one for $9k? Guess that's what I'll do. I now know not to run away from a car that might need some interior work though.

[Ted Duke]

Contact these clubs, they may know of a good A for sale


http://mafca.com/chapters/NH.html


NORTH COUNTRY REGION

1601 RTE 25 A
ORFORD, NH 3777

C/O CHARLES OTTO
603-353-4503
[email protected]

[Johnnya101]

Already contacted my local club president. Ive been friends with him for a while now