Advice on trim please.

[Sleepy]

I have been offered the services of an upholsterer:). He works with wheelchairs and his work is superb.:cool: He has offered to re-trim Olute's seats.:D


Has anyone got any pictures or advice on what I should use?
I've seen the "Elephant Hide" type vinyl on my Series 2 - was this the type of vinyl used in the 50's too?
Was there a choice?
Where's a good place to source the right covering?


Any other tips or hints would be appreciated.

Thanks

[JDNSW]

I have been offered the services of an upholsterer:). He works with wheelchairs and his work is superb.:cool: He has offered to re-trim Olute's seats.:D


Has anyone got any pictures or advice on what I should use?

I have not owned an early fifties S1, so I may not be accurate! From memory, the original seats used foam rubber, which is unlikely to be available. 80" seat cushions from memory were a lot thicker than later S1 or indeed S2/3.


I've seen the "Elephant Hide" type vinyl on my Series 2 - was this the type of vinyl used in the 50's too?

I believe so, although I have an idea that very early ones were green.


Was there a choice?

No


Where's a good place to source the right covering?

The upholsterer may have suggestions, but as far as I know it is not available, although Exmoor Trim have advertised that they can supply cushions with it.


Any other tips or hints would be appreciated.

Thanks

My suggestion would be to ask the upholsterer to see how closely he can match the elephant hide, but remember when deciding on the material that it is likely to be exposed to the weather quite a bit, and the upholsterer should be aware of this in selecting material.

Hope this helps,

John

[Sleepy]

Thanks John,

I quite like the Elephant-hide look. Not so sure on green.

Good tip about the weather, I'll let him know that - I imagine, given that he specialises in Wheel-chairs, that he knows about those types of problems !!

I've got to replace the rubbers around the doors and cabin too. Probably should do that first eh?

[101RRS]

Some diagrams of seat bases for an 88 - should be the same.

Garry

[Sleepy]

Some diagrams of seat bases for an 88 - should be the same.

Garry

Thanks Garry. Looks the same seats. That green looks good. Mmmm Bugger, now I've got to make a decision!!:D

[p38arover]

I've seen the "Elephant Hide" type vinyl on my Series 2 - was this the type of vinyl used in the 50's too?

Probably naugahyde. Unfortunately, the nauga is now extinct. :p

[Sleepy]

Probably naugahyde. Unfortunately, the nauga is now extinct. :p

:lol2::lol2:

"My chair is upholstered in real Naugahyde
When they killed that nauga, I sat down and cried!
Chim Chimeny
Chim Chimeny
Chim Chim Cheree
My Land Rover needs new upholstery"


( I got a song for everything!):p

[101RRS]

Garry....I am going to start collecting info like this and make a sticky to contain it all....might make it easier to find the info rather than doing a forum search :D;)

Good idea - I think (but I cannot remember) that these came from the series 1 garage website.

The Series One Garage (http://groups.msn.com/theseriesonegarage)

But they are closing soon and I am not sure what will happen to them - they have lots of good stuff.

Garry

[cjc_td5]

Some diagrams of seat bases for an 88 - should be the same.

Garry

My S1 has no seat bases so I will have to make some up from scratch. I can see from the pics you posted the frame with tabs where it inserts in the front and rear of the seat box. Does a standard seat base have a solid base in it and what material it is (aluminium, plywood etc?)

Cheers
CC

[101RRS]

My S1 has no seat bases so I will have to make some up from scratch. I can see from the pics you posted the frame with tabs where it inserts in the front and rear of the seat box. Does a standard seat base have a solid base in it and what material it is (aluminium, plywood etc?)

Cheers
CC

I am not sure - maybe others can give a definite answer - as I inidcated I lifted the diagrams form the Series 1 Garage website - my 88 has a mix of front seats and all the bases are ply with spacers to lift it off the seat box - however this may not be correct.

The 56 I had 20 years ago also had plywood bases.

