Headlining - one or two parts!?

[Tony's 68 Camper]

Hi everyone,
I’d like some advice on the headlining of my 1968 early bay.
I‘m currently restoring mine by replacing all the botched areas around my bus ie new inner/outer sills (both sides), rear wings (somebody had replaced with 71 flared arches), rear corners, battery trays, cross members (both), outriggers and jacking points ……. I could go on but todays question is around my headlining.
When I took the headlining down, it was in two parts, cab and rear. At the rear of the cab roof section has the same ‘spiky‘ rail ( the same as above the doors) that held the cab headlining. The start of the rear section of the headlining has a wooden rail which had the headlining glued/clipped to it. Hope this make sense to someone?
In seeking a replacement, I’ve been told only a one piece headlining Is available. If this is the case, what is the ‘spiky’ rail for at the rear of the cab section for? Can someone advise me please.
thanks, Tony

 

[Tony's 68 Camper]

Oh well, with 60 views and no replies I’ll take it that it’s another botch and I’ll replace the headlining with a single piece.
KR
Tony

 

[YellowBay69]

What conversion is it?? Dormobile have fabric from front to wooden rail just behind cab seats. Rear is hardboard from wooden rail to another wood section at tailgate.
Guess if it’s tin top then it’s full fabric headliner from front to rear. A ***** of a job to fit …. but randomly I found fitting mine quite satisfying.

 

[ozziedog]

Again, not sure of the conversion that you have. Some of the British conversions were for taxation reasons converted from panel vans at different periods and windows were cut in to panels as part of the conversion. This changed frequently with the taxation law changing several times so at some points it was much cheaper to convert panel vans and install your own glass and other times it was as cheap to have factory windows. I’m sure a lot of these conversions would have just had headliners in the cabs and the remaining headliners were pieced together from similar looking materials by the conversion companies. I had a 72 Devon that was cut into by Devon and had the fabric go all through but I’ve also seen several others where you could spot the difference. Most of the above, I’ve pieced together from memory that is flawed and ancient so please don’t consider it to be gospel or get into an argument sighting my recollections.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,, What conversion is it ???

 

[ozziedog]

Just to add to it Tony , these vans have most probably been added too and removed from and added too several times if not more during their long life as campers. On more than one occasion I’ve seen old campers for sale at specialist dealers of motor homes etc and I’m sure these guys try to spruce them up with anything they have to hand that’s current in that trade.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,Or make your own perhaps ???

 

[cov1967]

I’ve got a 69 Westy that has a ply headliner, this is in 2 parts

 

[Graham L]

Hi everyone,
I’d like some advice on the headlining of my 1968 early bay.
I‘m currently restoring mine by replacing all the botched areas around my bus ie new inner/outer sills (both sides), rear wings (somebody had replaced with 71 flared arches), rear corners, battery trays, cross members (both), outriggers and jacking points ……. I could go on but todays question is around my headlining.
When I took the headlining down, it was in two parts, cab and rear. At the rear of the cab roof section has the same ‘spiky‘ rail ( the same as above the doors) that held the cab headlining. The start of the rear section of the headlining has a wooden rail which had the headlining glued/clipped to it. Hope this make sense to someone?
In seeking a replacement, I’ve been told only a one piece headlining Is available. If this is the case, what is the ‘spiky’ rail for at the rear of the cab section for? Can someone advise me please.
thanks, Tony

Your bus would have been a kombi from the factory not a microbus, still had windows all round but was designed as a work vehicle, they only had a cab headliner for the driving area, the back was a ply/hardboard headliner

 

[Clem]

Years back I had a tintop converted panel van that just had the cab area headliner fitted, the rest was bare metal (but I have a feeling it may have had a cardboard liner at some point?) Anyway, I took it to a trimmers who matched the perforated material and fitted a headliner from the cab area backwards. Was good.

 

[neilswheels]

As many have said, It sounds like your camper started as a van. I think the 'spikey rail' is available to buy

 

[Tony's 68 Camper]

Oh well, with 60 views and no replies I’ll take it that it’s another botch and I’ll replace the headlining with a single piece.
KR
Tony

Thank you everyone for your replies. I don’t believe my camper a van conversion, I’ll attach photos but my van is a bit of a mess right now due to the amount of work I’ve had to do to correct the botched body.

 

[col1600]

Hello mate. Put the past behind you , what ever has happened to your bus in the past does matter right now.. But im sure threw searching as you have, youll have found two options. Front cab only or full headliner. Depends how you want to play it. Im almost finished installing my new factory sunroof version headliner, its all do able.

 

[Tony's 68 Camper]

Hello mate. Put the past behind you , what ever has happened to your bus in the past does matter right now.. But im sure threw searching as you have, youll have found two options. Front cab only or full headliner. Depends how you want to play it. Im almost finished installing my new factory sunroof version headliner, its all do able.

Morning, thanks for your advice. Can you post some pictures and please let me know where you purchased your headlining. Thanks. Tony

 

[col1600]

Morning, thanks for your advice. Can you post some pictures and please let me know where you purchased your headlining. Thanks. Tony

Hi mate, i bought my last 2 headliners from this guy.. Very helpful.

 

[Tony's 68 Camper]

Hi mate, i bought my last 2 headliners from this guy.. Very helpful. View attachment 7569View attachment 7571

 

[Tony's 68 Camper]

Thanks for the pictures, they look great and gives me confidence to put in my own headlining. Cheers mate.