The kit arrived from Hampton Coach. The initial feeling was compared to opening the box of a 1,000 piece puzzle titled Kansas Wheat Field



And this didn't include the seat

WOW!! Does not look like fun. When you get done, would like to see picture of project. Am selfish here as when I got my 31 Standard Coupe, interior was done, but, found in parcel tray behind seat an original shade with tassel and one piece of cloth covered material apparently either left over or not installed. Can't see where it goes, so that is why I am asking about your project.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks and lots of luck, steady hand, and patience in your endeavor.

Jim.

Sorry, was only thinking of myself Dad.

I know you have 5w and mine is 3w, but if a picture or more of mine would help in any way, would be glad to help out if you get in a bind.

Jim.

thanks Jim, I think I have everything figured out. the headliner was sewn incorrectly so I'm waiting on it to arrive before I can go any further but I have finished the doors.

the car was completely void of any interior when I got it so I haven't a clue about the shade. I don't see any holes to indicate it's position.

one question. on the upper windshield header panel there are two holes punched in the backer that corresponds with a metal bracket that connects the upper and lower header boards. this would tell me there should be exposed trim screws. bevel head screws and trim washers?

Good luck with installing your kit. I purchased a Hampton Coach kit a few years ago for my '38 2 door but am just now starting to do something with it. I was looking at the front bucket seats which have a hard back cover that has to be hand sewn to the seats. I thought that might be a little tougher job than I wanted to handle so I decided to farm it out. I hauled the seats to an upholsterer yesterday and he wanted at least $700.00 to install the kits (price depending on what he found inside). The seats are still covered with the original upholstery and except for dry-rot, are in pretty good shape. I have some more feelers out and another place to take them for an estimate but it is raining here today and the seats are in the back of my truck so I will have to wait on that estimate for a while. If it is going to cost that much, I may reconsider and give it a shot myself. Since I am furnishing everything, I thought $700.00 was a little high. Beamer

The $ 700 sounds like a "I really don't want to do it but will if you pay me enough." price. Blind stitching is not all that difficult if you have a blind stitching needle.

Picture????

Dad.
The only trim screws on mine that are exposed are the 2 holes at both ends of header that are attachment screws. They are the bevel headed screws with trim rings.
Mine may be incorrect?? Will look it up in body manual and see if I can find anything different.

Jim.

Hampton Coach sent me a curved needle that is a half circle that would be 1" in diameter if it were a full circle, and said that was what I needed. It is getting to look a lot more like I will be the one to use it. I hauled the seats to 3 other places today. One told me he would do them for $1,000.00 EACH; a second said he had never seen anything like them before but offered to do the pair for $960.00; and the third guy is going to call me with an estimate. However, I don't think I want him to do them regardless of what he charges. There was a full seat bottom he just completed sitting on his work table and one of the seams looked like a snake! Also, he wanted to use "modern" stuff to attach the hardbacks - something used in furniture upholstering that is a flexible metal tacking strip. He wasn't too thrilled when I said I wanted them sewed on with the heavy thread, as original. He said he would do that but wanted to use monofilament thread that adapted to the color it was used on. He just didn't seem to grasp the concept of doing it as close as possible to the way it was originally. I did try to explain these modern things were not available in 1938 but I eventually gave up. In any case, a friend put me onto a very talented car guy that might do them but he is away until the middle of September so for now, they are back in my basement. As far as going back to the guy with the $700.00 offer, I learned yesterday that after the present owner took over the shop, their work on antique autos has "gone vastly downhill". I guess I have another winter project unless this guy who is on tour works out. Beamer

Beamer.. Sounds like you are getting the royal run around on your upholstery kit. I purchased a complete kit from Hampton Interior in 1999 for my '41 Special Deluxe 5 pass. Coupe. The friend "also a novice" that helped me restore my car installed the kit. I had the sunvisors done by Hampton and ordered the complete kit and the taupe front floor mat. We installed the complete kit without any major problems. It took some high level conferences sometimes on the instructions but it was not that bad. The rear floor was just a piece of carpet . I bought a piece of carpet from a local shop and cut and installed it.
We had to use a lot of Ozark Ingenuity but it turned out real good. SO with that said I recommend you tackle the job yourself preferably with a friend. Good luck JIM JAR41

JAR41, I did the same thing, bought a kit and had Hampton do the sunvisors. I am not worried about most of the kit, just the front bucket seats. They have a hard back that has to be hand sewn to the seats. After getting the prices I did just to do the buckets with me furnishing everything, I have decided to give them a try. It will be sometime this winter before I get to it. Someone put them together originally so I should be able to take off the old and put on the new, with the help of a lot of photos. Beamer

the correct headliner finally arrived.it appears "right out to you" means a week before we ship to correct our mistake in Hampton speak.

the installation went reasonably well but I did have to tweak a few of the panels for correct fit and I had to make one panel myself as they only sent the material. as posted by others, the instructions are marginal.

as for the seat, a local shop said he could replicate it pretty close at half the price of HC kit.