Finally getting back to the car, funny how a new child can distract you.
Trying to keep a theme going with the car and keep things aggressive, updated and different. I really wanted to incorporate some gator grain, but that turned out to not be practical. I did find some material called Cobra that is pretty cool and different. So the top is probably going to be done in it. Here is a sample of the grain:
I meet with an upholstry shop today that was actually really interested in doing custom door panels for the car, funny how many I talked to that were kind of flakey about it. Turns out the guy used to work at the same restoration shop as my body/paint guy before they both started their own shops. I gave him the low down on the car, showed him a bunch of pictures and brought the door panels in. He sketched out a design with chalk, I took that and rendered it out in Photoshop over the last couple hours. I like where he was going, but wasn't sure; now that I see it in more detail, I really like it. I still need to pick final vinyls, but here is what I came up with:
The main body will be black padded, probably something like the crushed grain used on tops. The darker sections in the middle and bottom will be the Cobra material. The navy section would be the same grain as the inset section of the original panel. The Cobra and Navy section wouldn't be as padded, so it looks recessed. The rear window switch is moved up about 2 inches, the correct location falls right on the seam between the 2 vinyls. My original thought was to embroidair the Fury III logo into the panel in the same color to keep it subtle. I had told the guy how all the emblems except the Fury III on the tail panel had been removed, and how funny it was to watch people eye the car and sheepishly walk around back and then look down to figure out what it was. He recommeded I leave the embroidairy off then. He has a point, but I kind of like it. I might have one embroidaired just to see how it looks first.
The boot will be a stock crushed grain black boot. Had thought of doing it in Cobra, but I think that woud be too overbearing.
So, what do you guys think?? I have to make up my mind and approve something by Monday if I hope to make the World of Wheels show in mid March.
Here is a link to a higher res image that is 2000x812 and 284kb in case anyone is intersted in more detail. [ Edited ]
Joined: Sun Oct 09 2005, 08:35PM
Location: Cleveland, Oh
Posts: 775
I like the blue insert with the ghost logo idea. The second rendering with the more pronounced "hooK" says Fury to me more than the top one where the blue insert tip ends in the middle of the window switches.
My suggestion is to take the top rendering and extend the blue insert so the tip ends at the front leading edge of the window switch plate instead of the middle. Keep the "ghost Logo" it's subtle.
Between the two, I like the top one better though. The larger hook on the bottom picture is too "busy"
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
Very nice ! I like the first 2 designs. The bottom could be done in carpet like I did for Steve's (71F3), bound in the vinyl used for the main body so it blends in. Also, you could use alligator or snakeskin pattern vinyl for the blue sections (call or google Veteran upholstery supplies in CA. or Redrum Fabrics in NY. for a sample in vinyl). Man -made suede a good choice, also.
Joined: Sat Dec 10 2005, 04:28PM
Location: United States
Posts: 4954
Sponge Bob, Ahhhh I mean Stitcherbob, that's sort of what I had in mind for the Polara only padded. I wish I had power windows though. . . . I'll put the power locks in the green Polara. . . The Brown car will be encased in glass, only to come out for show nights
After I finished with them and was looking at them, I was starting to think suede for the blue also. I am going to try and play with them some more today, but I just got a call that an Exchange server is acting up, hope it doesn't take all day.
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 10:45PM
Location: Lansing MI
Posts: 513
I like the first and last ones. The "hook" design of 3 and 4 seems more 40's/50's than 70's
Definitely keep the ghost logo, like the trunk emblem it's there, but you have to know where to look.
I'm assuming you've thought of this, but will moving the rear window require modifiying the sheet metal underneath? When I put the PW into my '65 it seemed like the clearance for the back of the switch and the harness was pretty tight.