356 Headlining

[John Clarke]

Hi all
After the accident I had in France in the 356 in June, the car has been at the body shop. when the car went in for repair to where the Red deer hit me straight in the side, we decided to media blast the whole car down to bare metal. Good Idea? Not! Well not in my opinion, as it has exposed numerous poorly done repairs from the last 58 years! All of these issues are being properly addressed and redone where needed, but where the inside headlining has been removed to work on the various rust issues and repairs around the windows it will now not be able to be refitted. How does the headlining get replaced with new? Does anyone sell a kit? This is for a RHD 61 356 B T5 Coupe with the white 'pin dot' headlining.
All I want for Christmas is my 356 back, not going to happen this year or anytime soon. Thanks for any advice, and can I take this opportunity to wish all 356 Registry members a Very Happy Christmas and a happy new year, Feliz Navidad y Prospero An'o y felicidad
Best wishes Jay

[Ashley James]

I bought my interior from Lakewell.com and it included a headliner of the correct and original design in the correct material. Lake well are in Belgium and if your windows are out this is the time to fit a new one.

[Joris Koning]

Plenty of kits out there but none of them use the original type material. The original type material has not been available for years

[Don Gale]

A quick Google search brings up several sources in or near the UK:

http://www.lakewell.com (Belgium, act quickly before Brexit takes effect)

http://www.wonderlandclassics.com/headliners/

http://www.design911.co.uk

as well as many others. Also numerous listings on ebay.uk

Various US vendors stock them and likely and provide international shipping.

[Doug McDonnell]

There are plenty of places to buy a headliner as mentioned. The headliner bows have small rubber ends on them which you will probably need new also. Check PR Services for those. No sense paying postage from the USA. I am referring to these: https://www.stoddard.com/64455551500.html.html Of course doing the headliner you will want to re-stuff your sun visors and dye them. The slippery slope has caught you.

[Martin Benade]

It’s not easy to install one beautifully. Is the shop already well practiced at doing a 356 headlining? It can take a couple of weeks to get it right. Normally the main top part is installed and then the various edges are clamped in place with LOTs of clamps. Then give things time to relax and fine-tune the tension and flatness. Harry DeNoers has some good pictures of his being done correctly.

[Ashley James]

The Lakewell headliner that came out of my 356C looked and Lakewell claimed it was the same as originally fitted and the same as the material that came out. Have a look at their site because they’re supposed to be the best, or so I was told.

My son runs a restoration business and would rather not to fit trim kits, he prefers to make from scratch to ensure a perfect fit. However we were able to to find a German supplier who made the horsehair bases for the front seats so we bought the kit and most of it was to concours standard, though he did have to make armrests and a few other bits. But Lakewell had supplied enough extra leather for this to be possible. I’m sure there are other good suppliers, but I don’t know of them, equally I’m sure Lakewell is a good option and that some are not.

I’ll do photos if required.

[Doug McDonnell]

The only seam present is behind the rear quarter windows. Just make sure that is equal both sides. I am sure the Lakewell one would be as good as you can get. They all have a little extra material to trim after fitting. I think I ended up with just over 100 small clamps when I did mine.

[Bob Kittel]

Plenty of kits out there but none of them use the original type material. The original type material has not been available for years

I looked at the Lakewell site and while it is hard to see what their material is it does look like the rest of the headliners being offered everywhere. I'd like to see a piece in person, I am from Missiouri, you know the rest

[John Brooks]

From the ABCGT forum. May be a source here


https://www.abcgt.com/new-forum/forum/m ... headliners

[John Clarke]

Thanks and best wishes to all, I composed a detailed reply to all individuals who took the time to reply to me and pressed submit only to have it disappear into hyperspace!
Will post again after the main event.
Happy Christmas to you all

[Michael Doyle]

From the ABCGT forum. May be a source here


https://www.abcgt.com/new-forum/forum/m ... headliners

I am the source referred to on the new 356 Coupe Headliner being available at this link. Same information will post here in the Vendor/Products category. Thanks for your interest.

Michael Doyle