‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Talk about the E-Type Series 1
User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#1 ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:37 pm

Afternoon all,

I’m just starting a re-trim of my recent-ish acquisition. At some point it’s all been trimmed in PVC (no leather) in a non-original colour so I really want to take it back to what’s on the heritage certificate. Unusually it was Opalescent Silver Blue with a black interior so must have been a special order.

I’ve chosen not to go via the usual route of suppliers for a couple of reasons: I’m lucky enough to have a couple of very kind and useful friends! One has an automotive design and engineering business and helped me source 3 beautiful, soft and fragrant, semi-aniline leather hides. The other is a supert talented trimmer with a mass of automotive trimming experience who has offered to trim my seats, console and rear quarters. I’ve just gone through lots of samples of PVC for the non leather areas and managed to find a good match for grain and gloss level to the hides. I intend to trim these simpler PVC areas so I can at least say I’ve played a small part in the re-trim!

My first question is about the door panels, boot boards, boot lid trim etc. Should this be PVC / vinyl straight onto the panel or is there any soft foam inter-layer? Currently the car has foam under most of these but it does seem to look a bit ‘inflated’. I’ve tried searching but not found anything regarding this.

Any knowledge greatly appreciated! I’ll post pics as things develop....
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 8070
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#2 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by mgcjag » Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:55 pm

Hi Paul...fully retrimed my 69 2+2 last year...door cards etc have 3mm scrim (foam) under them...ask your trimmer about fixing.....lightly spray glue the scrim to the door card but dont glue the vinyl to the scrim.....just staple on reverse side....if you glue then when u press on the vinyl the scrim compresses and the top layer of glue sticks to the bottom and you get an uneven surface.... Steve

Image

Image
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#3 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:15 pm

Hi Steve,
Thank you for the feedback. The car looks fabulous btw! So, did you just use scrim on the doors and then trim straight to the panel with the other parts?
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 8070
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#4 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by mgcjag » Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:07 pm

Hi Phil there is scrim under almost everything....the door caps have slightyl thicker.......door sills use a denser type foam.....cant rails not for the faint hearted.....they have a hard foam....but much easyer to retrim by leaving existing vinyl in place and covering over it...can give more details when you come to do them...wheel arch covers are made as a complete unit with piping and slightly thicker foam sewn in.....most other piping i made up fairly easy , plastic piping from trimmers covered in vinyl.......if you need to chat then pm your phone number and can talk it over.....but if you have a trimer doing most for you i assume he will take the lead.... Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


paulsco
Posts: 825
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:12 pm
Location: Oxfordshire
Great Britain

#5 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by paulsco » Sun Jan 28, 2018 11:20 am

Hi Paul,

I am planning to do much the same as you, but my car has been 'modified' and although much of the original panels have been used, they have been re-covered with what I would consider to be the wrong vinyl.

Can you let me know exactly what vinyl you are using and the supplier?

Thanks,

Paul
65 Series 1 FHC, 68 Jaguar 340

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#6 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:01 pm

Hi Paul.

I’ve ordered the vinyl from here

http://www.as-trim.co.uk/index.php?main ... cts_id=850

This was mainly because it was the best match to the leather. I will still need the scrim etc. I’ve not yet received the vinyl so hoping it’s as good a match as the sample. Will let you know. I know it’s not completely original but I might also consider trimming doors and or console in leather if I’ve enough left after the seats. It’s such lovely stuff it would be a shame not to!
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 8070
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#7 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by mgcjag » Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:20 pm

Contact BAS, Aldridge, Skinners etc.....well known trimmers many on the forum use them.....will send you samples of leather, vinyl,Hardura, carpet...they will sell just the material, or pre cut, etc.... Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

MarkRado
Posts: 338
Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2018 9:13 am
Location: Graz
Austria

#8 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by MarkRado » Sun Jan 28, 2018 2:53 pm

I ordered from Eric Suffolk; although together with a trim kit. I did many bits myself and some parts of the kit a second time :sad: That is part of learning by doing - order much more material than calculated.
Eric supplied all the different materials in matching colour and grain; although not original, it looks fabolous. Moreover, Eric is always very helpful and patient with all the questions of an amateur.
Mark
1963 OTS 880436

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


paulsco
Posts: 825
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 5:12 pm
Location: Oxfordshire
Great Britain

#9 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by paulsco » Mon Jan 29, 2018 1:07 pm

Thanks Paul and others for your advice.
I was avoiding the usual’s because of the possible mark up on their vinyl. I was thinking I might use Woolies vinyls.
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/category/80/vinyls
My interior is black, so no colour matching problems, just need to know what texture is most original (the same texture throughout I am assuming).
I used one of their vinyls on my dash.
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/product/ ... nide-black
(I think it was this one) which was pretty much identical to the original.
I may buy some of the coverings, for example the wheel arches and head liner, but at this stage I plan to make new boards where necessary and recover the rest.

Paul
65 Series 1 FHC, 68 Jaguar 340

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#10 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:49 pm

Well, it might not look like much but its officially started!

