• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

replacing the interior

Share this page

tomshobby

tomshobby

Yoda
Offline
I need to replace interior in my '74 Midget. Carpets, panels, seat covers and foams. And am changing from black to tan or autumn leaf (prefer tan).

I am concerned about:
Being as complete as possible, not missing pieces.
Color matching. Not having different shades of which ever color I choose.
How things fit.
The quality of the product.

Where should I purchase the replacements?

Any help is appreciated.
 
truthfully, I think moss is the only affordable that offers a complete package so that the door cards match the seat covers.

Are you wanting complete "stock" look?
 
Tom,
I'm in the same boat, but for a Bugeye. I like Mirror Trim and AH Spares in the UK for quality and price, but I'm having difficulty finding the matching material for the dash and door pockets. I'm changing from my current red/black to the original Iris blue/blue.
Rut
 
Tom, maybe try the mgoc?
 
Trevor, My car was originally orange with a black interior. I painted it "Euro Green". The interior had been destroyed by mice before I bought the car so it needs replacing. Because of the color change and not wanting black in a convertible (once was enough) I would like Autumn Leaf or Tan. Like Rut, my biggest concern is to find all the bits to make the change complete. Of course fit and quality are also important.
I was inclined toward the Tan VB kit just because it looks like it would be a single item order and I do like the tan color but have seen less than glowing reports about the carpet quality. Moss is more money but it seems that there are more reports of satisfied customers. Having never seen the Autumn Leaf in a dark green car I am not sure about that combination.
IMG_6597.JPG
 
I'm not a fan of autumn leaf. However, tan is on my list for the bugeye.
 
Tom,
I've got a set of tan pull handles from my 73 parts car that are in great shape with the end caps for postage.
Rut
 
Rut said:
Tom,
I'm in the same boat, but for a Bugeye. I like Mirror Trim and AH Spares in the UK for quality and price, but I'm having difficulty finding the matching material for the dash and door pockets. I'm changing from my current red/black to the original Iris blue/blue.
Rut
Click to expand...

Rut,
AH Spares will sell you matching vinyl by the yard, very reasonably priced too. I don't recall that be listed online, but I asked and they obliged.
 
Steve,
Thanks, I'll send them an email and see what they've got. I have new hardboard panels that I cut patterned from the originals and wouldn't mind finding the seats in leather and using the matching vinyl for that and the dash. I will go with black carpet to keep everything from being blue.
Rut
 
I had a good experience with MGOC. Since we are in the US and they are in the UK, you don't have to pay the VAT. Their shipping charges were reasonable, they had many colors to choose from, and they also had matching vinyl by the yard.
 
Shirley and I have talked this over and we both much prefer not to go with Autumn Leaf. That automatically leaves out Moss. Besides they are ridiculously expensive.
One option is to buy the VB interior kit and toss the carpet replacing it with carpet from Prestige. That would save some money and have an upgraded carpet.
And another option is to go with seat kits w/hr covers from Prestige; a carpet kit from Prestige; and a panel kit from VB.
I have made a spreadsheet with product from Moss, VB, Prestige, and Mirror Trim and using personal appeal as well as price consideration this seems to make some sense, at least to me.
 
I might toss Stock interiors into the mix - https://www.stockinteriors.com they have a wide array of colours and I am happy with their product. as well various ebay sellers here and in the UK will make seats in different colours (or piping) at a price.
 
Tom,
I've talked with this shop and it's local to Jim Gruber. He makes seats, seat covers, interior kits, etc. and the Triumph guys seem to like his products. I'm thinking about leather seat covers from him and Prestige carpet and panels from somebody.
Rut
https://stores.ebay.com/2TALL-CUSTOM-AUTO-INTERIORS?_rdc=1
 
tomshobby said:
JP, do you have any pics of your carpet from Stock Interiors? Is it a 1piece molded carpet or sections like other mfrs?
Click to expand...

Here you go. So far as I know no one provides a one piece molded carpet for a Midget. It is sections - and you can see that the non-bound pieces are glued and the bound pieces are (theoretically) removable. All the pieces fit really well, though I had to cut a wedge out of the piece that goes over the wheel wells. Fortunately Mrs JP is an excellent seamstress and was able to do that for me. What I like about Stock, in addition to the colour selection is that you can get it in cut pile or looped pile. Ms Triss, in 1976 would have actually had a cut pile carpet but, I chose a looped pile because it is a more retro look. It is the sort of detail that contributes to the impression that the car is actually older than it is.



 
Thanks JP, it looks great! Seeing yours I am wondering if I might keep my black seats for now and just replace the damaged panels and carpet. This car hasn't been on the road since the PO took it apart about 12 years ago. I am getting impatient.
IMG_5276.JPGIMG_5277.JPG
 
JP,
WOW, does that pop! I really like the color combination and the quality of the carpet looks great.
Rut
 
Thanks Rut, I really like the contrasting colours too - especially as black seats with black carpet = black hole.

Tom, with mine, I finally realized that every good idea was another 6 months and another thousand dollars - which is why I don't have a five speed, or dual SU's or or or. Your seats look fine - I have been washing the seats from my vauxhall and have started with scrubbing bubbles and a good brush and then following up with Mother's Vinyl Cleaner - and am very pleased with the results. (lot's of people say don't use Armor All) Up close I am going to need new seats before too long, the drivers anyways, there are a couple of spots where the vinyl has pulled away and it is starting to crack - what I am currently thinking is replacing with black seats and red piping. we'll see.
 
Back
Top