356 T-1 Rebuild

[gkw]

A little more carving on the foam and the seat back might start looking a T-1 seat.

Working form pictures is tough. Thanks Gordon




I have plenty of help.

[JR]

Hey Gordon,
Your 'helper' looks like my old Buddy, Gypsy, since passed!
Gypsy was my Bud and acted like a puppy dog.
Dick

[Jack Staggs]

Gordon, was your car delivered new in Europe?

The reason I asked is because I have seen a few cars of that origin, imported in the '60s/'70s, with 912 speedo faces, like yours. My guess is that the DOT made them remove the kilometer dial and install MPH faces. 912 faces must have been more readily available at the time. The tell-tale is the small lens at the bottom that has no provision for a bulb (hi beam indicator on 912), more digits, and no remote cable style trip meter knob.

[JTR70]

This sounds like a job for Steve Heinrich's! Gordon What's your chassis # again? Jack if you look at page 1 of this thread you'll see this car the day Gordon brought it home; it has the holes in the nose for the over rider tubes. USA delivered car then?

The seat backs are looking great Gordon and your cat definitely approves of the bottom! Also your wife is so understanding to allow this assembly in the formal dinning room. When I am assembling rear quarter windows and the like on the floor I get the stern reminder that: "This is NOT a Garage"! from my boss. Looking forward to seeing these complete! Justin

[roy mawbey]

Gordon,

You are doing some great work, looking really nice that seat. I remember in 1960 gradually putting my 1954 Norton Dominator together in my bedroom. Had the frame stove enamelled the tank finished and the wheels all with new chrome. You could you eat your dinner off it cleaner than anything else in the house. But.. my mother was so good in allowing that. I even put the racing seat on it and used to sit on the bike next to my bed thinking I was on the road.

I like your cat as well. We had one who seemed interested sometimes in my bike restoration. Or she just liked company! Your car is goint to look great. Like Jack I wonder who did drive it those years ago?

A pic of my bike just finished still with hand painted reg number till I received new ones.

Roy

[gkw]

Thanks Roy, My wife is very understanding with my mess.

[tperazzo]

I'm super impressed with your seats. Really cool that you did it yourself and they look perfect.

Congrats, and I hope you put many more miles on those fresh seats to break 'em in.

[Phil Planck]

I agree with Tom, very impressive. Might just take a stab at something like that myself when I get to that point.

Phil

[JTR70]

WOW Gordon!!! That first seat really turned out nice! could not tell from the photos but have you eliminated all the original padding or is it a combination of old and new? Beautiful work!!! Justin

[gkw]

Thanks Justin, The original seats springs were rusted and missing some springs. I did not have enough there to work with so I made a decision
to start from scratch. It took some time to get the right look of a T-1
but in the end I am pleased.
Thanks,Gordon

[John Pierce]

Gordon! Fantastic workmanship. You've shown me ANOTHER skill that I've got to learn. I'm very far from needing leather, but now know that it's something that can be done at home.

Thanks for sharing.

John

[MMW]

Gordon, the seat looks awesome! I have a question, on page 28 of this thread you show pictures of the seat bottom. You also mentioned elsewhere that you fabbed them from scratch. What is the material you used/called & where do you get it? I'm assuming that you did not use any of the lower framework & springs? Only the base itself?

[gkw]

Thanks, I totally got rid of the springs and spring frame. I used all foam for the
seat and back. I used a foam with a 65# compression and a 2.3 density . It seemed to
have a nice firm feel for holding its shape. If I were to do it again I would not use the
ready made foam top for the T-1 bottom. It is slightly different than the later bottom.
I have a couple more pictures If that will help. Gordon

[gkw]

More interior.

[JTR70]

Gordon, it is really looking nice and cozy back there! Beautiful job on those panels and the carpet install!

Here are the lower seat pad details. Let me know if you need photos of the back rest pleats I have an original and they are a bit different.
Keep up the great work! Justin