1953 Hornet interior options

dinodino wrote:

What were the interior options available for the Hornet in 1953? As I understand it, leather was available in red or blue. Were the leather seats solid color or two-tone, a la the fabric seats? I am preparing to restore a '53 with a blue interior but the seats are from a donor and thus I can't use their existing coverings as reference.



Thanks in advance,



Dino

Dino, I have a '54 Hornet sedan with factory leather, and it is one solid colour (blue).



Ryan (silverone)

dinodino wrote:

Thanks for the pics, Ryan. Have your door panels been recovered? Those are nice looking seats.

No, the door panels are the originals, but the car had been sitting in a damp environment for quite some time in the past before I bought it, so I suspect the cardboard panels the upholstery is sewn to got pretty soggy, and thus the "wrinkles". ( I believe the door panels are exact colour match vinyl - done at the factory -- assumably to save costs ).



I bought this car because it came out of the factory " fully loaded" with options, and its a perfect example of what was available at the time, and how the factory "did it". I can use this interior to reupholster a car with every stitch exactly correct, or search until I find the correct factory option to match the ones on this car, (such as the side mirrors), which are an especially picky point with me, because I just don't like off the shelf, "sorta looks like it might be pretty close" stuff on my Hudsons !!



Most who know me from this forum, or in person, know I'm a nutcase for originality, unless it compromises safety in some way of course, such as using correct width whitewall radial tires, seatbelts at least in the back for the grandkids, or maybe an Optima battery in a period correct case.



I guess we all have our crosses to bear, and this is one of mine.



One more pic for you.



Ryan

See below message I posted about six years ago which may be helpful in securing blue checkerboad material, also see interior seats with new blue checkerboard.



Good Luck,



Ray



My thanks again to Jon and Dave for providing correct contact for Vent Window Gear which I installed without any problem; both left and right sides work great. In case any body interested in correct address of provider of almost same as orginal checkerboard material it's the following: Duralee Fabrics Ltd., 1775 Fifth Avenue, Bayshore, N.Y. 11706 I received my blue check, it looks great however Duralee offers many other colors. I also have the plain matching blue from Peachtree Fabrics, these are the samples Ken U. posted some months ago.



Hudsonly,



Ray