1940s Chrysler welt question

[Guest Winston1]

I believe it's called welting. There's a strip of chrome that goes between the rear fender and body.  In pictures of late 40s chryslers it looks like chome.  What is that?  On my 48 New Yorker its black and leather like material.   Was it painted?  Should they all be chrome?  Thanks. 

[jpage]

Some cars had the stainless fenderwelt on the rear fenders. It's a stainless tube with a fabric leg on it. It's still available through Dennis Carpenter Ford Products but fairly expensive and difficult to bend to contour. Many folks take the cheap way out and purchase the chrome foil covered welting to save money....don't do that, it's just junk , looks cheap and won't last.

[JACK M]

That welting is available in several colors including 'chrome like' from most resto suppliers.

I've never used the shiny stuff as I don't like the look.

[Rusty_OToole]

Any upholstery shop can make the welting by sewing a piece of vinyl on a special round plastic made for the purpose. This type of welting was used on many early cars except back then they used a string or twine of twisted kraft paper.

 

The metal covered welting was an improvement used on some cars, painted on the cheaper models, chrome on the costly jobs. Your Chrysler came with the chrome.

[61polara]

Actually it's stainless steel, that's why it's still shining.