Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

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Steve Watson
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Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#1 Post by Steve Watson »

Do any of you experts know what type of material this is in my 56 Coupe? It's original. Would LOVE to find a source for this material as the front seats and door panels were recovered once, but the rear kept original.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6xRAbpELycSj2vqq5
 

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C J Murray
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#2 Post by C J Murray »

Acella blast. Do search.
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Bil Brown
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#3 Post by Bil Brown »

Warren Eads had some yellow Acella Bast reproduced a couple decades ago. We bought some for the 550, it was very close to OG. I`ve heard for years there`s a real close match used in patio furniture, but could`nt ever find it.
Bill Brown

Steve Watson
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#4 Post by Steve Watson »

Thanks CJ. I'll search on that name. Is this material still available? Here are more photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cDUicWpB4XnvJuZT9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BjCQMH1syx9HE3oe9
 

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C J Murray
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#5 Post by C J Murray »

Bil knows more than I do. At least he got the name right!
'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Porsche Race Car
'63 Cabriolet "Norm"
'67 911 S Original Owner
'03 Ferrari 575M
'09 Smart Passion

Steve Watson
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#6 Post by Steve Watson »

What's odd is the Kardex for my car states Red Leatherette, but I bought the car last year from the original owner who stated the original interior was this Acella Blast. I guess another example of a Kardex error.
 

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Spencer Harris
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#7 Post by Spencer Harris »

Very neat material! Must be what's listed as Naturbast Beige?
FYI from Dr. Johnson's authenticity guide:
56 Color Charts.jpg
Spencer Harris
San Joaquin Valley, CA.

Steve Watson
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#8 Post by Steve Watson »

Interesting. The original color of my car was Black. So someone must have special ordered it with the Naturbast beige.
 

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Mike Vollmer
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#9 Post by Mike Vollmer »

My car is also a 1956 with what I believe to be original seat material. Kardex states k'elder schwarz. The grain looks different than Acela Blast.
Seems like this group knows a lot about the different materials used. Any ideas?
Thanks Mike
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Donald Zingg
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#10 Post by Donald Zingg »

Acella was a product line of embossed and patterned vinyl upholstery fabrics made by the J.H. Benecke company in Hannover, Germany (see brochure below). Acella Bast, the "basketweave" material in question here was first tested in Speedster number 80021 early October, 1954. After a few weeks later the material was introduced into routine series production of 356 Speedster bodies. It was one of three beige upholstery materials originally selected for the Blue and the Signal Red pre-A Speedsters. Acella Bast was discontinued for Speedster production in December 1955.

The basketweave material was available in more than one color. During that time it was also a seat upholstery in some Spyder race cars, and was an upholstery option for the T-1 356A Coupe. Just for fun, look closely at the '55 Coupe all dressed up in the last photo - - - imagine trying to convince a concours judge that's the factory original upholstery!
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Steve Watson
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#11 Post by Steve Watson »

It's been five years, so time to finally get my front seats and door panels recovered. I ordered the Reutter Certificate for my 56 Coupe and it definitely was delivered with Acella Bast. Anyone else know of a Pre-A Coupe or T1 Coupe that still has it's factory Acella Bast? I was told that it's pretty rare to find in a Coupe and that it was mostly used in the Speedsters/Spyders.
 

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Bil Brown
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#12 Post by Bil Brown »

The blue was in my friend`s 55 Speedster #80516.......yellow was in my partner`s 550-093....yellow on left is the repro I believe from Eads
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James Davies
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#13 Post by James Davies »

Hi Steve, yes, plenty of 1954-55 coupes were offered with Acella Bast. Here's some photos of chassis 53437, a 1955 coupe.
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Jim Perrin
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#14 Post by Jim Perrin »

The 1956 dealer showroom color/upholstery sample book for coupes shows the Acella Bast upholstery material for only one color, Polyantha red. (Color 5602 with the the B upholstery option.) I'll post a photo of the page tomorrow. As Steve suggests, maybe the Acella Bast was a special order (or maybe it was a substitution when the usual material was temporarily out).
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Dick Roth
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Re: Rare Interior Material in my 56 Coupe?

#15 Post by Dick Roth »

IMG_1778.jpeg
Reutter web site, Germany

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