The Ford Barn

DkFordor · 08-21-2022, 12:54 PM

Hi all,

I am still renovating a 1931 Fordor, and starting up with the interior i was wondering what was in the car to begin with.

Do any of you know if the seat upholstery in the picture could be original?

Fyi, the car is European, don't know if there could be differences to the US.

I am considering to try to get something similar for the renovation.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

burner31 · 08-22-2022, 08:42 PM

I going to say not original.

Now that a responce has been posted others will clamor to correct me on that and get you the right answer...a win/win either way in my book

On a side note: I have my '57 Chevy in the shop for a full interior right now, if he does half as good the other cars he has done I may let him do a full interior on my Model A

ronn · 08-23-2022, 06:34 AM

that is a tough call. what was the availability in Europe of similar fabric to the states?

was the US fabric as sale-able to the public in Europe as it was here?

we have seen many different paint colors in Australia and Canada, compared with the US, so I for one vote that it could be original.

DkFordor · 08-24-2022, 04:14 AM

Thanks for your comments, guys, much appreciated.

The reason I'm asking is that I wish to bring it back as closely as reasonably achievable to original, so if it could indeed be original I might try to get something similar.

The springs look ok, and appear to be same age also

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Brad in Germany · 08-24-2022, 05:35 PM

From what country in Europe is your car?

Some Ford assembly plants and Ford factories in Europe sourced their upholstery locally and some imported from the USA or UK.

For example, if your car was built and assembled in Köln, Germany in 1931, the upholstery was sourced locally in Germany.

Brad in Germany

rotorwrench · 08-24-2022, 07:40 PM

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The brand new Dagenham plant also started production in 1931. 1931 was the last year for the model A and the first year for several new Ford branch plants as well as the new European plants. Earlier cars were largely produced at the Rouge as crated knock down cars for shipment to Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.

Custom body cars started showing up in Europe as manufacturing started to pick up. A 1931 assembled in Europe could be either way depending on date of manufacture.

Gene F · 08-24-2022, 08:21 PM

I think the 28s had a red band atop the map pockets in the door panels. My Lebaron-Boney interior does not have the red band.

DkFordor · 08-25-2022, 01:41 PM

I am not sure at all, but my guess would be that it's a Danish origin car. It is my understanding that model A's where being assembled in Copenhagen, perhaps that's where it all began

This particular A has been in my family since 1972, and was bought here in DK back then. My knowledge of the car stops there, unfortunately.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments

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psimet · 08-25-2022, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene F

I think the 28s had a red band atop the map pockets in the door panels. My Lebaron-Boney interior does not have the red band.

I have a '28 tudor survivor. The interior is still original. Here are some pictures of it. No red band.

rotorwrench · 08-26-2022, 10:27 AM

The 1928 cars had the specially woven worsted cloth trim strip at the top of the door panels. There is one lady I've heard of that weaves those strips for folks that want absolute authenticity on their interior trim. I don't think the later cars had that. The coupe above has the gray with blue stripe interior color.

I don't know if the Briggs and Murray fordor's had that or not. Ford made most of it's interior furnishings at the old Highland Park plant. I'm not as sure about the subcontractors. The Danish assembly plant may have been assembling knock down cars that came from Ford at the Rouge plant.

We would need more photos to be sure with any certainty.

JoeCB · 08-28-2022, 05:03 PM

Dan, a good way to judge will be to look for signs of age across the overall interior. Look under the seats for signs of age on the metal clips. also the padding. the old stuffing should be cotton and well marked with rust from the woven metal backing.
Joe B

DkFordor · 10-10-2022, 02:20 AM

OK, a small update: Upon closer inspection together with a more knowledgeable person it appears not to be original after all. The outer material of the seats was tacked on, not the method used by Ford. The headliner was of a coarser material than original I have been told, and the backing plates in the doors was of a more modern (wood) material than originally used.

It thus appears to be a refurbished interior - matching the rest of the car

Since I will probably have the interior custom made and thus need to choose the fabric accordingly, I'd like to invite people to post pictures of their interior - that would be great for inspiration color and design wise

Thanks for your assistance and thougts, all, much appreciated!

