tr7triumph.com

By chance, I stopped at the local fabric and foam store to see if they had the vinyl for a new back window, or if they could recommend a local shop top replace the window in my 7's top.

In the corner I see "All hides $99". I'm looking, they had about a dozen. The lady says, "You can spread any of them out on the table..."

So, I find one that looks like it might be a great match to my 7's interior. I grab it,lay it out, it's beautiful. No holes, cut, scars, I'm thinking this might be a European hide. And, it's huge. nearly 5' by 10', it's marked 49+ square feet. I had planned on doing just the seat faces, but now I can do the console, and some door trim.

I flip it over to see if I could use the wrong side a suede insert for the seat, just to hold you in better when you corner. It's just as nice!

I get it home, clean up the shifter cover (which will now become leather). check the color match. I'm sure my vinyl is a little off from dirt and sun, but it looks like it's going to look great.





Did I do good? Now I guess I have to get new carpet. The inside will look so nice, and outside looks so........bad.

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com

Hay Tim, have you got a machine that will sew that stuff?

I used to have a machine that would sew sails, for the yachts, but it turned its nose up at leather.

Hasbeen

There was a highly modified TR8 at the ATDI in Steveston that had the dash padded in leather or vinyl (had Miata leather seats.). It was very well done but looked a bit too modern and posh for a 70's car. But if you're into that.... Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it. Next time.

The weakest link in a sewing machine is the motor, any old fashioned hand or foot operated machine will do the job with a decent needle.

I have an older Kenmore machine that has sewn through 4 layers of marine grade vinyl. I'll clean and oil it well before I start.

and, it's all about the needles, too. Leather needles are a must. From my experience, if you don't use the correct needle, if they don't just break, they'll just ball up the thread. I look right past the Singer needles and get Schmetz brand needles.

Being a lefty, I have more trouble finding scissors that work, and in most cases use a rotary cutter when possible.


-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com

one of the best interiors I've ever seen, was on this car from Ottawa.



Ron.

Wow Tim,you got a heck of a deal! What other colors did they have? "You tempt me towards the Dark Side,young master Luke!" lol

looks like I have to head over and take some pictures this week.

You have to remember, this is West Virgina, and semi-rural, so I'm guessing that the leather isn't jumping off the shelves.

When I get a change I'll take a good high res picture. there were only 10-12 hides when I was there, and a couple were crazy.

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mb4tim</i>

................there were only 10-12 hides when I was there, and a couple were crazy.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">



Mad cow?????

Ron.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by silver7</i>

[quote]<i>Originally posted by mb4tim</i>

................there were only 10-12 hides when I was there, and a couple were crazy.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">



Mad cow?????

Ron.





<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">


Nice. hahahahahahhahahaha

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com