1950 Champion Starlight Regal Deluxe interior questions

[Chris_B_Stutz]

Hey all,
I am new here and I just bought a 1950 Champion Starlight Regal Deluxe(9G-C5) which need a lot of repair to get her back to original, but will be a fun journey. My question relates to the upholstery in the car. It seems to have a woven vinyl or nylon seat with vinyl surrounds. Does anyone have idea if this material was used in these cars or if someone had replaced it at some point? If it was replaced, can someone let me know what type of fabric should have been used when new?

Thanks!

[rkapteyn]

Those are seat covers.
Look underneath those to find the original upholstery.

[Chris_B_Stutz]

Ok Thanks. The original seat material is so far gone I hadn't realized that there was another layer under there. I'll try to pull it apart further and see what I can find. Thanks for your help.

[studegary]

I do not have 1950 information handy, but I do have 1949 and 1952. They both show cloth seat upholstery for Champion Regal Deluxe Starlights.

[Bullet]

Call or email SMS in Oregon. Tell them you would like samples of the seat material for a Champion and they will send you samples.

Mark

[Hallabutt]

We have a Regal Deluxe, the same color as your car was. With the seat covers removed we could help match yours to ours. I could be wrong but I believe that I see a glimpse of the same upholstery pattern underneath the seat covers. In those days it was common practice to put seat covers on at time of purchase, and never remove them. You may have a good undamaged sample lurking within. As you may know there was more then on interior choice available. Second SMS as a selection source.

[StudeRich]

Since Interiors are the LAST thing you do to restore an Old Car, you do have a Lot of time before you will need the Interior, but it does take time to get it, so it's good that you are starting now.


Most people do:
(1) Mechanical
(2) Body and Paint
(3) Interior

In that order.

[rockne10]

Most people do:
(1) Mechanical
(2) Body and Paint
(3) Interior

In that order.

And I recommend the brakes be the first order of overhaul in the mechanical section.
You don't want to get it running and try to move it before finding out your brakes won't stop it.
No go is better than no whoa.

[Chris_B_Stutz]

And I recommend the brakes be the first order of overhaul in the mechanical section.
You don't want to get it running and try to move it before finding out your brakes won't stop it.
No go is better than no whoa.

Yes, I agree. I am starting to get it running first and brakes will be the second focus. At least it is a manual so you could engine brake if the normal brakes give out . I am just trying to get an idea of what I have so I can start working on things in parallel and keep an eye out for upholstery material at shows etc. Thanks for everyone's help so far.

[rkapteyn]

Sorry.
I was asking what body style you have but you had that in your post already

[Hallabutt]

Chris,

After taking a second look, I'm sure that the upholstery under the seat cove is identical to our 51 SLC. Pictures show your upholstery to be pretty far gone, but the pattern seems to be color fast where it remained covered. I would like to know how you intend to proceed with your project. Of course I'm excited by seeing the car saved, but there is a self serving element to your project. I wonder if there are any unrotted, intact sections of the upholstery that time has not ravaged? While "Amelia's" is not in great condition, the back of the driver's seat is the only part is in dire need of attention. Finding a piece of salvageable period upholstery material might be the key to salvaging her original interior. I'm excited by your project, please keep in touch and good luck.

Bill
31redrooster@comcast.net

[Chris_B_Stutz]

Chris,

After taking a second look, I'm sure that the upholstery under the seat cove is identical to our 51 SLC. Pictures show your upholstery to be pretty far gone, but the pattern seems to be color fast where it remained covered. I would like to know how you intend to proceed with your project. Of course I'm excited by seeing the car saved, but there is a self serving element to your project. I wonder if there are any unrotted, intact sections of the upholstery that time has not ravaged? While "Amelia's" is not in great condition, the back of the driver's seat is the only part is in dire need of attention. Finding a piece of salvageable period upholstery material might be the key to salvaging her original interior. I'm excited by your project, please keep in touch and good luck.

Bill
31redrooster@comcast.net

Bill,

I plan on doing a period correct restoration on the car. Overall it isn't in terrible shape for the age of it so I look forward to bringing it back to life.

All,
I took the time this weekend to pull the seat covers off and there is actually more good fabric there than I realized. Thanks to all for your help in identifying that there were seat covers present. I would not have expected that since these covers were hog-ringed into the frames so it looked like real upholstery material at first. A few pictures of what I found are attached.

Chris

[Hallabutt]

That's the stuff. Good luck with your restoration. keep us in the loop.

As an aside we just got Amelia running the weekend. Had pulled the tank several years ago to rehab. When she refused to start after reinstalling tank, new fuel pump and cleaning carb, it got shifted to the back burner. Nice to have her back on track.

Bill

[rockne10]

Hi, Chris.
I'm about 15 miles from you, and put a long idle '51 Commander Starlight back on the road a quarter century ago.
Looking forward to your progress, and will assist where I can, though my wrenching days are mostly behind me.