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Best Interiors

Michael Oritt

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I got mine from Heritage. The only component that did not seem correct was the transmission cover--not quite round enough but looks okay otherwise.
 

Bob_Spidell

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We put a Moss interior in our BN2 (leather seats). Couple minor imperfections, but no major complaints; I think the biggest 'issue' was that the floor pieces weren't trimmed as nicely as the high priced spread, and they sent two of one side instead of one of each, but they made good at no cost. Their instructions for installing the boot liner were extremely helpful.
 

Michael Oritt

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I had the seats installed professionally. I did the carpeting and Armacord.
 
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I got a complete interior kit from Jon Skinner in England. Very pleased with it. It was for BJ8 with correct clear piping most other companies don't offer.
Marv
 

Patrick67BJ8

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I purchased my interior from Heritage fir my BJ8. I’d highly recommend that unless you are very experienced with doing automotive interiors that you have them do the seats. Nothing will kill the looks of a great Restoration than poor looking interior pieces. It was not easy dealing with them and I had to have some things redone, which was disappointing, but in the end my interior looks great and a vast number of compliments from other Healey owners made it worthwhile.
 

Bob_Spidell

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I purchased my interior from Heritage fir my BJ8. I’d highly recommend that unless you are very experienced with doing automotive interiors that you have them do the seats. Nothing will kill the looks of a great Restoration than poor looking interior pieces. It was not easy dealing with them and I had to have some things redone, which was disappointing, but in the end my interior looks great and a vast number of compliments from other Healey owners made it worthwhile.

Agree completely. I paid a local upholstery shop $500 to do my leather seats and the man who did the work--an 83-year-old with 70 years' experience--said getting the skins to fit over the foam was a real, er, female dog. It seems to be particularly difficult to get the wrinkles out of the lower seat backs (where the seams are).

Seats.JPG
 

Brinkerhoff

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I've had one dealing with Heritage and that was plenty. When you advertise "for the perfectionist" your work needs to back it up. Its the owner's attitude that got me.
 

Gliderman8

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I purchased mine from Aldridge Trimming in the UK.
Work was excellent and they were very accommodating.
Check them out: https://www.aldridge.co.uk/
 
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There are interiors, and there are interiors; Heritage is premium looks/premium price (and apparently, free attitude). Moss on the other hand is a very good value for the money, ideal for a driver/local club car shows, and substantially less cost, if not quite Pebble Beach material.

I did the Moss kits (vinyl seats, carpet & side/door pnls) myself, and I think everything turned out well__though I've accepted that the seats are my "starter seats" and what I learned from doing them I will apply when I redo them in leather.**

If you take anything away from this post, my opinion is that the Moss kits__which are made to order__are indeed a very good value for the money.




** nothing wrong at all with the Moss vinyl seat covers, nor my method to install them, but I did not use the correct padding__goes in between the formed foam cushions and the covers__and the lumpiness of the chopped foam rubber that I used is visible. Oops!

Visuals, start to finish if you're interested, can be found here: https://www.spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/Healey-at-home/Interior_Makeover

IMG_2995.jpg
 

Jack T

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I bought the kit from Heritage for my BT7 and am very happy with the results. The primary reason I decided to buy from them was because of the color of the piping. I've seen the white piping from Moss and it is a stark white, while Heritage provides a cream piping. Perhaps a minor detail, but I knew that I would never be happy with the bright white piping.
 

John Turney

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I agree with Randy that the Moss kits are fine at a reasonable price. I installed their kits (seats, carpets and panels) in my Longbridge BN4 and the patterns are pretty close. They are limited in their color selection, though. If their color selection is not what you want, my second choice would be Jon Skinner. As for doing it yourself or having a professional, the 100 seat backs with the stitching around the ears on the sides is particularly difficult. Everything else is relatively easy.
 

RAC68

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Hi All,

Most of us do not have the skill set to create an interior but assembling and installing interior panels is well within the skill set of most. When I was addressing the interior for my Healey, the internet was not yet prominent and, although one of the few with an international email account for business, I was left on my own. Since the front panels on the front and rear seats along with the rear fold-down seat back pads and unique waffled side covers were in very good condition, I decided to try my hand with my wife's sewing machine. I starter my search for an exact grain match for the black vinyl and for over a year, searched fabric and vinyl providers during my frequent nation-wide business trips. Finally I found that exact match at LaBaron Bonney Co. Antique Auto Restoration Fabrics in Amesbury, MA... not far from the headquarters of the company I worked for.

