MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Red TD Interiors

I've never noted this until recently. I know Peter in OZ has mentioned the difference in the hide-em on the door panels and such which I finally see after comparing my new Moss kit against my original door panels, but I've come across a bigger issue and I'm now stuck with my interior choice. The Moss interior closely matches the sunburnt rexine so I naturally thought it was a good match. Now that I have pulled away the original door latches that were stuck to the rexine I see that the interior was more like a bright red apple vs the American La France fire engine red that Moss sells. Quite frankly, I always thought that the dark red didn't have a wow factor against the original ivory paintwork.

Is there anyone out there that builds a correct interior package with all the proper materials that are available today? I realize rexine is not an option but what about the correct size Hide-em and tinted vinyl/leather? There has got to be someone somewhere that puts a better attention to the details. Moss's kits certainly aren't inexpensive and quite honestly expected a more accurate representation of the original. can some one share some concourse red interior pics?

Regards

Bill Chasser jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

Bill-
You might try Heritage Upholstery. They will send you a sample of material. Or talk to them about the questions you raise.

http://www.heritagetrim.com/

Roy
Roy Challberg

Not sure where Moss came up with their colors, at least not for the TD.
Christopher Couper

For what its worth, I had some of the original bright red interior material on my TF. I requested samples from most of the UK suppliers and found that NTG and Collingburn were virtually identical to that original bright red, both in terms of colour and emboss pattern, some of the others were miles out. In the end I went with Collingburn (in a different colour - tan!). The Collingburn hidem is 10mm wide.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I've mentioned this in the past. The remmanents of fabric on my TF were the same color as the fabric as shown off this TC dash. The Moss shade is a much darker..almost maroon that looks lighter that it really is in this photo.

MG LaVerne

Perhaps they used some original material that had been exposed for their color match.

MG LaVerne

This is a truer representation of the Moss Red...at least on my PC.

MG LaVerne

In comparing a Moss seat kit to my glove box door interior.... yes, it's not quite a match. But, I like it better. The 'original' looks orange by comparison, and isn't likely to be right anyway.

Having owned an upholstery shop for 15 years (moved on to something else to do in 1989) I will tell you that there are many many variables at play here. First is the "original" color. Bzzzzt. After 62 years you aren't seeing what you think you're looking at. EVERYTHING changes color starting on the day it was made, hidden from light and air or not, it all changes.

In Moss's defense, they've been at this a long time and have probably not revisited their upholstery offerings for a decade or more. A few returns from unhappy customers might get them to re-examine their supply chain and make some adjustments.


My pic supports the accuracy of the colors shown in the picture from MG LaVerne.

......

MAndrus

Any colour change depends upon the pigments used, the polymers/resins, other additives and the conditions of exposure. The effect of UV or weathering is well known, but some discolouration can also occur from exposure to various fumes, contact with other materials, etc. Having said that the observed effects usually lead to fading, chalking, crazing, stickiness, yellowing or darkening. The bright red we observe with the original samples of red interior material are a pretty good indication that we are looking at something that is darn close to its original colour.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I agree with Dave. At the time the cars were made red dyes were probably the most unstable of all of the colors so you would expect the brightness and color to leave those first.

When I redid my car in 1970 I found a number of places tucked into corners and had the fabric matched. I have also retained a sample that I keep hermetically sealed in a dark cave and its still identical to my car today so I am pretty confident my color is what MY car was in 1952.

Christopher Couper

I understand the fact that pigments change over time and why but that's getting off my question a bit. I simply know that the undisturbed remnants of upholstery that were void of light and air are a more Apple Red in color. Christopher. I agree with you that your red is pretty darn close to the original color I have come across relating to my fabric. My question is who is reproducing an interior using this I'll call "Apple Red"? It is a much more vibrant color that draws the eye than the Moss that looks post sunburnt and dull. Obviously Moss's interior is not going to win points at a concourse event with the wrong color and incorrect Hidem. I simply want to bring it closer to what would have been 65 yrs ago. If I can do it before driving season is over this year

Regards

Bill Chasser jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

I suggest that you get some samples from NTG. Collingburn are good, but you could be waiting for two years before you got anything from them (don't ask me how I know!).
Dave H
Dave Hill

FWIW, here is a recent picture of a seat cover from Moss. I bought the entire interior during their upholstery sale. Given the comments on this BBS that the quality was indeed good, I felt it was a bargain at about $1400 total. None of the other suppliers came near that. I think an interior from Collingburn was between $5,000 and $6000 all told (though everyone said they were the best) and was at least a year to deliver.

I've can't opine as to the correctness of the Moss color. My car's original interior was long gone and replaced at some point by some dark red vinyl. I think this comes down to the same discussion about the "correct" color of ivory-- nobody really knows for sure so just pick the one you prefer. I don't know of any car judges that run around measuring the hidem, but that's not what I'm building my car for, anyway.

David Littlefield

I love my Moss interior, 7-8 years old and has held up really well. Many complements received as well over the years also. As far as concourse judges, the last time my car was judged (will never do again), the big issues were white felt in the tool box (judges thought wrong), grill slat color that matched the interior (they thought silver or chrome correct) and the like. The judges are clueless about the finer points of T-series cars! In agreement w/ MAndrus above all the way. George
George Butz

Try PJM in Market Drayton, Shropshirew , UK. They will make up panel sets to match a required colour. I recently had a trim set made for a friend in dark red - they supplied a number of colour options and were very helpful. my friend chose triumph matador red which is a graet contrast with old english white- looks much better than the original brighter red.
DM Gibson

The PJM Motors material is completely wrong if you want anything like the original, even if it does look good. Its a more recent stretchy Ambla type material.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I was very happy with the quality of my Moss interior, bought quite a few years ago. Maybe they have changed since mine was made, but my hidem is exactly as original. The color is not as original but it would have been difficult to determine the original color exactly as the green TF interiors faded badly. Like MAndrus I like the color of my Moss interior better than the original, although I would have gone with an exact duplicate of the original color, were it available. In the photo the only bit of original color is where the plate was removed-someone had sprayed green dye over the original. You can see that the hidem is the same size.

JK Barter

This thread was discussed between 14/07/2015 and 16/07/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now