INTERIOR

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Click on any Picture for Enlargement

	This picture was taken  in 1977 and shows the terrible shape of the interior.  Someone had   tried to make things a bit more tidy by using a splash of white paint here and there.  All that was stripped, but was all covered with wood or leather as well.		After making a test  instrument board from foam, I made this board from pine.  These type  of trial efforts save  the expensive final wood from being wasted due to mistakes or changes.  I was also  able to try the cut for the glove box door used that makes the  grain match.
	The instrument board had an ash tray put where the clock once fit.  That and other cuts required a new board.		The final mahogany instrument board did have changes to the layout. Note the light was centered over  three instruments in this  finished board.  The  glove box door is  shown installed in later pictures.
	Only front seats were in  the car and were bad at  that.  Everything had  a very bad smell.		Aaah! THE SWEET SMELL OF NEW LEATHER UPON OPENING THE DOOR! A view showing the  business end of the drivers compartment.
	The leather about to be stretched on the seat frame.		The seats being trial fit  for height and distance. Note the front seat base gives good height and has two drawers for handy stowage of tools  normal use items not  fitting in the glove box. The hand crank is kept in one of these drawers.
	Interior wood trim being varnished.		A shot of the rear compartments. Another picture of the large items like the jack   is in the tools section.
	Rear seat grab bars being made.  This is showing the TIG welder about to attach the handle to the base. The TIG welder is most useful for precision welds, particularly on aluminum.  These  parts are steel and were polished for plating.		The steel foot throttle was worn and had to be welded to have a  flat pad.  Then the  groves were machined back in with this  carbide blade used in  my horizontal mill.
	The sliding sunroof being measured and disassembled.  Only  the aluminum skin and hardware was reused. All of the wood was  replaced and had compound curves.		With the coach upside down, it was time to do the insulation and  supports for the  headliner upholstery board.
	The coach upside down on the rotary stand for fit of the headliner upholstery board. This view is from the sunroof  opening towards the rear. The coach had  been wired for the dome light and fully insulated. (see next page).		Showing the headliner complete and the sun roof in.
	Showing the sunroof, rear view mirror, and the top of the windscreen.		Located on the front passenger side just  above the carpet is the Chassis ID Plate that was installed by the RR factory in 1929.  It is due  in part to this ID that so much history on RR and Bentley cars has  been documented. GEN 36 has orig. engine, transmission, and other  major parts documented on the build sheets done at the time it was built.
	While seat upholstery  is beyond my capability, I decided to try carpet binding.  I acquired an industrial walking foot sewing machine. The  supplier of the leather did strips to use on the carpet edging.  Here, the machine is set to do the final stitch right next to the leather so as it will not show.		Rear compartment  carpet.
	The industrial sewing machine was also used to stitch the heavy door stop straps.		Rear seat area.
	I made these straps so that some of the strap slides back as the door  is closed.  That way, the loop is smaller and not in the way.		Nearside door, and  front passenger area. Note the position of the chassis ID tag from the factory just under the manual starter foot pedal.
	The glove box under construction.		An accessory common to these cars is the trouble inspection lamp.  It has a crank to roll up the cord after  use.  The cord has a  plug to fit the plug-in on the switchbox on the instrument board.
	The glove box installed.		The Lucas spare bulb holder is a handy accessory.  It is solid  brass with bulbs of the assorted sizes in each  end.
	The glove box door installed.  While mahogany does not have intensive grain, the match of the door to the board is seen on close inspection.		The door post from the  interior with the hand strap shown.     The rear door is a "suicide" door that must be locked when the car is being driven.     As these doors open  from the front, violent  damage would result  from wind assisted  opening when underway.
	The rear seat grab  handle with the leather wrap.  Also shown is the dome light switch.  It is orig. from a 20 HP RR and  cost $120 on E-bay.		The front seat, hand brake, shifter, and carpet are shown here.

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