DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

All,
I ve spent or I feel at this point have lost 8 weeks of precious build time at the final hurdle, the cars interior, I want a very classic Speedster interior. And I think that on such a simple design (upside down bathtub) and being open the most critical area to get it right is the interior along with finding a colour that holds the shape. Up until this point I ve spoken and waited on two suppliers who both have left me cold, and really seemed disinterested in the end result, and I imagine I m not the only person who doesn’t want to spend multiple thousands (£7k for Bernard Newbury!) to trim their car right

Which is why I think its important to give feedback about suppliers, to help others finding themselves in a similar position save time and money. I don’t want to find myself at the end of a bun fight so will keep the ones whose customer service left something to be desired to myself, but I can highly recommend Martin Craven and Classic Roadsters to anyone going through the build process.

I spoke to Martin about a fortnight ago, as my original lead was growing cold without any real interest. In the meantime I had also spoken to three companies in the US who in fairness we're all excellent, especially JPS but the logistics and the risk of pattern differences between the various kits made the exercise at such a distance too risky. However Martin took it upon himself to drive to view the car, bringing with him a boot load of leather, carpet and boot liner samples and offered a genuine input into styles he had seen work and fail and without the pressure of a big sell sat back and let us try a few things out. And also isn’t scared of a few bespoke requests to individualise the car. I know Martin has big plans to expand his operation and supply multiple replica items and having paid a small fortune for many of the bits on my car, the prices being reeled off left me slightly gutted I didn’t make the association slightly earlier!

Anyway highly recommended...

Now the long wait for the seats to arrive! – Cheers Martin – you help was appreciated.

Yes, you can add my unsolicited testimonial to yours - it's not too often that you get the boss of a company putting himself out on a bank holiday AND on the way to an event to supply another manufacturer's customer with urgently needed parts.

AND all that at an exceptionally good price too!!

I've said my piece elsewhere on the forum but if they do interiors as well for customers who are having problems, then I would certainly consider getting mine from them as well.

Please let us have feed back on how you proceed. Either way I will get definitely get my leather from them - Martin was sayingthey can get the hides at around £125+delivery per hide - that's almost as cheap as quality vinayl (and you get that superb smell of leather for free!! Mmmm!!!

I still need a hood handle, teardrop lamps (must be red/amber) and an engine lid grill. Any offers?

Car Collector

With the dollar rate being so good, why aren't you buying from the States? I've been snapping up loads of 356 badges/trim via E-Bay of late. Everything you want is on there (remeber to check WORLDWIDE search). If poss, ask whoever sends it to mark it as a gift, and of less than £18 in value. Saves cutoms taking an interest.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=34207 is one example!!!!

PS-Forgot to say.....I too can add my praise for Martin Cravin. Any dealings I had with him were superb. Keep waiting for his site to go live!

Old-Bugga,
I brought all the peripherals trims, in fact everything in the US, and enjoyed the dollar to the max, a full interior is to big a risk, not that cheaper and too important a risk for me!

Sorry, I was actually replying to the other guy!

My coachtrimmers number is 01505 337800 John Ewing. I stay in Scotland near Bridge of Weir. Bridge of Weir Leather do the interiors for a lot of the big manufacturers i.e. Volvo so, there a lot of small coachtrimming firms about here.


Appreciate the distance will put a dampner on this however, if anyone else local is looking.

I had to bring over from the US, 5 of every item that I wanted to see samples of (Quality evaluation). We've got through a bit so far from odd enquiries especially at Stoneleigh).

We won't be bringing our main consignment over until later in the year but I still have a small stock of parts which I'm prepared to let go at "sympathetic" prices. It'll be on a first come first served basis, and please not more than one car's worth per customer!

Unless it's windscreens of course - LOADS of them! (sorry Jon - had to get that one in!)

Horn grills x 4 sets

Interior grab handles x 5

Bonnet handles x 4

Teardrops (red) x 4 sets

Windscreen posts x 5 sets

Aero mirrors x 3 sets

Quality int.mirrors x 4 (NOT MGB / Jag)

Durant style mirrors x 3 sets

All at special DDK member prices, please let me know your requirements.

Sorry can't help with the engine lid grills (until later in the year) - our T6 uses 2 per car!