Does anyone know when VW Australia started and discontinued using the stripey headliner? You know, the crappy stuff that goes yellow and splits until it looks like a million pieces of spaghetti hanging from the roof.

What was it's original colour, snow white?, ivory? cream?


Matt.

I reckon it was about 1957-1960, but someone will know for sure. I've got that in mine (1959) and apart from under the rear window where it would have copped some sun, it's very nice. I think that's a very high quality vinyl. You couldn't buy anything like that today. I think it's only crappy after 30-40 years of heat, moisture and everyday use. They tended to use quality materials. Dunno 'bout the colour, but it wasn't white. More cream I reckon.
Brad

I've got it in a '64 Beetle, that I use for spares (Aussie built German knock down kit). I've rarely seen that trim in good condition, even 20 or 30 years ago you would commonly see the bit under the rear windows gone to spaghetti.

Matt.



[ Edit: I have a feeling I might have also seen it in a light grey colour too. ]

[ Edited on 17-7-2006 by Matt Ryan ]

Yeah ok, I know the stuff you're talking about. Don't know the timeline on that stuff Matt. Why do you ask if you don't mind my asking.

I've been looking around trying to find a modern equivalent material that I could get sewn up into a headlining, maybe something used for outdoor furniture. I wondered just how long the original stuff was used and if it is correct for my '59/'60 beetle project, which came to me with no trim at all.
(came from the factory with '59 engine, gearbox, fuel tank, manual choke, '60 everything else.)


Matt

Be a tricky one....finding the original gear, or anything remotely like it.
I reckon one of the problems with those early headliners, and the reason they ended up schredding themselves was that they couldn't breath. They'd get wet with condensation, then dry in the heat the next day. The fabric gets brittle and deteriorates.
Perforation was the saviour.
If you're happy to use outdoor furn fabric, why not go ready made perforated...and if you want some originality, go the multi-piece kit.

The strippy trim was discontinued in 1966 when they went to the poker dot stuff.

the early 59 cars should have hada cloth cotton type material as the headliner

I would use a Vinal material called Mooncrater its off white and strong as and look period, easy to keep clean as well

The strippy crap isnt available any more

I had a standard model 67 bug which had the strippy trim. It was totaly stuffed, falling apart and hanging down everywhere.