The 'E' Type Forum

I am considering purchasing an e-type with the incorrect interior in it (according to Jaguar Heritage). I would like to source an original complete red leather interior (patina and all). Do I stand a snow balls chance in H*ll of finding such a thing?

Thanks!

No, and even if you did the leather would be useless unless it was on the seats. The original leather was Connolly 'Vaumol' which has been unavailable since the mid 80's in its true form. In brief:

- Vaumol was patented by Connolly in 1939
- The base colour and clear top coat were cellulose and sprayed on - it is not through dyed
- By the mid 1980's the process was changed to use part cellulose and part water based paints
- By the early '90's the paints were all water based
- Vaumol has not been produced since 1998, 'real' Vaumol not since 1986
- If you find any new old stock it is likely to be useless as the paint will crack on stretching as it does not store well
- Nothing can reproduce the smell, finish or feel of Vaumol leather

More info here: http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1384

There is hope on the horizon however as one of the Connolly family is working towards re-introducing Vaumol in the near future. Current samples have not been well received but work continues to get it right in the face of current Health and Safety regulations.

David,

I am referring to a complete interior, seats carpeting, panels and all, out of a donor car (perhaps a rust bucket). In America we call the rust buckets "back east cars" vs. the dry desert south west. I figured it would be a slim chance.

BTW, I have read your very informative posting on the original leather. Great history and general info.>>>thanks!

Sam

Which E-Type are we talking about S1, S2?. You might be able to find a dry state car with an interior that needs swapping out but it will be for good reason. Sun distorts and cracks the dash top, dries out the leather and bleaches the carpets. For a "back east car" the problems are even worse as damp warps the door cards wrinkling the vymura, the carpets disintegrate with moisture and mildew destroys the seat leather. During restoration the coverings will be removed from their substrate and there is really no way of re-applying them to another. For example the leather was stretched and stapled to the seat frame and cut back. But once removed the upholsterer will not have enough material to stretch it back not withstanding the fact that Vaumol will crack if you do so.

The only way you will find a genuine interior is if you buy a low mileage dry state car that has been cared for. Fairly easy to achieve at reasonable cost with an S2 but more expensive with an S1. As for carpets mine wear fairly quickly and tend to need replacing every 5 years or so if you use the car. But if the interior is not the same colour as when the car was delivered, so what? As long as it has been done well in a standard colour no one will care, even a concours judge!

Mockingbird wrote:David,

I am referring to a complete interior, seats carpeting, panels and all, out of a donor car (perhaps a rust bucket). In America we call the rust buckets "back east cars" vs. the dry desert south west. I figured it would be a slim chance.

BTW, I have read your very informative posting on the original leather. Great history and general info.>>>thanks!

You want a 1963 COMPLETE 3.8 interior (according to your same question on Jag-Lovers) that did not get damaged during either fifty years of use or someone stripping it out of the car and unpicking every trim panel, card and glued textile? Zero chance is the answer. Even if someone wanted to throw away a good condition original 3.8 interior, there is no chance that all the moquette would come unglued or every fifty-year old staple come out without tearing etc. Cars were trimmed to have a permanent interior, not with an eye to non-destructive removal half a century later.

Pete

Thanks for the input fellows. I am used to the Naugahyde type interiors on some more pedestrian American vehicles that seem to hold up forever..

It sounds like my most realistic choice would be to purchase a new interior . I would like to get some opinions from the more experienced E-type owners (btw, anyone is more experienced than me!) on which companies to consider. I have come across basjaguartrim and lakewell. I would be interested in approximate pricing to purchase (not install) the kits - Lakewell quotes their prices on line but I did not see pricing for bas. Are there other companies to consider?

Thank you.

There are a few suggestions here but all in the UK: http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php? ... ht=trimmer

On the other hand several of those people worked in the Jaguar trim shop when E-Type's were going down the line so you might want to check on the cost of importing a complete set from them.

Hi Sam,

Current BAS prices:
- 3.8 OTS - ?1674.45
- 3.8 FHC - ?1874.96

These kits include all the basics (carpet, hardura, Seat Covers, Door Panels, etc). It's then extra for other bits:
- Seat Cushion Foams - ?91.74
- Seat Squab Foams - ?53.64
- etc

BAS come highly recommended by a number of restorers on the forum. I've got my full kit on order from them too.

HTH

Regards,

Neil

Thanks David and Neil. My research turned up the following prices for BAS and Lakewell (any experience with Lakewell out there?)

BAS = ~ ?2280.00 or $3100.00 or ?1913.00
Lakewell = ~ ?1700.00 or $2310.00 or ?1422.00

Seems to be some disparity between our BAS quotes. Above is for a complete kit, including trunk. Source: http://www.car-hood.co.uk/content.php?nID=2&cID=117

(altho now I see my quote from link above "inc VAT" which I take to mean, the price already includes VAT. Is that 20%?)

Yes, VAT is 20% which you will not have to pay. On the other hand you may get stung for import duty and sales tax your end.

Hi Sam,

You're correct re vat = 20%
Although that still then doesn't add up
The figures I gave were from their Autumn catalogue but once I add vat to them they come out as more than the on-line price.

Regards,

Neil

Sam : you need to understand that there is no connection at all between BAS in North America, and BAS in UK . The recommendation, which I endorse heartily, is for that in the UK .

BAS UK for me as well every time. They have dug me out of a few holes recently and I have no doubt they will continue to do so!

Good to know that there is no connection between the two! An important detail!!!

Thank you.

On the recommendations above and being in the market for a full interior I contacted BAS UK and asked for samples to check colour etc. Very nice people and the samples arrived quickly and all looked great. However and this is the thing I will be taking up with them on Monday, the sample labelled LEATHER is not leather but some faux leather and seat covers at ?600 + vat should I feel be made out of actual leather (at least the face). I will let you know what the response is.

Hi Warren,

I've just ordered my full interior from BAS. I had a number of samples from them, each packet containing both a leather sample and a vinyl sample. Leather is used for the seats, vinyl for other trim. I've also seen the seat covers at Stoneleigh & can assure you they're leather.

Plus a number of other regular contributors on this forum have gone with BAS & been very happy.

HTH,

Neil

Oh, and I think the back of the seats is in vinyl.

Yes I have samples of vinyl etc however the sample labelled leather looks and smells like leather but does not behave like leather. When scratched the surface peels and it stretches also when held over a flame it shrivels up. It puts me in mind of the leather coats you sometimes get offered cheap in motorway service station car park (or is that just me)
It is very like leather but just does not seem right I have a appointment with the car trimmer tomorrow to get it checked out properly.

I must admit I was disappointed at first with the look of the leather when first looking at just a sample but as I think David mentioned earlier in the thread, long gone are the days of Vaumol.
I was intrigued so just ran your tests on my sample. It's about 1.5mm thick & suedey on the back. It puckers a little if I scratch it hard with my thumbnail, but doesn't really peel or stretch. However it certainly curls up over a flame, but I think leather does that - I've seen a top quality steerhide jacket curl up when used to extinguish a bike fire.