08-22-2022, 08:42 PM	#2
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Interior original? I going to say not original. Now that a responce has been posted others will clamor to correct me on that and get you the right answer...a win/win either way in my book On a side note: I have my '57 Chevy in the shop for a full interior right now, if he does half as good the other cars he has done I may let him do a full interior on my Model A __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

08-23-2022, 06:34 AM	#3
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,796	Re: Interior original? that is a tough call. what was the availability in Europe of similar fabric to the states? was the US fabric as sale-able to the public in Europe as it was here? we have seen many different paint colors in Australia and Canada, compared with the US, so I for one vote that it could be original.

08-24-2022, 04:14 AM	#4
DkFordor Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Denmark, Northern Europe Posts: 73	Re: Interior original? Thanks for your comments, guys, much appreciated. The reason I'm asking is that I wish to bring it back as closely as reasonably achievable to original, so if it could indeed be original I might try to get something similar. The springs look ok, and appear to be same age also Sendt fra min XQ-AU52 med Tapatalk

08-24-2022, 05:35 PM	#5
Brad in Germany Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Potomac, Maryland Posts: 911	Re: Interior original? From what country in Europe is your car? Some Ford assembly plants and Ford factories in Europe sourced their upholstery locally and some imported from the USA or UK. For example, if your car was built and assembled in Köln, Germany in 1931, the upholstery was sourced locally in Germany. Brad in Germany

08-24-2022, 07:40 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Interior original? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The brand new Dagenham plant also started production in 1931. 1931 was the last year for the model A and the first year for several new Ford branch plants as well as the new European plants. Earlier cars were largely produced at the Rouge as crated knock down cars for shipment to Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. Custom body cars started showing up in Europe as manufacturing started to pick up. A 1931 assembled in Europe could be either way depending on date of manufacture.

08-24-2022, 08:21 PM	#7
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,978	Re: Interior original? I think the 28s had a red band atop the map pockets in the door panels. My Lebaron-Boney interior does not have the red band.

08-25-2022, 01:41 PM	#8
DkFordor Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Denmark, Northern Europe Posts: 73	Re: Interior original? I am not sure at all, but my guess would be that it's a Danish origin car. It is my understanding that model A's where being assembled in Copenhagen, perhaps that's where it all began This particular A has been in my family since 1972, and was bought here in DK back then. My knowledge of the car stops there, unfortunately. Thanks for your thoughts and comments Sendt fra min XQ-AU52 med Tapatalk

08-26-2022, 10:27 AM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Interior original? The 1928 cars had the specially woven worsted cloth trim strip at the top of the door panels. There is one lady I've heard of that weaves those strips for folks that want absolute authenticity on their interior trim. I don't think the later cars had that. The coupe above has the gray with blue stripe interior color. I don't know if the Briggs and Murray fordor's had that or not. Ford made most of it's interior furnishings at the old Highland Park plant. I'm not as sure about the subcontractors. The Danish assembly plant may have been assembling knock down cars that came from Ford at the Rouge plant. We would need more photos to be sure with any certainty. Last edited by rotorwrench; 08-26-2022 at 10:43 AM.

08-28-2022, 05:03 PM	#11
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 285	Re: Interior original? Dan, a good way to judge will be to look for signs of age across the overall interior. Look under the seats for signs of age on the metal clips. also the padding. the old stuffing should be cotton and well marked with rust from the woven metal backing. Joe B

10-10-2022, 02:20 AM	#12
DkFordor Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Denmark, Northern Europe Posts: 73	Re: Interior original? OK, a small update: Upon closer inspection together with a more knowledgeable person it appears not to be original after all. The outer material of the seats was tacked on, not the method used by Ford. The headliner was of a coarser material than original I have been told, and the backing plates in the doors was of a more modern (wood) material than originally used. It thus appears to be a refurbished interior - matching the rest of the car Since I will probably have the interior custom made and thus need to choose the fabric accordingly, I'd like to invite people to post pictures of their interior - that would be great for inspiration color and design wise Thanks for your assistance and thougts, all, much appreciated!