Someone was working on earlier series 1s (50?) and they were a web base. I suspect the the correct seats bases have a wooden frame with webbing etc but over time I suspect that it was just easier to replace this with a piece of ply rather than the wooden frame and webbing etc.

Anyway I am sure someone will come along and give a definite answer.


Garry

[Sleepy]

Got a reply from Exmoor trim and they have seats (very similar to Garry's in earlier post) in the green colour. They only sell entire seats (£210.00 + £100.00 freight = approx $673AU):o They don't sell the retrim kits.:(

My seats are still pretty good so hardly worth the expense of new seats.

I would like to try and get mine retrimmed in green but need to find out what that colour is called or need a sample to try and match. Any ideas?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

As others have suggested the original seats on the 86/88/107/109 S1 were a wooden frame with tabs that fit through the holes in the back of seat box, in front of the transom. They were a somewhat failed design with only hessian supporting the Dunlopillo rubber cushions and they usually haven't survived the 55 years since manufacture.

A good solution is to make the frame to the original pattern and stretch some hessian over the frame then top it off with a square of marine ply. That way the ply supports the cushion and makes the frame rigid and from underneath it looks original.

The pattern is on the Series One Garage as Garry has mentioned.

Diana

[Sleepy]

Thanks Diana,

I will need some hessian too as mine are just solid plywood.


I am trying to source some green vinyl like this. Any idea what the colour is...all references I have found just refer to it as "Green" - I'll probably just try and match it from this photo.:)


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/series-i-land-rover-enthusiasts-section/11645d1225797191-advice-trim-please-2627408.jpg

Pic courtesy of Garry ;)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

...
... I am trying to source some green vinyl like this. Any idea what the colour is...all references I have found just refer to it as "Green" - I'll probably just try and match it from this photo.:) ...

Not that you can judge from the screen image, however that green looks very light to my way of thinking. If you have any remnants of the original vinyl particularly on parts where it's not been effected by light you can match it.

One friend's vehicle used vinyl that was originally supplied to NSW Government Railways. Not the stuff where they have the insignia embossed but the stuff before that. I have a little of the original and am planning to get some matched for my own 80", I'll see if I can get a brand and name then let you know. But it won't be before Monday.

Diana

[101RRS]

I would have to agree that the green does look a bit light. Every green that I have seen has been a close match for the external bronze green colour of series 1s.

Garry

[series1buff]

i have some original seat backs or squabs from a 1950 ... the vinyl is very dark green .. as someone said.. like the old railways seats .. when the carriages were built by carpenters !

The rear side is lined with 1/8" black felt ..over which the vinyl sits ..Inside the front side , is white fluffy stuffing glued to the aluminium .... this is covered with a cotton fabric ..then the vinyl .

ill take pics if anyones interested ... i dont have any original seat bases

Mike

PS there is thin piping around the perimeter ...the brand name of the vinyl is VINID** cant read the rest as it's cut off . Pics coming soon .

[Sleepy]

Very interesting.

I have brown bases - obvioulsy not original - but the backs are still in green.

I had assusmed that this was also non original because it is much darker.

It may well be the original :) _ I'll stick up a photo....

[Sprint]

potentially a silly question, simply because its not going for an "authentic" result, but seeing as you have an upholsterer at your disposal, why not see if you can get the drivers seat shape made so its a bit more comfortable/supportive?

[Sleepy]

iill take pics if anyones interested ...Mike
Yes Please Mike:)



potentially a silly question, simply because its not going for an "authentic" result, but seeing as you have an upholsterer at your disposal, why not see if you can get the drivers seat shape made so its a bit more comfortable/supportive?

Not a silly questiona at all Sprint - I do want to keep it looking original but maybe he can make it a bit more "comfy". I have never driven it that far so can' really comment on the unsupportiveness (?) of the seats.

[101RRS]

I have never driven it that far so can' really comment on the unsupportiveness (?) of the seats.

