|
|
|
|||||||
| 8 & 10 cyl Bristol cars Type 407 onwards - restoration, repair, maintenance etc |
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
04-07-12, 06:01 AM
|
|||
|
|||
409 Headlining
Having just had all the seats, panels and carpets renewed in my 409, I wondered if the current vinyl ( ie non cloth) headlining was standard? The trimmer said he thought a more traditional "West of England' cloth would have been the norm. Anyone with a 408-410 able to say either way please?
Just as a guide, all carpets, new door cards and all leather trim renewed, with webbing and foam, using leather from the UK came to A$7000, which I thought was a good deal Mike Osborne 
|
|
04-07-12, 09:06 AM
|
|||
|
|||
Bristol's are a bespoke car -- you could have what you wanted from new and still can.
You got a good deal on the interior if it's a good job ! Just to add, my 408 had the original lining and it was vinyl ! Personally, I think the west of england cloth looks like a grubby lining for a lining and prefer leather or suede - each to their own. I guess only the original manufacturer of the body and interior would know for sure -- and that was probably Park Royal Vehicles :-) Somewhere on this site is a picture of Bristol 408 chassis been bodied by them along side buses !! A superb quality job they did too by top quality craftsmen ! and probably deserve much more recognition and admiration than they get. I have heard and seen written a lot of comments about a car going back to the factory where it was originally built, when in fact the car was originally put together ( body and interior ) at PRV, See web site details. My leather interior man actually found quite a few PRV inspection cards behind the leather swab of an original V8 car I was having recovered. I may sell to anyone that is interested ? They were obviously very quality conscious and everything had to be checked and signed off. Park Royal Vehicles Site Last edited by GREG; 04-07-12 at 10:26 AM. Reason: explanation !
|
|
04-07-12, 06:51 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Headliners-pros and cons
The traditional headliner was cloth on most luxury cars, and even many pedestrian cars. Vinyl came along to accomodate trucks and service vehicles, but was eventually used on most everything. Then, of course, the nasty foam with some sort of glued-on synthetic cloth resembling the real thing came into vogue.
Vinyl is very durable, and easily cleaned. The wool or fine cotton used will stain, and cleaning is a very delicate matter. The slightest leak in the rubber seals around doors and such will just ruin cloth, and the stains are near impossible to remove. So, do you want the luxury or the practicality? As to 'cheap looking', well, it would be best to look at liners in some very pricey cars these days. Finally, yes, I am going with vinyl in my cars for the roof covering.
|
|
04-07-12, 09:58 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thanks for info
Thanks for all the info on the headlining. The PRV web site was most interesting too. I knew Jones Bros. did some bodies and of course that area of London was a centre for many body builders - Park Ward, Mulliners etc.
Incidentally, I owned an Alvis TD21 until recently with the PW body- made down to a price as illustrated by its lack of rust protection! My 409 appears to have come to Australin around 1980, owned by a gynacologist in NSW. During its life, some one had the leather interior sprayed with a coating, so as to renew the colour. It was a good job, only detectable when the actual trim was dismantled. Even my Aussie trimmmer came around to saying what a nice car the Bristol was, especially with the Chrysler power! We actually take our 409 to a fair number of Chrysler Restorers Club of SA events where it gets a lot of attention. Mike
|
|
04-07-12, 10:04 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Headliners, and I don't mean news releases
Greg is the resident wag, and we must endure his humor. Some of it is quite good.
|
|
05-07-12, 01:05 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
[QUOTE-Ronald G. Stephenson;6039]Greg is the resident wag, and we must endure his humor. Some of it is quite good.[/quote]
Ron , I was tempted to respond with a quip or frivolous retort to your comment and incorrect spelling of humour. But that wouldn't be fair, as you do try to help. The fact is, practically every day of the year, I take apart and put back together various models of Bristols ( obsessed ) and I know that I have helped people to buy,sell, repair, direct to the correct suppliers, and modify their cars because I knew how to help them. I guess you mean well but most of your comments seem to contribute very little and demonstrate a lack of knowledge of the Bristol marque -- note the site you are on " Bristol Cars - Owners and Enthusiasts Forum - Powered by vBulletin " !! Please consider that when people ask a question to a problem or dilemma concerning a Bristol that they may want someone to try and give an accurate answer if possible. I don't particularly want to be a "wag" , but some of your comments are so off the mark that they beggar belief !! I know you say have had Aston's Jags Fera...... blah blah, but they are not Bristols ! Sell them all and get a Bristol - I know where you can get one :-) Keep well Greg
|
|
05-07-12, 01:26 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I say steady on old boy, I am sure Ronald didn't mean to offend, or not THAT deeply, anyway. I rather liked the Fred Flintstone suggestion, I've always felt a 412 or Beaufighter has something of the Flintstones about it (Tee Hee).
Whenever we have a 409 question quite a lot of nice people come out of the wood work to help  , maybe we should start a 409 Owners Club - VERY exclusive.
|
|
05-07-12, 09:01 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
A push button gear box club for the 407 to 409's suits me :-) Such a silly gimmick but I love the buttons !
I notice on the Chrysler Imperial club they have even got the push buttons to work with the later gear boxes. ! I really wish I hadn't sold my 408 :-( I guess I need a 411 S2 with a push button gear box.
|
|
06-07-12, 06:53 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
As some of you know, I have been fond of Bristols since many years but when I decided to buy one I wnt straight for a 409 because I did want: a) The 318 ci V8; b) The Bluemels wheel; c) The 16" wheels; d) The power steering; e) The partking brake; f) and the pushbuttons gearbox, as I don't like the massive gear lever of the 'conventional' auto gearboxes. I never use any other button than the D, R or N; the lever to put the parking brake is something that will make any non-Bristolite uneasy about the car, keeping a safe distance between you and any parking attendant. So the 409 was 'my' car from the beginning, and I have very happy of mine, thanks also to the unending help of fellow Bristolites, first of them all Greg! Of course, different criteria have been used for the selection of my first 2-litre Bristol....;-) Cheers Stefano
|
|
06-07-12, 02:24 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Hi Stefano ! My reasons for buying a 409 are EXACTLY the same.
Of course being useless person I have owned it nearly 30 years and have hardly ever had it in running order, but that is a different story. The only thing that slightly annoys me about a 409 is that I think the front end of the 410 is just a little bit prettier, but the 410 has a gear lever and 15 inch wheels so it just doesn't measure up ! It was the infamous Ralph Nader who insisted all US cars had the same gearchange system (i.e. a lever with the gears arranged PRNDL), and put an end to Chrysler push-buttons. Of course in today's electronic world we could go back to buttons very easily, or even a touch screen !
|
Linear Mode
