Not exactly a n Elf/Hornet, but close

The real leather has a richer look, I like your choice.

Good call on the leather.
I'm really surprised how good the original piece looks considering you found it in the cat.

Red Riley wrote:Good call on the leather.
I'm really surprised how good the original piece looks considering you found it in the cat.

The old fabric was used as a template to make the new dash rails in pale blue. After removing the glue and a good clean it looks great.

John, Were you able to source the proper boot seal?

Yes. The correct one was sent to me , and fitted like a glove.

I have been quietly watching these updates! Finally, I have to contribute - Looks amazing!

Not only am I jealous of your car, but also of the brilliant people and companies you have found to redo and restore things for you! Finding companies to do that kind of stuff to that level of quality is a nightmare in the UK!

I can just see the face of the trimmer, here in the UK, if I had turned up with 3m of thick ass carpet, asking him to stich piping and make special shapes!!!

Amazing job, can't wait to see it finished.

PS did you ever get yor key sorted? If not, let me have the code and I will get one over to you!

Adam

I guess the grass is greener on the other side. I wish I was restoring the car in the UK, with all the specialists and their know-how.

I tried to find a key in the UK but the code stamped on the barrel was strange and I could not find a match.

Notice there is no over riders on the front of that coloured photo?

I know. i will have to fill the holes before I rechrome the front bumper.

Today I covered the cross member in carpet and trial fitted all the seats.













It looks almost ready but that is so far away from the truth....

It was an all carpet day today.
I cut out and trial fitted most of the pieces.
The carpet is woven Sisal and is quite hard and thick at 6-7 mm. Its difficult to cut exactly.






I also covered the rear parcel shelf in leather. It looks great.

It looks very smart John

Managed to "escape" from the wife for a couple of hours and went to my shed.

I put the three piece polished aluminium strip around the rear window aperture. The car has no rear window.

That look ace! Really tidy John, coming on smashing.

Today I fitted the handbrake and the rear piece of the carpet over the exhaust tunnel. Fitting the two metal plates that the handbrake wires go through by myself was quite a challenge, but in the end I made it.



I did a final polish of the rear badges before I fit them.



And I screwed on the rear light clusters. The rear left one had two different size threads. Very odd....
It was very hard to find nuts in the right size and could only find these funny square ones.

I got hundreds of those "Funny square ones" come in very handy somestimes as they are only alloy and will re cut the thread to suit the bolt. Don't rely on them for an earth though !

The carpets are pretty much finished. They look better than I thought. Great mach with the colour of the wicker as well.







I fitted the rear badges to the boot. Love putting chrome bits to freshly painted panels!!

only one thing to say wonderfull

WOW! That is amazingly beautiful work. Looks very nice. I do have a question, since the car is a beach car, what is it like to sit in those seats in a bathing suit? Seems it could be uncomfortable on bare skin of the legs. Not that you would want to even think of letting anyone sit on those fantastic seats without a really good cover to protect them

They are not comfortable at all!! Very hard and the do not "sink" at all.

At least they are waterproof!!

methinks cushions may be required?

Big_Al_Smith wrote:methinks cushions may be required?

Mybe you could drop a hint to the bus companys Al? We have some lovely leather seats on ours but can you stop sliding off them. One answer NO ! So when the driver puts the brakes on a bit harsh, you simply slide dorward and almost end up on floor. Rant over back to wicker work or rather Johns project. I had the pleasure of seeing the rear seats when John called to my home to do a bit of business and I thought them very nice. I didn't try sitting on them though !

leather seats? you got some posh buses up your way mate!

Big_Al_Smith wrote:leather seats? you got some posh buses up your way mate!

Probably easier to wipe clean? These are brand new "First" buses on a local route with speed ramps so you can guess they don't last long!

The steering wheel is finally finished and I trial fitted the dash panels.