The Cal-look Lounge

Hi guys,

I am about to start making interior for my 64'. I'd like to make fat biscuit interior and have thousands of photos, but I wondered if there are any official measurements for those interiors. When I look at the photos, they all look exactly the same, but can't find any numbers. Any advice would be much appreciated! :-)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m610/BORNART/DSCF1815.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m610/BORNART/IMG_3422.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m610/BORNART/DSC_0439JPGscaled1000.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m610/BORNART/bisquit.jpg)

Seems to me the numbers are staring you in the face!
Get a seat and some panels and start measuring!

Always means so much more when you figure it out for yourself! ;)
TxT

Like tom sez! They look close to the door handle length, Measure a door handle. Just a Idea.

Start with a door panel. Divide the length up into how many squares you want, I think it's 33" wide so you could have 6 squares 5 1/2"x5 1/2"... Or more or less squares (or rows) depending on the look you want. Whatever you end up with on the doors, transfer that to the rear panels and the seats so it all matches.

Here's one I did...
http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,5626.450.html

Need it be such an exact science?
In my opinion if you're trying to imitate Don Bradford's fat biscuit then by all means consult the history books.
But when it came to my interior I told my upholsterer the style I wanted (which was fat biscuit) and he interpreted it in his own way.

If you want it to look right, then yes! I guarantee Brad, and your upholsterer, did it the exact same way.

I will probably start measuring by myself and find best ratios. I am ashamed to say, but don't know the history of this interior, can anybody post photo of Don Bradford's interior and tell me the story?!

The seats in our first sandrail were done by Brad... so was the '73 Datsun truck but it got black tuck 'n roll.

I completely agree with you Zach with regards to the measuring and ensuring that the panels are divided equally. What I was questioning is whether every interior had to conform to the same rule- there seems to be little individuality.

On the contrary, rather than conformity it's a rule of proportions ... it always comes down to the Math.
What size square will equally divide into the width of the door panel and the center section of the seat. In this case the only variable is the width of the divider, in between the biscuits, if you prefer that look. Some do, some don't.
Simple when you get down to it, the Math that is.

Dare to be different? ;)

TxT

Yes sir...!  ;)

Got it ;)

Not really... I just make one chalk line (say every 5 1/2"), and put a stitch on each side of the line. However, the material will shrink when you stitch it up, that much you have to allow for!

Off topic; I'd like to see the Datsun.. ::)

yep off topic but, I would like to see the Datsun as well...

Meaning that's one of the main variables I notice in many of the different interpretations I've seen ... IF the biscuits are FAT :D

Off topic it is.... sorry I couldn't come up with an interior picture though :(

Nice Datsun!

Like these old pickups with proper wheels/tires.

Need some gravy with those biscuits!

sure hope those are packard wires!  ;D

That Datsun rocks!  8)

When I get my new TMI sport seat kits for my stock 65 seats, I am going biscuit interior for sure! What I great look! And that red is so racey/slutty looking I love it! LOL! Never have liked red interior but it sure looks good in the photo above. Thanks for sharing the pics  ;)

Thanks!  DKP was winding down in 1972 and a number of us had moved on to dirt bikes so a truck became a necessity.  The built 1700cc engine came from Darrell Vittone and was actually installed by DV himself when he had the shop next to McPeek's.  It smoked badly and I would later have it torn down to find no valve stem seals (strange because Fumio did the head).  The tear down was a good opportunity to ditch the no-name cam, add some Total Seal rings, a 2000 Roadster clutch and some factory racing headers.  Too bad the truck was stolen shortly thereafter; it was a strong runner. :(   Now, back to Fat Biscuits....

I will post of recent photo of Don Bradford next week when I get back in town. When asked about the biscuit inserts, Brad would try to vary the size or width of the pattern from car to car, just to make them a bit different. If you look at old photos of the DKP cars, none of the seats are exactly the same. While they all were double-stitched, the number of rows were not the same. Brad did tell me that he got a lot of his "training" from his old employer, which I just forgot his name right now...But I will think of it later on.

Here is a recent photo of Don "Brad" Bradford, who now lives in Nampa, Idaho. That's the same sewing machine he used back in the day, when he did all those biscuit interiors.

 :o 8) 8) 8)!!!  Thanks for sharing that pic, Dean!

So Dean, can we assume you tracked down Mr. Bradford to have him make some more magic for your '67???
I gather by the photo he may be still putting his old machine through it's bag of tricks ...
Pretty COOL, I think.
TxT

Mmmm, biscuits! How about some made out of aluminum? ;D

(http://www.bigwigracecars.com/deano/deano%20interior/img_7857.jpg)

(http://www.bigwigracecars.com/deano/deano%20interior/img_7877.jpg)

(http://www.bigwigracecars.com/deano/deano%20interior/img_8001.jpg)

Well, ol' Brad is now retired and doesn't fire up the sewing machine much any more. Too bad. As I would love to have him stitch my interior again, I am having Collins in Downey do my (new) interior. Those aluminum panels have been sitting patiently for their big day. Powdering coating comes soon.

When Brad closed down his shop in Anaheim, I took over the ownership of his workbench, bench grinder, floor jack, sign (!) and so on. I treasure all these tools, considering their history.

Another one of Brad's hang outs was Father's, which was up the street from his shop on North Main, just past Collins. They sold more beer than anyone (which Brad assisted a skosh...) A pitcher of Bud and a couple of Polish dogs was the inside line for Brad...

I have done quite a few over the years. A couple of the top shots are my work and I always think they look better in PVC or leather. The cloth insert is not so defined. Just my 2cents.

That is very cool.

Here is a shot of Brad's last shop in southern California. This one was on North Grove in Anaheim, which I shared with him. That's Brad on the left, with Harvey Weidman who now does Porsche alloy wheel detailing. Photo was taken around 1976.

very cool photo! so was brad a vw guy day to day or just always had you guys hangin around?

Where's the ATC 90 now?  8)

Probably buried somewhere out at Glamis :D  Harvey (and his brother, Al), Deano, Brad, and Mike Martin were all responsible for hooking Sharon and I on the dunes in 1974... those were the days.  Another cool pic, Dean!! 8)

Yeah, Brad was a serious VW guy! He drove a Baja Bug (with Levis interior!) for years, and had a bitchin' sandrail. He built his own engines too.


Actually, that was a US 90, one of the first ATCs ever built (metal front fender, fiberglass rear). That's how I got into 3Wheeling was that trike (which I purchased from Mike Martin, who later bought my '67).

Notice the Bug-In 8 poster on the wall...

I'd bet that wheelstander is Al Weidman... he was the wheelie king back then and did it all with a rear engined car! 8)

Oh ... I guess there ARE some car posters!
Around and to the left of 'Miss Bug-In' ???

Cool!

 ;)
TxT

Here is that poster we had on the wall. So nice, even years later!