My trimmer buddy has taken the seats and hides. It will be as and when he can do them but that will give me chance to sort the mechanical bits, new seat belts and the rest of the trim.

Ive started the boot boards. All but one are re usable. Ive also re used the luggage strips but have replaced the rubbers as these were completely brittle and crumbled as I removed them. Im using 3mm neoprene foam rather than sponge as I prefer the way it keeps its shape rather than 'pillowing' like the old sponge was. (Does that sound a bit obsessive?!)

Anyway, Ive managed to set myself up in a space inside the house and Im quite enjoying myself!


Image

Before and after (hopefully you can see which is which!)
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#11 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:30 pm

Well, progress has been steady you might say, an engine rebuild along the way, but the seats arrived today. As mentioned, a friend of mine is a recently retired OEM seat specialist. He kindly agreed to take mine on and the results are fabulous. He started with the existing covers which were stripped and new patterns made and improved. He has also covered the frames with foam to leave completely smooth surfaces on the backs of the squabs. His attention to detail is obsessive to the point of every flute being exactly the same width with cushions aligning to squabs perfectly. I was also lucky enough to have a mate who got me some beautiful, semi aniline leather which is super soft and smells terrific. The heat is on now on for me to make the easier stuff look as good!
V happy!


PS can anyone suggest a source for replacement seat mech covers??

Image

Image

Half of the patterns!

Image
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


265bhp
Posts: 835
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:29 pm
Location: surrey
Great Britain

#12 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by 265bhp » Sun Oct 21, 2018 10:48 pm

They look great..!
Jonathan
1963 3.8 FHC ..now finished …………….
1974 2.7 Carrera now as an RS Touring

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#13 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Thu May 23, 2019 1:48 pm

Update... apologies for dodgy iPhone sunset images but it was when I was wrapping things up last night!

It’s not quite finished, still lots of ‘snagging’ to do but it is officially back to being a 2+2 rather than a single seater, as it has been for over a year. The seats were beautifully trimmed from scratch by a great trimmer I know, using period techniques and materials. The rest I’ve done. I did cheat and buy the side panels from Aldridge but never mind! As mentioned here, it does take much longer than you’d expect! The biggest difference was the fact that I’m now sitting an inch or so higher than I’d got used to with the old saggy seats so have removed the spacers and adjusted the wheel to get my legs underneath it. I drove it today for the first time and loved how much quieter it sounded with an interior in it, not to mention that smell of new semi-aniline leather! It’s like having had your best Christmas present 20 months ago and now being allowed to finally play with it! Still lots of little jobs to do but I can do them as and when. Very happy! :bigrin:


Image

Image

Image
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

rswaffie
Posts: 1647
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:56 am
Location: Lincolnshire
Great Britain

#14 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by rswaffie » Thu May 23, 2019 6:37 pm

Looks superb. Does it smell as good as it looks?
I’ve just finished retrimming my Fhc and you just can’t beat the smell of leather & Wilton!
Richard

Previous owner and restorer of a S1 3.8 FHC Opalescent Golden Sand with Tan Trim 889504 (now sold and headed for Athens)

:swerve: :wrench: :hammer: :fingerscrossed:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


SteveG
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:44 pm
Location: North Devon
Great Britain

#15 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by SteveG » Thu Jun 06, 2019 4:26 pm

Looks lovely Paul :bigrin:
Steve - 1966 2+2 1E50101 slow restoration

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

rswaffie
Posts: 1647
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:56 am
Location: Lincolnshire
Great Britain

#16 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by rswaffie » Thu Jun 06, 2019 4:48 pm

Super job. :salute: :yellow:
I've just finished a total re-trim on mine so I know exactly how you feel.
When you say you have removed the spacers, do you mean the 2 on each side at the front, and the single ones on each side at the back? If so, you want to check the clearance at the front over the crossmember and also at the back when you slide back. On my S1 3.8, they need to be there or the lever fouls the support bracket and also the floor trim at the back. May be different on your car though.
Richard

Previous owner and restorer of a S1 3.8 FHC Opalescent Golden Sand with Tan Trim 889504 (now sold and headed for Athens)

:swerve: :wrench: :hammer: :fingerscrossed:

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

Topic author
H7OB
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 3:42 pm
Location: Warwickshire
Great Britain

#17 Re: ‘68 2+2 Re-trim

Post by H7OB » Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:46 am

Hi, sorry for the delayed response, family hols.

Richard, my understanding is that the 2+2 has spacers under the rear end of the runners for row 2 foot room and these are what I removed. I’ll see if the cushions settle with use. I’m 6ft but more likely to have the webasto open so we’ll manage!
The interior does smell lovely now. Certainly better than it did before the retrim and tightened fuel neck! The only annoyance was that the thermostat failed on the first run! Not far from home so we coasted back without too much drama. We’ll get there eventually!
:bigrin:
Paul
'68 Series 1.25 2+2

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic