Page 1 of 2

1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 4:01 pm
by RobFrost
The car has a very good black roof lining.

Image

But removing the windscreen seal reveals a perforated light coloured fabric underneath it. Would that have been the original roof lining, and what colour would it have been? Looks cream / grey. I think the car had tan interior originally.

Image

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 8:40 pm
by MarkIII
Hi Rob

The perforated light coloured material would have been the original roof liner. Garry (visualfx) on this forum will point you in the right direction if you are looking to source a correct replacement

Mark

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:12 am
by 911hillclimber
My 73T came with the off-white head liner, but had been painted black when I got it.

A lot of people sell the material, but doubt it is exactly Porsche spec.
Mine all stitched in cream came from Aldridge Trimming in Wolverhampton.

Took my old one as a pattern and they stitched the pockets for the tension wires.

Great fun fitting it!

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:12 am
by 210bhp
You can tell if it is the original ivory headlining by measuring the size of holes, hole spacing and hole pattern.
Not all replacement headliners are exactly correct.

Regards
Mike

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:49 am
by RobFrost
Doesn't need to be identical for me. It's sufficient to know that's probably the original - I'll probably change it back as it will lighten up the car inside.

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:18 pm
by Bootsy
210bhp wrote:You can tell if it is the original ivory headlining by measuring the size of holes, hole spacing and hole pattern.
Not all replacement headliners are exactly correct.

Regards
Mike
Do you have a special stick/rule/grid thing for such investigation Mike?

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:38 pm
by 210bhp
Bootsy wrote:
210bhp wrote:You can tell if it is the original ivory headlining by measuring the size of holes, hole spacing and hole pattern.
Not all replacement headliners are exactly correct.

Regards
Mike
Do you have a special stick/rule/grid thing for such investigation Mike?

I used to but the demand for correct hole sizing seems to have diminished over the last few years. People seem to be very satisfied with any size of hole these days (as per the answer from the original poster above). Many years ago you will remember size and shape did matter.

Regards
Mike

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:50 pm
by RobFrost
210bhp wrote:
Bootsy wrote:
210bhp wrote:You can tell if it is the original ivory headlining by measuring the size of holes, hole spacing and hole pattern.
Not all replacement headliners are exactly correct.

Regards
Mike
Do you have a special stick/rule/grid thing for such investigation Mike?

I used to but the demand for correct hole sizing seems to have diminished over the last few years. People seem to be very satisfied with any size of hole these days (as per the answer from the original poster above). Many years ago you will remember size and shape did matter.

Regards
Mike
Do you have a source for the correct lining?

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:23 pm
by RobFrost
Bootsy wrote: Do you have a special stick/rule/grid thing for such investigation Mike?
Assuming these fragments around the window are original (fair, given that they match original on a prima facie basis and look about 50 years old) the holes are arranged at 5.9mm centres apart (although I would be inclined to say this was 6mm originally and has shrunk ~1.5%) in a hexagonal grid arrangement, with circa 1mm diameter holes.

Image

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:02 pm
by 210bhp
I would say that you have the correct hex pattern, spaced hole size for original material.
The only source I found for a close match in all aspects was a fellow enthusiast called Andrea in Italy who was once prolific on early Porsche forums and then disappeared without trace. He went to great lengths to get both sunroof (correct zip etc) and non-sunroof headliner replacements about perfect in all aspects including material colour and thickness as well as the hole pattern. Those kind of restorations have now virtually evaporated which is probably why he has.

I would imagine Garry Fx will be able to sort this out if you need a new liner. He’s the interior champion in the UK and a long standing contributor here.
I don’t know of anyone else who might have something very accurate. I’m sure he will be your best option.

A black headliner (to the best of my knowledge) was never a factory option on pre-74 911’s with the exception of the 73RS where it was offered as an alternative (not an official option) and I have read that one, possibly two ST’S came from the factory with a black headliner but there others on here who would give you better information on that than me.

Regards
Mike

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:30 pm
by 911hillclimber
Down to taste, but the difference the cream (off-white) liner made was significant compared to black, but a personal choice. You can go to Aldridge Trimming and see the stuff they have, even measure the holes and spacing.

I found the material I used stretched when installing so removing creases etc, so hole shape and spacing went out of the window, but I will have bought cheap back then as I would now..

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 6:02 pm
by stretch

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 6:57 pm
by RobFrost
I think £95 is pretty cheap when you consider even cheap material will be £30 and then sewing on top.

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:00 pm
by Gary71
Yes, Looks good value

Re: 1970 911T - original roof lining?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:26 pm
by AndrewSlater
I believe it was Dave Nunn at Southbound trimmers who had the 'correct' headlining remade with the correct hex pattern and on a material of equivalent thickness to the original.
The feedback I read about the Italian sourced one was that the material was much thicker than the original and difficult to work with.

I fitted the 'Wonderland' one to my 912 but later fitted the Southbound one to my 911 when it became available. It wasn't that much more expensive and looks correct.

Regards
Andrew