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MG TD TF 1500 - Similar to Rexine

I have been researching materials that may be used as a substitute for Rexine. The closest I have found is book binding material.

The one that appears to be close is Buckram book binding material.

I have checked with a number of the companies that sell this, and there is one that sells it by the yard.

Cover material Inc out of Hyannis MA. (there are also a few in the UK that carry Buckram, but I did not check to see if they sell by the yard)

https://covermaterial.com/

Here are there colors. I have ordered the 990 black to cover my underdash panel.

https://covermaterial.com/cm-roxite-f-buckram/

The material costs $21 a yard. A yard is more than enough for the under dash panel.

I could see this used for Dash covering, but I am unsure i would use it for panels.
Bruce Cunha

Even MG did not use Rexine for wear areas. They were all done in leather.

I would be worried that it was not flexible enough and could dry out and become brittle in normal car temps, especially where we live.

But the underdash panel is certainly a great place to try it out and simple to replace if you don't like it later.
Christopher Couper

Bruce

Would Vynide be a good substitute, see: https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/category/112/non-stretch ?

Thanks
Mike
M Wood

I seem to recall that the late gordan lawson (lower case) did a significant study on this topic a number of years ago. Bud
Bud Krueger

Try these:

Longs Roullet Bookbinders – Dash Covering
https://longs-roullet.com/index.htm

Martrim (UK) – Rexine
https://www.martrim.co.uk/car-trimming-supplies/vinide-leather-cloth-rexine.php


Vinyl Oilcloth for Dash
https://www.buyfabrics.com

Action Upholstery Supply – Rexine for Dash
https://www.actionup.com

Jim
James Neel

Here is the link to Gordons comments which I can confirm. Also add that the piping on the top of the doors to the lock was also leather. And be careful how you read Gordon's comment about the seat bottom sides. They are leather along the front to the outside back corner.

https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=8&subjectar=8&thread=2013030903390931158

Another tidbit that has been discussed before it that the TC's and early TDs had a less "leather like grain" for the Rexine than the later TD's and TF's.

I need to get more sample pictures to complete this. I think Matthew was collecting samples.

https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_finishes.htm#swatches
Christopher Couper

Chris. That is a good thread. I can confirm that there were two different "rexine" materials used for the TD.

I have a full piece of original dash material and you can see that the pattern is a cross-hatch woven material that is impregnated with a vinyl type material. I relate this to the oilcloth that we had in the US back in the 1950s although not as shiny.

The pages James listed may have materials that are more like the later grained material. I do see the Buckram 990 listed in the action upolstery site.

When they changed to the grained material I don't believe has been established.

TD 4139 did not have material on the dash when I got it, and my tiny fragment of interior material that I found under a tack on the lower area below the door, is grained.

If others have original materials and can post their car ID, we may be able to get a closer date to the change.

Here is the original cross-hatched dash material and a picture of the Buckram 990 material.





Bruce Cunha

Has it been confirmed that the same rexine used on the dash was also used for the side panels and seat sides?

This material just seems to thin to work well for areas like seat sides that would be subject to frequent bending and unbending

It also appears very thin for side panel upholstery.

Here is a blown-up picture of the scraps of side panel material I found in TD 4139.

It is a different weave and thickness from the original dash material and the underdash material I have

Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 27/01/2021 and 28/01/2021

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