1924 model T Coupe interior

[Barteldes]

1924 Coupe interior
The interior, I assume, is original by how it looks. There are really bad stains on the walls and trim falling apart. The seat back is not really bad but the drivers seat has holes worn in the fabric from a century of butts. all the fabric is paper thin. I know most of you are going to say keep it going but i have to cover it with a blanket like the backseat of the car in pulp fiction. and so whats the good in that? i want it to look nice and clean. I saw a kit for $1700 (yikes the blanket was 5 bucks). There's a guy on youtube that amazingly did his own from scratch... JNH classics. 18 videos of his rebuild and there's one on the interior.
Here's the question : is a kit the way to go for ease of use and more authentic look?

[perry kete]

I used a kit to redo my '22 Coupe

[Barteldes]

I used a kit to redo my '22 Coupe

'22 Model T Ford Coupe after restoration 2.JPG

That looks really nice. i like it.

[John kuehn]

I used the grey color kit that I got from Macs a few ago in my 24 Coupe. It’s the same color as Perry Keets car. It’s made of a nylon/polyester type of material and not a wool material that was the original black/lightly white striped as the original was.

The grey material is easier to clean I would think to clean and probably wears better. If your. not wanting a show car it might be OK to use it. A purist would use wool as originally was used.

If you’re replacing the interior it’s best to install the headliner and any bad top wood first. The interior goes in after.

It’s probably possible to do the interior with the top still on it but it’s harder to do and not the way Ford did it.

[Scott_Conger]

I suspect that the big "IF" in the equation is not "should you do it?" but "can you buy it?"

I will be interested to hear how this goes for you

Edit update: looks like Classtique has a very nice assortment of original style material(s)

https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/in ... yard-goods

[George Mills]

There was a time Bill Hirsch use to obtain bolts from someones loom for all of the possible closed car Model T interiors. Either he lost his source, or there wasn't a way to make a buck at it.

Classtique has always done a good job with kits, but even with as good and consistent as they are, the cars sometimes are built a little different. Just the way it goes...you can buy a kit, but have to think as an upholsterer...lol.

I know of a guy who grew up with a closed car Essex and when he redid the interior on his 27? Had Classtique supply him the 27 Fordor kit made with Essex cloth. To each his own.

There is an in between thats a little better than a blanket. Early on, when I only had a buck or two at the end of the week, I had a '25 Fordor, my first car actually, barn find, mice had taken a field day with the seats and cushions, but had not peed on it! I measured things up, went to a fabric store, found a stock cheap cloth that would get me by and bought whatever yards. Went home, cut and pinned up everything in place and tight. Took my new now inside out slip cover off. Used a 10 buck sewing machine and ran double stitching at the close spaced pin line, pulled the pins, turned it right side out, and stretched it back in place using poly-foam where there were divets, and using tacks where they didn't show to tie it all in by placing a weight on seat, pull it under and tight, add tack and remove weight. Bada-bing...took me a weekend, Looked good enough, obvious slip cover approach, but smooth, nice edge and turn sewn seams. I'd have to check with my son since I never sell anything, but I think that car still has those homemade slip covers on them now 40 some years later...lol! (Never got around to doing the upgrade to a real kit...lol...did what a lot of other T guys do, bought another car, and then did that a few times more...and seriously, I have never sold a one...no desire to...let the kids and grandkids decide)