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BJ8 trimmer or interior supplier recommendations

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Phantome46

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I am getting close to ordering my interior but wanted to get some recommendations from people who have done it.


I have found a couple of companies - one was john skinner who seems very good.


Thoughts?
 
IMO there's no substitute for having everything done from scratch by a proper trimmer. John Skinner is the best and supplies much of the trade, but I used them for my TR, just the seats, I had the rest done from scratch using marine ply, 100% wool motor wilton carpets and Brooklands Hide from the Real Hide Company (preferred to Connolleys). We really struggled with the seats because they weren't exactly the right size and the two were slightly different sizes.

My son is a proper trimmer www.richardjamesupholstery.com and he is of the opinion that most trim kits suffer with these issues. They do a job, but are not what an expert can do. He previously declined to fit a Healey trim kit because it was such a poor fit and he spent so long on an MG TC that he reckoned he could have done a better job for not much more.

Most of these cars are spoiled by poor trim kits IMO.

Sorry I can't post a picture on this site to show the TR interior, but here's a link to a Flickr picture. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bristol400/7764561542/
 
I have the MOSS interior in my Healey and it is good. But the little wings on the seats were short on material. I think each car has some differences that point to a local fitter doing a better job. But we did our own interior and it came out pretty good.

Jerry
BJ8
 
I agree with our friends from the UK, Skinner or AH Spares put out a great product. I redid the complete interior on my 100M and Jonathon Skinner, son of the owner I think, was great to work with and really communicated quickly considering the time difference between England and South Carolina. The door cards furnished by Skinner are the best I have seen to include all the usual suspects on both sides of the Atlantic.
Regards,
Mike
 
Phantome46 said:
I am getting close to ordering my interior but wanted to get some recommendations from people who have done it.


I have found a couple of companies - one was john skinner who seems very good.


Thoughts?
Click to expand...
The BJ8 interior is a very difficult one to do so keep that in mind. "Fit" is of upmost importance in final look and should not be taken on by an inexperienced person. After seeing so many great looking BJ8's exteriors with poor fitting interiors I decided to have Heritage do mine and include in the price was me sending off my Front Seats, Console, Dash facia panel, Rear Seats and rear squab/fold down shelf assembly to have them install and fit those pieces. Some installation was included in their prices but not all. A Healey restorer up in Canada told me that he had two different shops do a BJ8 interior and they told him never to bring them another BJ8 to do.

It won't be cheap which ever way you go. One reason I chose Heritage for purchase of the interior as well as the installation of the material on the Seats, etc, was because I didn't want two companies pointing their fingers at each other when somethings not right and there is a real good possibility of that happening.

I guess you could inquire about the Skinner interiors and if they would do the "fit" if you sent them the old Seats, etc. Don't forget to inquire about the little chrome trim pieces and other hardware too and see if the company you choose will install those pieces as well.
 
When I did my BJ8, I got the kit from Sorts and Classic's in CT. Good kit for the money. Didn't have the clear piping but rest of the kit went in very good.

Marv
 
Did it myself , seat covers and parcel shelf material from AH spares . trim panel kit from E-bay (512 classics I think) Carpet kit from Moss . I did have some help from an upholstery freind with the front seat covers . Other than that it was my sweat and sore thumbs and glued fingers etc .:eagerness::eagerness:
 
I have a Navy new connoley leather full kit from Skinner in England , left you a private message if interested , Jeff
 
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