Interior Questions 54 Buick 46R Special

[Fred Zwicker]

I am doing a body-off restoration of my 54 Riviera Special 2dr HT and am soon going to be working on the interior. I am wondering how to reconstruct the side panels in front of each door. My car has a red and black interior and the red on side of doors is a waffle pattern from SMS and is supposed to be same as original.

The panels from the previous owner were cardboard covered with black Naugahyde, but I am not sure of the original construction from Buick in 1954. Here are some possiblities:

1) All black cardboard (or red cardboard).

2) Cardboard covered with black Naugahyde (or red Naugahyde)

3) Cardboard all covered with carpet (my carpet is black and is new).

4) Either 1 or 2 above with carpet covering the bottom area and up about 7 or 8 inches from floor to protect the cardboard. if this is the case, are the two sections just sewn together with an inside seam, or was there a piece of stainless steel molding between.

Here are some pictures that I have showing this area of other cars, but am not sure if any show what an original should look like.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Fred

[MrEarl]

The cowel trim pad, the panel beneath the instrument panel along the cowel, on Specials is colored cardboard

[1957buickjim]

As it is on the 57 Buick..all interior colored cardboard.

[Pete Phillips]

The proper name is "painted cowl-board" and I buy mine from Restoration Specialties & Supply in Windber, Pennsylvania. Shipping is expensive, because they come in 4' by 6' sheets.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

1954 Special model 48-D 3-speed

[progoofoff]

SMS can supply all pre cut cardboard for the interior.

Bob