MTFCA Forum

Will one of you please tell me if the curved metal panel below the rear window and to the rear of the wood package tray shelf of the early '26 coupe was covered with upholstery fabric or was it painted? I know the wood shelf was upholstered but my very rusty tray panel has no evidence of fabric or paint for that matter. Thanks, jb

Back in 1972 when I ordered the upholstery kit for my 1926 coupe from Carter’s Cut and Cover, the tray upholstery kit and instructions provided for covering the tray and curved metal piece with mohair upholstery. I wish they were still in business. They made a great, well fitting, easy to install upholstery kit. Unfortunately, over the years, a few moths have had their way with the mohair. Jim Patrick.

Thanks, Jim. Covering with fabric will save a lot of body work on that pan, it's full of rust pits & holes which I'll fill rough sand and then paint before fabric. jb

Mine was too, but I still removed the rust and primed and painted, so the rust would not bleed through the cloth. Jim Patrick

I also have fabric covering - a kit dating from around 1990, I believe.

Jim, although the upper side is covered with upholstery, the underside is painted and the curved part is visible when the deck lid is up. Dont skimp on bodywork and paint prep there.

Jeff, Chris, et.al., thanks for your input. I'll repair the panel, prime and paint, skipping the 320 and finer sanding steps. I assume the metal that was visible was painted Channel Green, the same as the coupe body, and not Black? jb

I would not assume it is body color.

Thank you Jeff. Yes. I primed and painted both sides gloss black. Since the tray was upholstered and installed after the body was painted, I doubt if it was painted the body color at the factory, if painted at all. Since mine was so badly rusted, being an interior part on a never restored T, not exposed to the elements, I would assume that, at the factory, it was probably not painted at all, but we have more time than they did on the assembly line, so we should prime and paint it so it will not rust anymore in the years to come. Since the under side is visible, it would be a good idea to paint it your body color. Jim Patrick