Leather interiors

[JRFCO]

I need information on non-convertible leather factory installed interiors. "Gateway" has a 1948 Land Cruiser for sale that (context inferred) has an original leather interior. I have also read of a 1950 Land cruiser with a surviving original leather interior. Any info? 1952 Champion 4 door with leather seats?

[kmul221]

I once parted out a rusty 52 Commander H/T that had a red leather interior & the 57-8 Golden Hawks it was a option.In the Packard Hawk it was standard equipment

[Jim B PEI]

and in 56 Golden Hawk, it was available too. Bob Palma can confirm

[Welcome]

I need information on non-convertible leather factory installed interiors. "Gateway" has a 1948 Land Cruiser for sale that (context inferred) has an original leather interior. I have also read of a 1950 Land cruiser with a surviving original leather interior. Any info? 1952 Champion 4 door with leather seats?

WELCOME!!!

The factory production orders for those cars would likely have that info. In the case of that '56 Golden Hawk, (IIRC) Bob's Father's & Uncle's Dealership took charge of having a leather interior installed ...was NOT an actual factory install.

[Jim B PEI]

I bow to your superior memory; I had forgotten that detail on the making of the 'losing' sale. I think the Palma Motors car had been raised, and picture provided, when discussing the 'white leather' interior Golden Hawks, and an example that might have surfaced. I confounded the two.

[studegary]

I do not believe that leather seats were an option on Golden Hawks (they were standard in 1957 Golden Hawk 400s [as in Packard Hawks]).

There was another recent topic/thread on leather seats, particularly 1953-1954 C/K models.

[8E45E]

WELCOME!!!

The factory production orders for those cars would likely have that info. In the case of that '56 Golden Hawk, (IIRC) Bob's Father's & Uncle's Dealership took charge of having a leather interior installed ...was NOT an actual factory install.

It was a FACTORY order, though (The build sheet confirms this: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ghlight=rhodes ). Ionia Body was a major subcontractor to all the US manufacturers at the time. Their most notable product were the Buick and Oldsmobile full size station wagon bodies from 1954 to 1964. According to a Special Interest Autos magazine article, they did make the seat components for Studebaker in the 1950's.

Craig

[Welcome]

It was a FACTORY order, though (The build sheet confirms this: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ghlight=rhodes ).<<<
Craig

Assuming we are talking about 56J serial number 6032356, I have a copy of the build sheet in front of me. Agreed, there were several special notations on it, but one of those notations is: TRIM 8445 WRD (decoded: ALL-VINYL WHITE & RED).

Perhaps BP can offer his recollection as a 10 year old of how a "Leather Interior" got in that 56J.

[8E45E]

[COLOR="blue"]Assuming we are talking about 56J serial number 6032356, I have a copy of the build sheet in front of me. Agreed, there were several special notations on it, but one of those notations is: TRIM 8445 WRD (decoded: ALL-VINYL WHITE & RED).

I also have a copy of that same build sheet. It appears that it indeed starts out as a white/red combination as no solid red color GH interiors were offered that year according to the information on 1956goldenhawk.com. THEN, one reads all the exceptions below which substitute 'RRD' which I'm guessing means 'Romany Red' in place of any color material that's not red. Besides the leather seats, it must also be the only 1956 Golden Hawk with a monochrome red interior.

Craig

[Welcome]

I also have a copy of that same build sheet. It appears that it indeed starts out as a white/red combination as no solid red color GH interiors were offered that year according to the information on 1956goldenhawk.com. THEN, one reads all the exceptions below which substitute 'RRD' which I'm guessing means 'Romany Red' in place of any color material that's not red. Besides the leather seats, it must also be the only 1956 Golden Hawk with a monochrome red interior.
Craig

RRDRomany Red1313010-RRDLEATHERYES, the Engineering approved sample of 1313010-RRD has survived all these years and is in the SNM Archives.

[8E45E]

“RRD” is in fact “Romany Red.” The complete Studebaker-Packard Corp. Engineering part number is 1313010-RRD. That Engineering drawing does state “LEATHER” …albeit “IMITATION LEATHER – Vinyl Coated.” It is man-made material …not from the hide of an animal!!! And YES, the Engineering approved sample of 1313010-RRD has survived all these years and is in the SNM Archives.[/COLOR]

That describes the factory modifications made to the door and rear interior panels, which normally would have been red and white. And yes, they are vinyl. According to Bob in that previous post, the seats themselves were REAL hide off an animal.

Craig

[Welcome]

That describes the factory modifications made to the door and rear interior panels, which normally would have been red and white. And yes, they are vinyl. According to Bob in that previous post, the seats themselves were REAL hide off an animal.

Craig

Craig, just re-read yours and BP's posts about that 56J and it sounds like you both expressed some reservations as to whether the "REAL LEATHER" seats were actually Factory installed. Am I missing something

Here is a link to the topic your are referring; specifically BP's posts # 46 & 47 and your posts # 52 & 53:
http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ghlight=rhodes

PS: I'm still not seeing any other reference or discussion about IONIA MFG. in this topic besides your post. FWIW; yes, I know IONIA MFG. well and their sales Rep. Dick (???) who used to call on us.

[8E45E]

[COLOR="blue"]
PS: I'm still not seeing any other reference or discussion about IONIA MFG. in this topic besides your post. FWIW; yes, I know IONIA MFG. well and their sales Rep. Dick (???) who used to call on us.

I believe we are talking about the same item: Complete seat assemblies. Because they were special, it stands to reason a specialist supplier would have conceivably supplied the leather and sewed the cushions for later installation into the metal seat frame at the factory. I believe nothing would stop a customer to follow up on the work being performed no matter who did it, either at Studebaker, or an outside supplier. If the seats were 'field installed' i.e. at Palma-Rhoads Motors before delivery to the customer, I'm sure Bob would have stated that in his post.

Craig