[Grant Magrath]

Ok, 39 Buick owners with leather interiors, here's the thing. Is the windlace on these cars matching leather, or the normal coachlace as supplied by Hampton Coach? I'm assuming the wireon is as per normal as well. There's a free double movie pass to anyone who can give me an answer. But you have to use it in New Zealand!
Cheers
Grant

[1939_buick]

Photo of the area you are looking for ?

[Grant Magrath]

Thanks for the emailed pictures Allan!
The area we're after is the windlace around the doors.
Cheers
Grant

[DaveCorbin]

Dear Grant:
A clarification: Virtually all US cars have cloth interiors UNLESS they're convertibles, so things are different around the windows (sedan VS. convertible) . However, the reverse is true IF it's an export Buick, as they normally come with leather interiors in sedans.
Can you clarify EXACTLY what your 39 is and if the body plate has an X in the model number? Also, IF it's a Holden car, their rules apply and one of our Aussie friends would have to comment.
Weirdly, you could get a leather interior in a US sedan, but it's a special order. The reverse is true also, you can get a cloth interior in an export car but it's a special order job also! I've seen a leather interior 1938 US sedan and the lacing was leather. I've also seen a 1939 Canadian Roadmaster in GB that was leather and it had leather lacing.
Regards, Dave Corbin

[1939_buick]

Grant's 46S coupe is an import from the USA. It has been in NZ about 2 years. And is still LHD even in NZ.

[Grant Magrath]

Thanks for your replies!
The upholstry was origionally mohair, but we've gone with a special order option of deep red leather. The pattern of the seat is one I've seen in a picture of a sedan with a sunroof in my Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1942. As Allan says, it's a business coupe from the USA. We thought about converting it to a 4 passenger coupe, but put it in the reasonably hard basket! We were even going to convert it to RHD, but if we came to sell it, it would rule out selling it back to the States.
My thoughts tend to go the way of that Roadmaster that you saw Dave. I'm wondering how the coachlace would look against the leather. If it tones in with the headlining, it would probably be ok. We're looking at buying the headlining, wireon, and windlace from Hampton Coach. The seat is finished, with the door panels yet to be made. We can't get pressboard here anymore, so, after experimenting with hardboard (too heavy), we're thinking 3mm Slimline customwood. The plan is to replicate the original setup using those repair tabs from Bobs. Any thoughts?
Cheers
Grant

[Dynaflash8]

For 1939 Buick:

The windlace was originally Panasote or otherwise called leatherette and it was matching. In today's market a matching vinyl is the practical substitute. This is true of the windlace, headliner, sun-visers, front seat back and door panels. However, for the front seat back and door panels you can substitute leather for vinyl (Panasote). All is in matching color.

There were a large number of optional leather colors, i.e. dark blue, dark green, tan or brown, cream and so on. All of the colors are listed in the front of a Chassis Parts Book, along with the proper trim numbers.

Series 41 sedans were finished in a semi-wide pleat. The pleat was not as wide as the cloth pleat used, for example, on a standard Century with cloth interior. I am only very familiar with the Special interior, as I've known this car since I was a little boy and I'm 71 now.

I also have pictures or a rough Series 48 that was recently for sale in Maine on my computer.

The Series 46C and 41C did not have pleated interiors or flat panel seats with a french seam in the middle of the the width of the seat.

Have many pictures if it will help. Earl Beauchamp

[Dynaflash8]

Here are three pictures of the 1939 Buick Model 48 unrestored car that was for sale recently in Maine. Pictures of my car are on the other computer, and I'll get back to you later with those, or take some new ones once I charge the batteries in my digital camera.

Earl Beauchamp BCA #55

[Grant Magrath]

Thanks Earl!
I found those pictures extremely helpful. I'm in the process of dealing with Hampton Coach for a headlining, and it looks like we now need to get the windlace made up using the same leather as the seat. The seat pattern the upholsterer was supposed to do was the same as that car in Maine, but he's put the pleats on the seat back about 2/3 of the way up, and a flat panel all the way across the top 1/3 of the seat. I was a bit annoyed at 1st, but then I saw the same pattern on a car in my American Cars 1930-42 book and didn't feel quite so bad!
Cheers
Grant

[Dynaflash8]

I wonder about Hampton Coach doing this leather interior. I didn't take a picture of my headliner, but I'll go back and do it for you. Here are pictures of my sedan (blue) and convertible sedan (dark red). I have an all original '39 convertible coupe under restoration and the red is considerably darker. If anybody wants, I can put up some pictures of what's left of that original interior too.