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Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:26 pm

I am looking at going with a cloth interior, like Strifen Braun on my resto and was curious if anyone has comments about longer term durability?

Thanks

Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:08 am

Hi,

As with so many things in life, quality outlasts cheap. A good quality cloth will far out wear a cheap vinyl. Then again a high quality vinyl would out wear cheap cloth.
Depends on what you are getting, how its made, and very often, how much you pay for it though that doesn't always hold true.
Keep in mind high quality sheet material can be made into a crappy seat cover by using low quality binding methods and materials.

Doesn't help much does it?? Just know what you are purchasing.

Dave

Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:35 pm

West Coast Classic Restorations does a nice, high quality interior that you can order and place in yourself. Their website has nice samples.

http://www.classicvws.com/type1.htm

Chris

Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:53 am

smash wrote: I am looking at going with a cloth interior, like Strifen Braun on my resto and was curious if anyone has comments about longer term durability?

Thanks

We have original cloth interiors in our 3 pre55 beetles and It is still going strong. Go with cloth, it is far nicer to live with and more comfortable/ nicer to drive in than vinyl and having just sold my original vinyl interior car I personally would never go back to buying a car again with a vinyl interior even og(apart from Kabs/coachbuilt). Also the early repro fabrics I have seen in other cars are a super match so that seems no longer a worry with having a new one made if you have to go that route either.
:D

Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:13 am

Also check http://www.himmelservice.de/english/start.htm

Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:46 am

Thanks for the responses.

I am looking at WCCR. I was hoping to get some feedback from folks who actually owned a car with the cloth interior for a while.

Seems like most people restore them, then sell them, so getting feedback of someone who actually owned one for the long term is difficult.

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:05 am

My Oct. 53 Oval came with a cloth interior also so I am very interested in what peoples input is also and I won't be flipping mine after the interior is in. :D

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:18 am

Going on five years now with a wcc interior installed by me and my brother.German square weave carpet and german mohiar headliner is the only way to go.Looks as fresh as the day we put it in!

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:24 am

My brothers going on 2yrs

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:27 am

55bundt wrote: My brothers going on 2yrs

Nice. 8)

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:49 am

Joey, contact WCCR for some samples for your '53. They carry the Herringbone material that closely matches your original interior. Since you aren't close to them, it's nice that you can buy it and install it. I'd recommend finding someone close that can do your headliner for you though. I'm sure you could do it, but a nicely installed headliner makes the car :D

Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:50 am

i am putting an all cloth interior in i went with a different company called lebaron boney.it's awool broadcloth.i just got my front seats back and they look awsome love the material.
as for headliner and carpet i went with westcoast classics.
gota say their stuff may be a little on the higher side but it is damn nice stuff definatly recomend them.
if you look closely you can see the material on the pillar that i ordered from Lebaron Bonney

Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:53 am

Looks great! I have looked at the differences in german mohair and the cheaper mohair headliners.The german mohair lasts and lookks great, but the cheaper cloth will look fuzzy and very nappy after a couple of years.The german square weave carpet is very durable and easy to install.The synthetic square weave does not bend well during installlation and tends to frey easier.