Can the Cerbera roof lining be covered in leather?

[cinman]

I heard it may not be possible to remove the crappy canvas covering on my Cerbera roof lining to replace with leather, nor cover it in leather just straight on top ... is that right?

[gazzab]

try
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18083&f=6&h=0&hw=lining

This is titled roof lining.

[beej]

I read thru the other thread and it seems a little inconclusive. I have continual problems with my roof lining sagging (everytime it gets really hot and sunny - so that means once or twice a year!) so I've been sticking it back into place with trimmers spray glue. It works temporarily but its not an ideal solution and I would really like to go the leather/vinyl route.

I asked a well known ex dealer off the A3 if the roof lining could be replaced and they gave me a similar story about it being a windows out job etc. So one day when I was lying flat out in the fully reclined drivers seat staring at the roof (he he) I thought I would check it out. I can't see any reason why the forward section (ie from the roll bar forward) cannot be cut out and replaced with the edges tucked behind the trim panels above the windscreen, A pillars and doors.

Of course, I haven't actually done this but it looks straight forward (famous last words).

[bilton_d]

I was told it can be done BUT NOT in leather as the leather would be too heavy over that amount of area and would sag pretty quickly. A lighter weight material shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[cinman]

As a matter of interest then, what do the full-hide Cerbera's have on their roof linings? Is it leather? I guess some strong-as-sh*t adhesive might do the trick, or am I being simple?

[markoso]

Saw a pic the other day of an old lancia 037 with the interior refurbed in some sort of suede or alacantra and thought that was very attractive.

www.carclassic.com/images8/DG60/L-DG60-10.jpg

[olly]

Full leather still has the nasty hessian roof !

I think the best solution is ti fit alcantara - mind you, unless you actually get in the car you can't see the roof, so don't know if I can be bothered to get it done....

[ianfirmstone]

mines got full leather and the same green carpet thats on the dooors is on the roof.. not a great choice could be darker green and would look good!

[mlumb]

if the surface on the roof is generally sound,then leather would glue up fine but not with spray glue as this does tend to soften with heat.a good contact adhesive would work.

i agree with the 'tuck it in around the edges' method and intend to do mine this way when i get round to it.

mike.

[beej]

Mike, presumably you have to clean the old spray glue off the fibreglass with some kind of solvent.. if so will it penetrate the fibreglass and cause any problems?

[arcbeer]

There seems to be some confusion over what is half hide and what is full hide. If there is carpet (or that fake leather stuff) on the doors and on the back of the rear seats then that's half hide. If those bits are leather then it's full hide. Am I correct? I only ask because I've seen a few cars that were advertised as full hide but I didn't think they were.

[ACo4Plat]

... furthermore, the use of "hide" is a bit misleading, because the only "hide" in a Cerbie (or at least, a half-hide pre'98) is the perforated stuff that is:
a. centre panel on seat-backs and seat-bottoms (front and rear seats)
b. arm rest on driver's side
I understand the rest is actually vinyl. You can try the "scratch" test with your fingernail to prove either way - vinyl feels much different than leather and reacts differently (not too hard so's to remove colouring of course!).
Mine's a half-hide in biscuit leather, with this kind of "sack cloth" on roof lining, half the doors and the rear shelf. Am about to get quotes to replace with leather probably. Found some stuff (credit to Fred) called Dinamica (that's spelt right) from [url]www.auto-acoustics.co.uk[/url]

[whatever]

ianfirmstone said: mines got full leather and the same green carpet thats on the dooors is on the roof.. not a great choice could be darker green and would look good!

my "full leather" interior has suede on both the door inserts and the head lining. I suppose suede counts as leather, but either way, it's certainly not the normal 'hessian' finish.

[whitey]

"Half leather" in all TVR's means leather to the seat facings only.

"Full leather" means exactly that. ie leather to all bits that are er leather, but you will still have flock or whatever on the roof and door panels etc

Roof linings and carpet/flock/hessian stuff/bison etc etc on doors and roofs are all generally standard to whatever TVR are putting in those areas in that particular year.

Of course, buyers can specify a mixture of the above when ordering so lots of combinations exist.

Cheers
Whitey

[mlumb]

beej said: Mike, presumably you have to clean the old spray glue off the fibreglass with some kind of solvent.. if so will it penetrate the fibreglass and cause any problems?

you would need to clean it,but i don't think you would have any problems with penetration,i haven't experienced any on other parts of the car.
mike.

[beast]

I remember looking at a 4.5 ~3 yrs ago at the TVR Centre that had been "built" for a German customer (still RHD & not Christof) that had been totally trimmed in suede internally (red and green if memory serves me right) and I actually really liked.

Roof was sueded as well I think.

[cinman]

Whilst I'm grateful for everyone's very valuable input, I guess I'm suffering from over-information, because there doesn't seem to be a definitive YES or NO answer to this question does there? I don't want to rip the old canvass off, have it looking like sh*te, then glueing which melts the plastic, or putting up leather which sags in hot weather? (I don't have a garage, so my car gets ver hot inside on sunny days).

[grey42cerbie]

YES! it's possible I've had a Suede roof lining fitted and it doesn't sag.

Cheers, Steve
Grey 4.2 cerbie

[mlumb]

yes it can.

[leszekg]

beej said: I read thru the other thread and it seems a little inconclusive. I have continual problems with my roof lining sagging (everytime it gets really hot and sunny - so that means once or twice a year!) so I've been sticking it back into place with trimmers spray glue. It works temporarily but its not an ideal solution and I would really like to go the leather/vinyl route.

If it's the continual sagging you want to cure then talk to Woolies (www.woolies-trim.co.uk/). I had the same problem and they supplied some heat resistant adhesive which has done the trick. Over a year later and the lining is still where it should be.