Equipped with the proper vinyl, my first target was the rear side panels that had lower damage due wet rugs over years. Since the waffle patterned vinyl was still in good condition, I recreated the wood/metal backing and sewed new forward vinyl sections to the original waffled portion and applied the new cover on padding to the new backing. The results were perfectly restored back side panels.

Now that I had good back panels, I noticed that these rich black back panels had made the door panels look shallow and washed out (sun damage). Additionally, my habit of leaning my knee against the door when driving left a large indentation in the door panel. Examining the original door panels, I realized that the complexity of its construction was no greater then the already-creation rear panels and I decided to reproduce them on a much more ridged backing of porcelain-like tempered Masonite used back then for shower and bath enclosures. After the successful reproduction and installation of the door panels, the dash cover and console were next with the kick panels to follow.

Looking at the seats, I found their backs to be in the same vinyl and condition as were the original side panels and, as a result, I carefully replaced each with new sections while retaining their original seat faces. Additionally, padding was also added to bolster the support in the common areas as well as at the lower lumbar to improve driving comfort. Over the years, I created a vertical dash, console, and speaker side panels to accommodate a modern sound system (original console with radio incase I decide to go back).

Although many may not be incline to address making their own panels or borrowing their wife's sewing machine (very infrequently used prior), I would suggest that for some it is an alternative and area they should not dismiss off-hand. Although the pictures below present the interior after the installation of a real sound system more then 10 years after initially performed, a closer more immediate view of when the interior was initially completed can be found on pages 94 and 95 of John Heilig's Austin-Healey 100-3000 published in 1995.

100_0276.jpg 100_0268.jpg NUU0NEZBRTAzNUI4NzJBOUU3MUQ6ZmIwYWZkMjQxZDhjZjdiNTg3MDE5MzJiZTM5ZmY0ZmE6Ojo6OjA=.jpg

Sorry for the long dissertation,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
Last edited:

elrey

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Another vignette; I have upholstered three sets of seats so far, all of Moss supplied materials. Two sets vinyl and one set leather/vinyl backs. New foam and new seat frames on two of them. Original backs on all. I used the dry cleaner bag technique on the last two seat backs and it saved my bacon. The seats with the new foams have held up well. The vinyl seats with the tired seat foams are still presentable. The key here is patience and perseverance. An even tension when fastening the clips to the frames makes the job. One of the bottom seat covers had a weird corner where the stitching caused a slight dart but after I quietly wrestled the leather with my fingers somewhat it relaxed and looked fine when drawn to the frame. All of these sets were bought during the sales for less than standard price. I liked the results so I purchased my entire interior from them. The armrest is a gem. I have not installed my interior yet am confident that it will be splendid. The leather smells great and looks even of colour. The vinyl is a good colour match but of a moderately different grain texture than my original. The door and foot panels are well made. As to Moss carpet sets, the carpet is reasonably priced and should serve my driver quality desires. My transmission hump cover is of two pieces of carpet and I have learned through the writings of our hallowed Keoke that it should be of one piece to be as original. I believe they offer one piece hump covers if you so desire.... I am just a normal Joe carpenter with scant prior upholstery experience. It can be done. It can be done well. With the advent of Internet instruction the sky is the limit. Again PATIENCE is the key. Take a break when frustration mounts. Moss seat kits are O.K in my book for cars that are driven. As to being the best available interior,no. The best value/service and beauty...I think so.:cheers:....
 
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Patrick67BJ8

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I bought the kit from Heritage for my BT7 and am very happy with the results. The primary reason I decided to buy from them was because of the color of the piping. I've seen the white piping from Moss and it is a stark white, while Heritage provides a cream piping. Perhaps a minor detail, but I knew that I would never be happy with the bright white piping.
I agree about their piping choices. I ordered a off white/ivory color in leather & vinyl with piping matching my carpet color. Even though the BJ8’s leather interiors piping was the same color as the seats mine looks very good and at the shows it receives lots of compliments and awards. I later found out that the color I chose looks exactly like the ”grey” color of pictures that was sent to me of original grey BJ8’s.
 

HealeyRick

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As an aside, during the British Sports Car Hall of Fame installation at Moss Motors distribution center in VA last year we got a tour of the upholstery room. The skins are laid out on a large cutting machine and the outline of the pieces to be cut are optimized to fit the greatest number of pieces while avoiding any imperfections in the skin. All CNC, Here's an example of the type of machine, very trick:

 
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