DODGE DA

[BEST59]

Maybe someone remember me, I'm DA owner from Italy. The works are to be finish, but i need again your precious help.

I'm not able to find a good picture of door panels trim shape.
i'm not sure of panel design; the pocket finiture.
Is the panel complete plain? or there is a edging all around?

The pocket is totaly open or there is a rigid protecion on top?

Pic's are welcomed !!!!

below is my mail adress.
best59@infinito.it

[Bob Zetnick]

I've seen different door panel styles on DA's. Do you have an open or closed car...or what body style is it? Do you happen to know your original upholstery material?

[1930]

I can tell you but like Bob mentioned cant remember your body style, think it was a roadster? Either way open car was leather only

[keiser31]

I believe that this is the car in question??

[keiser31]

Here is part of the interior...you can see part of the driver's door finish.

[BEST59]

Yes the car is Keiser31 shownd, before restoring.
under the seats i have found little parts of original trim ( material and shape), but nothing about door finished.
on yellow car picture, i can immagine !!the door, but if there are detailed pic's is better.
for example, the piping around panel is correct? . for me No !!. there are on the net other pic's with panel with relief cord between sewing at 2 cm. from the edge.

[BEST59]

Hello !!! anybody wants help me ???
Who, best of you, forum people, can help me....
DA Owners, please put some pic's !!
Thanks

[nearchoclatetown]

Best59, the yellow car belongs to a member that check in here some times. If anyone can contact Joe, maybe he will help.

[keiser31]

I sent a message to Idrjoesandiego about the interior photos. Hopefully, he can help you out.

[1930]

I can provide pics no problem, I just need a few days becuase I have other things that I am in the middle of and cant just drop what it is at this point

[1930]

According to some literature I have depending on prod. date possibly some open cars were offered with pockets on both doors and some just the conventional right door, either way it is described as a .....neat pocket......have not found an open car original car photo yet although I know I have some but this will be the same panel I believe on this extremely original DA buisness coupe that a friend owns. Hope this helps

[idrjoe_sandiego]

Stefano-here's some pictures of the interior of a friend's 1929 DA Phaeton. This car has an older restoration and looks to be fairly original in most respects. Frankly, I wish you luck finding an absolutely original survivor of this type vehicle. It is tough enough to find any info as it has been estimated only 200 were made and probably fewer than 15-20 exist today (most are not restored). I will post some pictures of my interior as well. My research reveals that the interior was done entirely in leather, including the seat cushions and the door and kick panels. The "neat" pockets were covered with a flap with a twist fastener. The pockets had a "pouch" sewn in to the door panel that takes advantage of the recess in the door. Without this feature, even the smallest item would bulge out, making the already narrow passenger compartment that much smaller. From the Parts Book, it appears that the rear passenger space was carpeted, while the front compartment utilized a rubber mat. I have seen images of an original front rubber mat but have not yet found a faithful reproduction. In the meantime, I decided to carpet the front to match the rear. The original firewall material is a pressed cardboard with an excelsior type insulation. I have an original in good condition, but I sent it in to have a reproduction firewall insulator made out of ABS plastic. They did a great job with the reproduction and it will last forever.
Joe

[idrjoe_sandiego]

Stefano-in case you are interested, here are some picture of the top boot we recently finished. You can also see more interior detail, including the back of the rear seat which is hinged at the bottom and folds forward. This area is used for the side curtain storage. We made a bag with individual dividers to separate and protect each of the six side curtains. The bag is suspended from straps to further protect the curtains from water and dirt. Hanging them in this fashion also prevents them from getting bunched up. Hope this helps. So when are we going to see what's going on over there in Italy?? Joe

[1930]

As far as I know open cars did not use carpet at all, the first time it rained and the top were down than it would have become ruined hence the only leather option. I have shown a picture above of the pocket that I believe you are in need of and have never seen any referance to a pocket with a twist fastner but would be interested in hearing where that info was obtained and pictures of an original panel or remnants would be nice.
The red car looks to me as af it has has had its interior changed.
The door panel that I show above is unrestored, closed car had an open pocket I guess because there was less chance of getting articles soaked if in case of shower, open cars had the flap, not sure how this car ended up with a flap but it is original.
The phaeton kick panels shown are unique, I dont remember seeing any pict. of them with that little tail that pops up near the dash. I also wonder if that is correct and original

[idrjoe_sandiego]

As far as I know open cars did not use carpet at all, the first time it rained and the top were down than it would have become ruined hence the only leather option. I have shown a picture above of the pocket that I believe you are in need of and have never seen any referance to a pocket with a twist fastner but would be interested in hearing where that info was obtained and pictures of an original panel or remnants would be nice.
The red car looks to me as af it has has had its interior changed.
The door panel that I show above is unrestored, closed car had an open pocket I guess because there was less chance of getting articles soaked if in case of shower, open cars had the flap, not sure how this car ended up with a flap but it is original.l

See attached scans of parts book which references Phaetons with 1) "carpet" in rear 2) "Mat" in front compartment 3) door pockets "with flaps". (You'll need to click on the Parts Book scans several times to enlarge them).

On the question of the twist fastener: Most likely the original did not have the fastener. Enclosed are a few more pics of Phaeton interiors, some with the fastener, some without. Note in the Parts Book, the front door panels on the roadster are the same part number as the Phaeton. Most Roadsters I have seen don't have this twist fastener.

In my case, the pockets were copied from what remnants came with the car; these had the fastener. One caveat: the exported vehicles often have variances that are not seen in the domestic versions. Mine was exported to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most of the existing Phaetons I have discovered are exports and most were RHD. A few have been converted back to LHD like mine and Stefano's in Italy. Dodge Brother Andy Ott, from the east coast, claims to own a Phaeton that was originally a domestic-his is the only one I know of.
And as mentioned earlier, good luck finding an original Phaeton interior.

[1930]

There are many errors or misunderstandings in the DA parts book and in my opinion this is one of them,They referance the word carpet but incorrect term.
I have several versions of the salesmans handbooks and there is no mention of carpet, only rubber floormats, I have another piece of literature concerning DA that I found when looking for my carpet snap info and they clearly state rubber floormats throughout on open cars.
In the DA parts book ( pages you show above ) they mention kick panels ect as also being carpet, one of the photos to you show above clearly shows them as being leather, OK I know that even that photo is of a redone car but it still gives you the sense that someone was trying to immitate what was originally there. No rubber floormats are avail. so people are left with little choice but to use carpet.
I dont question that there was a flap on your car, I have only agreed and have supplied a picture of an original door panel with original flap, I simply dont agree on the twist fastner and evidently you have also agreed now that it was most likely not original.
As I am sure you realize Joe the reason they used ONLY leather in open cars was because of the outside elements factor. They simply would have not placed a carpet onto a wooden floorboard or attached it anywhere where there would be a chance of it getting wet and molding after the first mist of a cool morning.
Also I will mention that the rumble seat cars clearly state rubber floormat in the rumble seat area, same idea.
If you have an original set of floorboards than I am sure you will easliy see that there are no threaded holes anywhere for a carpet fastner, you will see a larger hole for the mat fastner throughout the floorboard.
You did a very nice job on your carpet but technically it is not correct.

[BEST59]

Thanks my friends !!!
I will do a mix of all our informations. Sure i will do flaps.
I agree for rubber on the floor, but i have found under front seat in the back, between the recess and the rear floor, a carpet band.
However, soon i will post some pictures.