project 1972 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 - The Forum Bike VP

[SiC]

Now for it's replacement. What material should I choose?

Originally it had a wool headlining. This is actually available but really expensive (~£60+ per metre) and I'd need 4 metres of it. Plus I didn't like it much anyway.

Other 1100/1300 had a vinyl type material hung from the ceiling. I didn't really want to get involved trying to stretch that when on my back. Plus this didn't have that originally and I'm not sure if the holes to put wire through all existed.

Modern scrim headlining fabric can be had for a reasonable amount (~£10 per metre) but I didn't think it would suit the car inside. Same with straight fabrics.

Instead I went with off white perforated vinyl. I had this in my last 1100 and I really liked it. I don't believe that common on British cars but German cars like VW Beetles, 911 and such used it. So in period.

4 metres of the stuff posted with two cans of high temperature glue came in at £115. A fair bit more than I wanted to spend but hoped it would turn out alright. I did have a bit of dread when it arrived that it might be too much.

For the broken roof fibrous material I decided to replace it with hard board. Originally cut to a square, this turned out later to not be the best shape.

It did fit through the door but I didn't want to put it in place incase it didn't come out again!

Mrs SiC then gave me a hand gluing the fabric onto the board.

At this point I don't have any pictures of fitting it. Mostly as it was a right 'mare. 🫠

First problem was it was cut too large compared to the old backing piece. I traced it around old onto this (with the fabric on) and cut it smaller. Not ideal as I had to cut some of the fold over but still some left. Plus any edges are hidden by other side trims.

Then once in place, I bent the panel in to fit on the edges and then popped up. It required further tweaking on the back edge with a multi-tool to make it fit. 

Anyway I got it in. Have a blurred picture that I took late in the evening and was fed up enough to not double check it wasn't looking like it was taken by a potato.

The next day Mrs SiC, having very much proven herself to be far better at this stuff than me, did the other trim pieces.

You can see the concentration on her face as I told her there was no spare material for cockups!

All that was fitted. The finished result! 

Mrs SiC also had a good go on the old bits of carpet with the Vax spot wash. While some was noticeably sun damaged in colour, most came up really well.

Unfortunately I don't have any good before photos like the above but these bits should give an idea of how grim the old stuff was before.

Headlining 

The back area under the rear seats had a Hessian type material presumably for noise absorbing. Likewise this was skanky and went in the bin. Replaced with some cheap sticky backed thick foam.

And then I re-pop riveted the back board back on again.

Finally put the seats all back in.

I know some have recommended Poor Boys stuff, so I dug out this.

And gave the dash a good shine.

Even though the dash wood is fucked, the new headlining, replacement seats and cleaned dash + carpets has made a monumental difference to how nice it's to be sat there.

Now I really need to sort that paint to make it a quite lovely presentable little car.

Having a poke around I noticed brush marks on the door jam areas. No idea what paint was used but I'm pretty sure the current coat has been brushed on. Maybe something daft like house paint?

The rear boot lid had some paint loosing adhesion, so I gave it a little chip. Looked to be a very different colour to the rest! Presumably it's had a second hand boot lid in the past and why it not longer has Vanden Plas on the back.

Then one final observation while I remember, it appears to have a German Hardi electronic fuel pump fitted rather than an original SU. I've had these on other cars (MGB and others) and found them to be brilliant little pumps, albeit a little noiser than SUs. So I'm quite pleased to see this as one less thing to worry about rebuilding/replacing.

[SiC]

26 minutes ago, Matty said:

I'd like to propose an arrangement whereby I sell you one of my cars. You keep it for 6 months and repair every fault then I buy it back. Any interest in this offer Si, just let me know 😁

I wish I had time to do that! This took a few hours over a couple of weekends of spare time a few weeks ago now. All the time which I should have done some more on my Midget. Literally that still has the one last bit of metal still to weld back on which I clamped a few weeks months ago. 🫤 

[Matty]

6 minutes ago, SiC said:

I wish I had time to do that! This took a few hours over a couple of weekends of spare time a few weeks ago now. All the time which I should have done some more on my Midget. Literally that still has the one last bit of metal still to weld back on which I clamped a few weeks months ago. 🫤 

Midget was always a labour of love. When it's done there won't be owt you can't do. Set up for a life of owning interesting cars 👍

[SiC]

22 minutes ago, Matty said:

Midget was always a labour of love. When it's done there won't be owt you can't do. Set up for a life of owning interesting cars 👍

I have been watching classic car prices falling and wonder what I should get next. 

I definitely would love a pre war Austin next. Ideally a 7 Chummy but probably end up with a Ruby as so much cheaper. If one comes up in the next few months or when classic prices falling again at the end of season, I've possibly also found a new custodian for this too...

Went out in it with my FiL and he had a good drive (he's insured on all my classics). He's not a man of many words but it was obvious how much he loved driving it. I suggested perhaps he could have it on long term loan for a season or two maybe this year or next. He really quite liked the idea. 

While he hasn't owned a VP 1300 before, his first car was a manual Austin 1100 and second an automatic Allegro VP1500 auto. So quite a lot of nostalgia for him as well these are lovely things to buzz around in. 

As for me, if E-types keep falling in value, maybe in a few years I'll do something silly like selling everything and run one as a daily. 

[Christine]

Looks alright that SiC..i'm sure the interior lights i robbed the interior  from  one  to upgrade my old 1300 years ago were proper chrome on metal . The seats were all leather apart (?from the backs) too . Perhaps the late v.p'.s lost a bit of quality

[SiC]

11 minutes ago, Christine said:

Looks alright that SiC..i'm sure the interior lights i robbed the interior  from  one  to upgrade my old 1300 years ago were proper chrome on metal . The seats were all leather apart (?from the backs) too . Perhaps the late v.p'.s lost a bit of quality

Yeah I believe the later ones lost all leather seats and stuff like that. 1972 car ... BL cost cutting 'project drive' no doubt under way

[Brigsy]

Great job on the headlining, looks spot on.