Re: '56 Padded Dash

Posted by BH On 2009/6/7 21:35:40

My memory could be fuzzy, but I don't recall any stitching on the facing edge of the dash pad on the one '55 Patrician I once owned (but sold 15 years ago). It was smooth, and - given the generally poor condition of the car - I believe it was original.

All the '56s that I've owned had some kind of "stitching" on that edge, but the vinyl seemed to have a different texture. I recall a seam and double row of stitching that appeared to be molded, but I also found what appeared to be frayed stitching in the same location on another car. Again, these are all unrestored cars. Perhaps that represents some kind of running production change.

I've no doubt that the production pad was created by heating and vacuum-forming the cover. I'm not sure, however, whether the foam padding was injection molded then the cover and pad assembly cemented to the dash top panel or whether that panel was placed in a fixture, along with the cover, and foam injected between them.

Regardless, I have a feeling that I will be able to manually repad the dash top panel and then heat and restretch the vinyl myself. The vinyl covering on one of the cars is pretty stiff, but I have something that has proven to restore the pliability of vinyl trim in other vehicles that I've owned. Unfortunately, that work ain't gonna happen any time soon.