It doesn't really matter - the rear end goes numb after 30 minutes or so :D

[numpty]

It doesn't really matter - the rear end goes numb after 30 minutes or so :D

I'll attest to that:p. I reckon 100 miles (yes miles) is about max until you need to get out and stretch. 250 to 300 miles a day is ample, which is about what we averaged on the way to Cooma.

Incidentally, I made new bases for Leon from some 63mm x12mm (2 1/2" x 1/2") western red cedar I have at home. Piece of cake, as they are very simple constuction. Plywood under the hessian as Diana said would probably work, but would make the base firmer at the same time, so maybe not that desirable.

[101RRS]

20 years ago I had an 86 as my daily driver - including 300km each way each week from Jervis Bay to Newcastle. In that series 1 the standard seats soon got replaced with double thickmess heavy foam rubber and then later with seats out of a 120Y - they made a huge difference. In those days I was not worried about originality.

I just threw away the original seats:o. Now with two series 1s needing seats I wished I had kept them:(.

Think an improvment would be to replace the hessain webbing in the seatbase with modern webbing.

Garry

[Sprint]

with regards to keeping things looking original, how about not aiming for concours correct, but something that looks landrover-ish, kinda how the seats evolved right through to the last of the series 3's, definitely more comfortable, and they dont look out of place

[Sleepy]

with regards to keeping things looking original, how about not aiming for concours correct, but something that looks landrover-ish, kinda how the seats evolved right through to the last of the series 3's, definitely more comfortable, and they dont look out of place

You make a good point Sprint. Much of Ol'ute is not original - Series 3 gearbox, 202 motor etc, seat belts, lights etc...

I'll probably just go for the retrim of the orginal seats in a similar vinyl and then let my bum make the final call!!:D:D

[slug_burner]

It will be very difficult to make it all an exact replica, that Dunlo-pillow stuff is as expensive as poison and very difficult to get. I know a person that works for whatever Dulop is called now and I asked about it. He said something about it being made in england for mattresses only if I recal correctly.

I have gone for the clark rubber foam, I have a mix of densities and will try and make all three seat bases with a slightly different mix of the medium and lighter densities so I can get a sample of what works best.

[chazza]

Good move Sluggie! Let us know how you get on,

Cheers Charlie

[cjc_td5]

Attached is a photo of what is left of the seat backs in "Len". The green seat colour is a "mid green" not too different to the seat photo posted by Garry, so maybe the colour is not too light after all.

The grey gingham/checkered pattern is more interesting. Was it a pattern on the more salubious models? Can't imagine why you would custom recover the seats in a pattern like that?:D

Cheers,

[chazza]

The grey gingham/checkered pattern is more interesting. Was it a pattern on the more salubious models? Can't imagine why you would custom recover the seats in a pattern like that?:D

Cheers,

Not a Station Wagon pattern is it?

[Sleepy]

The green seat colour is a "mid green" not too different to the seat photo posted by Garry, so maybe the colour is not too light after all.



Thanks mate - They look very similar to my seat backs so I am assuming the backs are ridgy didge:D All I've got to do now is match it:angel:

Garry's looked a lot lighter (as does the picture on Exmoor Trim site.) but this is probably more to do with the photo than the colour of the seats.

Anyone have any ideas were I could locate similar vinyl????

[101RRS]

The grey gingham/checkered pattern is more interesting. Was it a pattern on the more salubious models? Can't imagine why you would custom recover the seats in a pattern like that?:D

Cheers,

That pattern was used in the swb station wagons - I have a rear seat back in very good condition covered in that in my station wagon - I also have elephant hide still on my kick panels. In this car I have no seat bases covered in original material.

Looking at my other series 1 88, its seat bases have been recovered in brown and have plywood bases. Of interest the seat bases in my stationwagon have exactly the same plywood bases - these two cars have exactly the same sort of bases so maybe hessian wasn't always used - certainly on later series 1s.

