SWB Headliners

[reedminor]

so which one does one use for a swb?

Is there a correct, and an incorrect pattern?

Reason I ask, I'm about 4 weeks away from putting a new one in my row RHD 911L.

Justin

[Nordschleife]

The offer from member 66S to send a piece of original material is excellent -- then we could see the modern replacement samples together in the same photo with the original Porsche headliner material.

Hallo, Radmund - is the color of the original headliner material from your rear seats more grey or more ivory? Tusen Takk!

[merbesfield]

GAHH is the industry standard for interior materials, has been for 25+ years.

Most installers and suppliers use domestic products from Veteran.

If places are saying they're using leather you need to make sure it's German, not domestic. The same goes for vinyl products as there is a marked difference (illustrated above in the photos).

I've learned most of what I know about Porsche upholstery from my upholsterers, Levon Baloian and, now, his son George. Levon was the lead installer at GAHH back in the early 80s and is responsible for creating most of the patterns that they use to this day. George grew up working with his father and, since Levon's untimely passing 5-6 years ago, he has taken over the family business. George and Levon have been the only people doing interiors for my shop for decades.

Marco, thanks for this bit of advice. I agree the materials sent to me by GAHH were vastly different in the hand than the other samples. Much nicer! What sort of threw me off about the GAHH stuff was the carpet sample they included was completely wrong for my 73S with the tan wool carpet so I was concerned that other items too could be wrong. They had indicated they had the correct match for 73 tan carpet. Maybe that was not conveyed to the person who sent the samples? It did take an extremely long time for the samples to arrive. So long that I figured they had forgotten me.

[Schiefer]

Is the color of the original headliner material from your rear seats more grey or more ivory? Tusen Takk!

Hello Mr. Nordschleife
I´m here to learn from guys like Mr. 66S and Marco, but since you ask my pieces look more "white" than gray. Up close it looks ivory, from a little distance a touch of gray also. I would like to inspect an original car before I make up my mind. Attaching some pictures I just took in natural light. I would say my pieces have less grain than the sample from GAHH that would probably look beautiful installed. I would not use the Sierra Madre material. I have a "correct" headliner probably bought from Porsche in my car, but it does not give the right feel, so I would like to replace it one day.

Vennlig hilsen/Best regards,

Radmund

[Silverbullit]

IMHO:
After looking for 6 months, and receiving samples from Stoddard, Pelican, IMC, and Tony, and visiting 4 upholstery shops specializing in European cars, and reading everything I can find here, this is (what I believe) the current state of swb headliners:
I think the '65-'67 used the same material, that it may have been a 356 carryover, and was an off-white color. (the 356 materials that I've seen were very, very, very close…ed: Brian) '68 had a unique texture, '69 began with a more 'tan' color…
Now having done the above search, when specifying German material, I saw virtually the same material from all sources. It is of the correct texture, the correct 'small' hole pattern, but is in the '69> 'tan' color ( all labeled as "Ivory"). No one was able to match my sample, which I believe to be original, based on the installation method(s) and of the 'brown' brushed-on glue. Any 'domestic' material samples have incorrect hole spacing, slightly incorrect texture, but are very, very close in color.
It's all very frustrating. So, in the end, I've chosen to go with the widely available German material.
Hope that helps.

[merbesfield]

[QUOTE=Silverbullit;712077]IMHO:
After looking for 6 months, and receiving samples from Stoddard, Pelican, IMC, and Tony, and visiting 4 upholstery shops specializing in European cars, and reading everything I can find here, this is (what I believe) the current state of swb headliners:
I think the '65-'67 used the same material, that it was a 356 carryover, and was an off-white color. '68 had a unique texture, '69 began with a more 'tan' color…
Now having done the above search, when specifying German material, I saw virtually the same material from all sources. It is of the correct texture, the correct 'small' hole pattern, but is in the '69> 'tan' color ( all labeled as "Ivory"). No one was able to match my sample, which I believe to be original, based on the installation method(s) and of the 'brown' brushed-on glue. Any 'domestic' material samples have incorrect hole spacing, slightly incorrect texture, but are very, very close in color.
It's all very frustrating. So, in the end, I've chosen to go with the widely available German material.
Hope that helps.[/QUUOTE]

Silverbullit, are you saying that all the samples you received from various vendors and labeled "German" were the same? Interestingly, none of the samples I received were marked German! This is very frustrating and really should not be this difficult. With all the restorations that have been done on this board, it is hard to imagine that this subject has not been put to bed long before now. Come on guys, we need some help. From what I have seen and going on Marco's recommendations, GAHH is the way to go. I trust Marco, but want to get some confirmation that the samples they (GAHH) sent me are correct.

[Silverbullit]

"Now having done the above search, when specifying German material, I saw virtually the same material from all sources."

Yes. I thought that was clear.

[merbesfield]

"Now having done the above search, when specifying German material, I saw virtually the same material from all sources."

Yes. I thought that was clear.

Just looking for confirmation. I need to call and clarify what was German from my suppliers.

[Jim Breazeale]

Just looking for confirmation. I need to call and clarify what was German from my suppliers.

Also be advised that not all suppliers are the primary source for headliners or the material, but are just resellers and couldn't tell a a proper headliner for a 66 911 from one for a Buick.
No, I won't name names.

Regards

Jim
PS: 65 - 67 headliners are not a 356 carryover, either.

[Schiefer]

Some 68's had a heavily grained material that has been called Elephant hide like the door panels and dash. My 68 912 did not have it but my buddies 68 911 L did have it. I am more interested in the standard headliners, not The E hide. Don't want to side track this thread with that subject.

I fully understand you would like to avoid discussing 68 headliners in this thread, but attaching a link with pictures from a late 68L for those who asked about those. Your thread will probably be the most useful we have on this subject, and think it would be good to at least have a link because the title says SWB headliners.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...1S-L-headliner