A few "interior" queries

Post by **Mike Shipman** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:41 pm

Hi, my "new" Traveller has a really grotty interior, Im hoping to pick up some 2nd hand bits as I dont have the funds for new prices.

It looks like the front seats, wether 2 door / 4 door / traveller, are all the same , is that correct?.

Could the covers (vinyl) from a 4 door rear seat be "coaxed" to fit a Trav?

Im in the process of scrubbing the door cards to clean them up, any thoughts on cleaning and / or recolouring the headlining? (it is yellow from ciggie smoke)

How difficult is a new headling to fit on a Trav?.

Thanks, Mike.

Post by **chrisd87** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:52 pm

The front seats from a 4 door won't fit a 2 door or a trav as they don't fold down to allow access to the rear seats. The covers should be interchangable I'd have thought.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:43 pm

Presuming you are talking about a Minor 1000, then all front seats are the same except for Van passenger seat (folding version was available). Occasionally you'll find a folding passenger seat in a Saloon but I've not yet seen ifno to say whether this was a factory fit option (or just done by clever owners).
You can even coax the cover from a Saloon seat to fit the folding LCV seat however a bit of stitching is required if you want to make a neat job.
The only differences are early Minor 1000 had leather. Around early 60's there was optional extra spec of duotone (deluxe models). LCV's had different pattern (more plain) although I'm no LCV expert!

Headlining - when they are old they get weak (easily ripped) so not worth spending too much time on. I've seen a few that were painted white to make them look clean, but as this would need a lot of effort to avoid dripping white paint on the rest of the car I wouldn't bother myself.
If it is really past its sell by date, new headlinings are not stupidly expensive, but it needs a fair bit of patience to fit them.

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:51 pm

rayofleamington wrote: except for Van passenger seat (folding version was available). Occasionally you'll find a folding passenger seat in a Saloon

I *THINK* the rear legs on the seat are a slightly different height - the LCV floor doesn't rise over the cross member like a saloon one. I've been told

Post by **chrisd87** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:24 pm

Presuming you are talking about a Minor 1000, then all front seats are the same

Are you sure? My 2dr saloon has a folding back to both the driver and passenger seat.

Post by **stevey** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:28 pm

Yep the only different in front seats is the adjustment for the drivers side, other wise there all the same. Back seats are not especially traveller and saloon. 4 doors and two doors rear seats (the bit you sit on anyway) is slighltly different. For cleaning seats and door pannels some vanish scrubbed in and wiped off then a bit of son of a gun makes them shiney.

Post by **newagetraveller** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:41 pm

In my experience the front passenger seats on early (up to c1963?) travellers and two-door saloons have a back which folds forward. The back of the drivers seats do not fold forward as the steering wheel woulod be in the way. The backs of later passenger seats do not fold forward.

Post by **Willie** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:03 pm

The seats varied considerably and, as has been said, some models had front
seats on which the backs folded forward and then the whole seat tipped into
the footwell. These seats had a solid metal bottom, no straps as on the later
cars.

Post by **minor_hickup** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:26 pm

How odd, as mine is also a 1970 2 door and it doesnt fold!

Post by **Onne** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:06 pm

Willie, I presume you are talking about the series II seats?

Which are excellent btw, both of the foldy downy sort

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:38 pm

chrisd87,
Does your folding 'drivers' seat a Minor 1000 seat and does it have adjustment mechanism?
I've seen folding SII drivers seats (e.g. in my trav), but not a Minor 1000. (the drivers seat is the one with adjuster). SII seats are a very different beast.

Post by **chrisd87** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:07 am

Definately are 1000 seats - they're the heat-formed vinyl type.

By adjustment mechanism do you mean the runners that lets it slide back and forward? If so, then I have them on both the front seats. There is no other adjustment such as the angle of the back though.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:29 am

Definately are 1000 seats - they're the heat-formed vinyl type.

By adjustment mechanism do you mean the runners that lets it slide back and forward?

Ah righty-oh! The seats on sliders are not 'standard' equipment. They were fitted to some special series cars (e.g. those for disabed drivers). My 57 and the 69 Raymobile have these but they're not too common. If you also have plain door cards then that's another hint.

The standard seats have a pair of saddle clamps at the front so the seats will just lean forward. The standard drivers seat has a mechnism built into the frame that alows the front leg to move forwards/backwards to change how far forward the seat is positioned.

Post by **chrisd87** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:34 pm

All becomes clear! I think might be an ex-invalid car - the previous owner said something to that effect (I think), but I didn't realise the seats were different. Strangely the door cards are normal

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:29 pm

Out of interest, what's up with the seats? Is the vinyl ripped (if they're vinyl ones)?

Only mine were *really* grotty when I got them, but not torn, the seat bases were naff, the whole thing was filthy - but a few hours with s scrubbing brush and some Cif (nee Jif) and they came up just fine - new seat straps and we're well into the comfort zone. Unless it's sunny.

It's nearly cheap teeshirts-to-cover-the-seats time actually...

Post by **Mike Shipman** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:14 pm

Hi folks,
thanks for the replies, I think I'll keep looking for Trav interior rather than taking a chance on trying to get a 2 / 4 door set to fit.

Kate - the seats are vinyl and are both very dirty with rips and burns (the previous owner was a smoker). If it were the odd tear I'd try to repair but I think theyve gone too far.

By the way - I got a pair of rear doors today

, If I ever find out how to take photos with my wifes camera, I'll post some pic's.

Cheers, Mike.