Re: Headliner Quandry

Posted by HH56 On 2013/10/16 14:46:43

I've done both. A premade kit from Kanter on a 56 Patrician and installed it myself. Kind of awkward doing it alone but turned out OK. The kit had plenty of extra material and steam took care of some wrinkles that developed as it went around the curve near rear window.

At the time Kanters offerings were nowhere close to the original fabric so a downside. No idea if that situation has improved for the later cars -- although what he recently sent for consideration in the 47 is not bad and looking very tempting. I think it is cotton but not sure. It is considerably less than buying wool material from Hirsch and having his supplier make one.

On the Caribbean a local shop made a new one using the old as a pattern and also installed it. That old headliner was in good condition -- just thoroughly stained and polluted from a chain smoker. If you have something in decent condition to use as a good pattern, IMO, probably the best way. If the one for a pattern is torn and shrunken then unless the upholstery guy is familiar or at least pretty decent at filling in blanks, maybe not.

Finding a fabric to perfectly match the 54 original might be an issue.