Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

MartinC · Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Posts: 97

I have a 1930 fabric bodied Standard Big 9 on which most of the fabric is original.

What do I put on it? It's looking a little dull and lacklustre, and I think the weatherproofing ability has been lost.

I think the fabric may be Rexine? Certainly isn't vinyl anyway.
from Wikipedia: "Rexine is the registered trademark of an artificial leather leathercloth fabric produced in the United Kingdom by Rexine Ltd of Hyde, near Manchester, England. It was made of cloth surfaced with a mixture of cellulose nitrate, camphor oil, pigment and alcohol, embossed to look like leather.

Used as a bookbinding material and upholstery covering, Rexine was also widely used in trimming and upholstering the interiors of motor vehicles produced by British car manufacturers beginning in the 1920s, its cost being around a quarter that of leather. It was used by the British Motor Corporation in the 1960s and 70s, particularly as a covering for 'crash padding' on dashboards and doors. It was also used for British teddy bear paw and foot pads from the late 1930s to early 1960s."

Someone suggested a 50/50 mix of boiled linseed oil and methylated spirits. which is consistent with the above description I think.
Otherwise I considered boot polish or Vaseline.
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1937 Standard Flying Twelve
1942 Bedford OYD
1947 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty-Special
1954 Hillman Minx
1956 Austin A30
1957 Vauxhall Victor Super
1960 Car Cruiser Carousel caravan
1962 Car Cruiser Carissima caravan

Kelsham · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:21 am Post subject: fabric bodies

I recovered my 1932 BSA Trike about 35 years ago using vyanide leathercloth.
I have since changed the colour using vinylcote. I usually use WD 40 to clean it.
Some of the cars in the BSA car club still have the original covering. I have examined it and in old age it becomes patchy and the surface seems to break up.
I have started to rebuild a 1931 four wheeler BSA car with a fabric body, It looks as if it used a very cheap Rexine.
The remaining material had started to show signs of severe old age.

If you look at some of the products for restoring dashboards or bumpers I am sure they will not harm the surface and may help.

Regards Kels.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Just straight linseed oil is pretty effective. Easy to apply and does dry out and not remain oily to the touch.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Nic Jarman · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:32 pm Post subject:

Rexine looks like it should be fairly easy to reproduce, some sort of paint on close woven cotton, but I know it would have been done if it were that easy. Any ideas?
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

It certainly can't be Rexine, which is a leather substitute for upholstery purposes. I had a hell of a job finding a roll when I built my Jaguar, since in the day they used it because it was cheaper than leather and Jaguar wouldn't spend the money where unnecessary. It's also waterproof which helps when it rains!

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Source of Rexine?

http://www.ratchford.co.uk/viewproducts.asp?mainCat=Leathercloth

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

IIRC Peter, we talked to them but their product wasn't the colour I needed which was suede green. It's designed for bookbinding too. The manufacture of Rexine was banned in Europe on health grounds and is now made in India