The three seat backs in the standard series 1 have been stripped on all upholstory except the back of one - it seems to be grey elephant hide - it looks like elephant hide may have been an option as well.

Grey elephant hide would look good but it is no longer made and the reproductions like Exmoores are no where near correct - but would probably still look good.

Garry

[101RRS]

Sleepy - you might be interested in these. You should have blue wheels with a grey body - and you can have deluxe trim - or green check seat trim:o.


Click on each pic to have a good look at each page.
the Land Rover 4-wheel drive pick-up truck (http://www.landrover.vlothuizen.nl/show/list/1006-1.html)
The Land Rover 4-wheel drive wielbasis 2,72 M. (http://www.landrover.vlothuizen.nl/show/list/9007-1.html)
Brochures (http://www.landrover.vlothuizen.nl/brochures.html)

[Sleepy]

Spoke to my friendly wheelchair engineer and he is going to have a go at moulding the base to give it a bit more shape. Said he can do it subtly without to much change from original profile. He had never heard of dunlopillow foam - but has got "just the right stuff";) - Steve makes chairs that people spend 18 hours a day in. I'm told they are very good - he's never done a car seat before but I think a series 1 should be a good starting point.

He only does the foam though and will be passing on to wheelchair upholsterer for the vinyl. He has done a Land Rover before so that sounds good.:)



You should have blue wheels with a grey body - and you can have deluxe trim - or green check seat trim:o.



Thanks for the links Garry! I've seen that first one, but not the second.

Blue wheels:eek: - I thought they were meant to be beige! MMMmmm I'll have to think about that one. Do you know what colour blue?

So is the deluxe trim like your previous picture? Not having much luck sourcing the green (Haven't tried too hard though:D).



Cheers

[101RRS]

Blue wheels:eek: - I thought they were meant to be beige! MMMmmm I'll have to think about that one. Do you know what colour blue?

So is the deluxe trim like your previous picture? Not having much luck sourcing the green (Haven't tried too hard though:D).

Cheers

I know nuthin - just reading the brochures which say the grey cars came with blue wheels and the blue cars came with grey wheels. On deluxe trim - again just going what the brochures say.

Garry

PS - grey with blue wheels does look :cool:

[Sleepy]

I know nuthin - just reading the brochures which say the grey cars came with blue wheels and the blue cars came with grey wheels. ..........grey with blue wheels does look :cool:

Geez if you know nuthin then I must have a negative balance! :D:D:D

I agree about the blue wheels and grey looking cool - not so sure about Green seats too.

"Blue and Green should not be seen........."

Maybe I'll go back to the grey trim idea:angel:

[101RRS]

Maybe I'll go back to the grey trim idea:angel:

Exmoor in the UK do sell the modern reproduction of Elepahant Hide - maybe you can get a sample and match it locally.

I think a grey body, with blue wheels and dark grey elephant hide seats would go well together.

Green seats were never going to go with a grey paint job.

Garry

[Sleepy]

Made contact with "Penny" from Exmoor last week - they're only willing to sell me entire seat set - 210 pounds a set + 100 pound delivery.

I suggested to them I'll need to save my "pennies"!:D:Thump:

I agree, I like the elephant hide look. (Think I'd need a pith helmet and a shot gun rack though!!!!:cool:)

[101RRS]

This is a nice non - original set of seats in a really nice 88. Maybe the originals should have been like these.

Garry

[cjc_td5]

All,
I have to get some new seats made up for Len.
I have the metal seat backs with remnants of some old fabric but nothing to go on for the bases.

Could anyone give me some indicative thicknesses for your seat backs and bases so that I can get some foam the right thickness? The remnants of my seat backs would suggest the padding used to be about 1" thick??

I could go the whole hog with an Exmoor kit but am going to get some basic ones made locally using ply seat bases and the original metal seat backs.

Cheers,
Chris