Interior Original Photos

[acbrock]

Ok... So I was out of town for a couple weeks so I put everything back into my Cars interior (Minus Seats). Nothing in perfect but just so it could sit and settle and then I could review all the pieces and see where I needed to make some adjustments when I got back.  I have been searching the internet for photos of all the little creases and folds of the MBTex.  I photographed every piece I replaced and tried to recreate all the folds in the same places but now on the internet I am seeing soooo many different variations of what folds are visible? I assume these are all different MBTex to Leather.  I know most of the cars I am seeing have been restored so I am just not sure if in the restoration they improved the areas that on mine were visible?  I will grab some photos of some examples and post.  Can anyone point me to some detailed photos of and Original Non Restored Interior?  Just want to sort of decide if I should correct some of these folds or keep them as that is how they were when I took off the old MBtex?  I have loved taking this car apart and seeing all the little errors on the car showing it was built by 2 hands and not robots!
Thanks

[Pawel66]

https://historic.motoringinvestments.com/MainPage.htm

This is not bad.

[acbrock]

Thanks Pawel66 those pictures are great....  So I have attached an original screen grab from before I took everything off the car.  So replaced the MBTex on my glove box as it is in this photo with where you can see the fold.  But looking thru lots of other pics I don't see that.  I know things probably changed year to year model to model and MBTex to Leather but has anyone seen it done like this?  I am thinking I show try and correct it so the fold is not visible?
Thanks for any thoughts...

[neelyrc]

acbrock,

IMHO, the Tex with creases on the glove box in your two pictures just above are not representative of original upholstery quality. 

Attached for reference find pictures of my original unrestored leather interior.  I believe unrestored Tex would be quite similar. I hope this is helpful.

[RichardPercival]

Hi Neely,
Off topic but having recently changed the bushings  for my gear shifter I found that the stick itself was mounted backwards (apparently common mistake by mechanics)
It looks like yours is too!
It should point forward, so even in 4th gear it appears vertical - in neutral it should distinctly point toward the engine not the seats (as per the Tech manual.)
It’s easy to  remove and flip it round and I find makes shifts more positive

[neelyrc]

Thanks Rich!  I’ll have a closer look.

[49er]

Hello Ralph, Yep, Rich is right. When I had my bushings replaced a while back, the lever was put in backwards but had it corrected before I drove it home. Your car looks amazing and the leather sure held up well. Looks brand new.

Rich, my car's interior is original as well and I can provide more photos although there are differences in the texture of MBtex in the later years.

John

[acbrock]

Thanks guys.  Most the pics I find are Leather but to be fair I have not found 1 single pic leather or Tex with the folds that I have.  I will remove them and hopefully it will look much cleaner.
A

[neelyrc]

. . . .Your car looks amazing and the leather sure held up well. Looks brand new.

Thanks John, there are obviously some “warts” but, these are more apparent (and bothersome) to me than to other observers. She’s into her 55th year now and continues to be a great source of pleasure though not driven nearly enough these days.

The drivers seat leather has suffered more abuse obviously, but overall the leather has held up very well. What is striking is the new leather smell that hits you when you open a door after it has been idle in the garage for a period with the hard top in place.

[zoegrlh]

Ah that leather smell!!  I was in the middle of replacing my leather interior years ago, did not have the door panels on yet but did have the plastic vapor barrier on the doors.  My leather seats were just installed. There was a car show nearby so I entered, it rained that day so top was up, windows were up, knowing damn well I had no chance to win my class, but just wanted to show it, well low and behold, I won even with no door panels, it was a popular judging show, and many of the folks that voted for my car said when they opened the door to look inside, said the smell of new leather overwhelmed them. And yes even today, 10 years later, it still has that new leather smell.

[49er]

What is striking is the new leather smell that hits you when you open a door after it has been idle in the garage for a period with the hard top in place.

I know what you mean as the old MBtex has it own unique smell as well. The car never lost it's new car smell

John