Then, as I had planned to do a lot of driving with the car (and I did - more than 3500 miles this summer only, and still going!) and I had gone through my set of bias ply tires, I ordered a set of brand new bias look radials from Coker. What a beautiful tire this is, and it rides wonderfully! Doing all of this, I also converted the car with reversible conversion kits for power front disk brakes AND a Borgeson power steering!

Now, this is a superb cruiser. I think I am done working on her this year, just enjoying it for the rest of the season.

Some other pics:

Fabulous work.  Thanks for sharing with us!

Of course, I am insanely jealous!! 

I have to say I'm impressed with how much effort you put into making the interior correct.  From what I've noticed, interiors seem to be the most ignored part of the old car hobby, and more often than not damaged or worn interiors are replaced/repaired with materials that are readily available rather than correct ones.

If it's a custom it doesn't matter, of course, but on original/restored cars it's one of the first things I notice.  In my mind, bodywork and paint is just a matter of spending the money or doing the work, as long as the paint is formulated correctly, just about any original colour can be duplicated.  Engines and driveline, the same - parts and knowhow are easy to come by, so it's not such a challenge to get it working right and paint it up so it's pretty.

However, original interior materials and patterns are a whole other game and getting them correct are several notches higher than getting a paint job or getting it to run well, IMHO.  Going to the trouble and expense that you did really shows out the beauty of the original interior design, and I guarantee that everybody who looks at the car will notice it.  The fifties were an explosion of 'out there' designs and colours, and you nailed it!  Great job!!

Glenn Musgrave wrote:

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You are to be commended for putting the time and effort in to keeping interior original.  It's a fine looking set of wheels!  The interior is one of the things that drew me to my car as well and I fear the day that I have to replace it.  In your search did you come across anyone selling the clear vinyl seat covers that use to be available from dealers back in the day?  

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 Thanks a lot!

Indeed, I was thinking about putting clear covers on the seats, and one of my friends, who owns a 1960 Pontiac Laurentian, has the covers made by a local upholstery shop, and the results are great.

I've been on the fence with whether or not I want clear seat covers.  On the one hand they would protect the original beauty of what the car has but on the other hand anyone wearing shorts would likely curse sticking to them.  I'm not a short wearer, prefer to keep these skinny legs under wraps, but my wife and grandkids wear shorts.  If there was a cheaper over the counter set I would consider them and wouldn't feel guilty about tossing them if the family complained about them.