School me. In my minds eye I generally associate upholstered running boards with 60s builds, but when did they first start to show up? Would they be totally wrong for an early 50s built custom? How bout late 40s? Would love to see photos of different styles of upholstered boards. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Time line I can't help too much but I remember seeing a couple of cars in the 60's with upholstered running boards and they were hot rods,not customs. I did see them used in the little pages back in the 60's on rods & customs. To my way of thinking the upholstered running boards remind me of the show cars of the time period. HRP
Depending on the car, they look absolutely awesome. This is one of my favorite examples. I've always loved this 39 and I think the running boards look perfect on it.
I seem to recall seeing them in some of my old little page magazines from the late 50's when I was a kid, but that was 30 years ago, so the memory may be a little fuzzy.
I remember seeing a few in the late 50's. Unless you're building a trailer queen for show only. I'd say don't do it. They aren't going to last out in the weather. Every time you park the thing, you're going to have some kid climbing on a running board to have a look inside. Grubby shoes with bubble gum and grease stuck to the bottoms and upholstery ain't gonna mix very good. If it's gonna be a driver that occasionally gets shown, I suppose you could have upholstered covers with magnets sewn into the undersides stitched up. You'd have upholstery for show, and standard rubber mats for driving.
I would normally associate them with customs, however..my perspective is. In the early seventies, new boards didn't exist, covers were available a little later and difficult to work with and frankly didn't fit my budget so I covered mine in good vinyl. Worked and looked great. I'm sure you have early dates in mind with the pic you posted. I'll likely cover the ones for my cabrio also. Tim
I got em, I drive the shit out of mine. about 8000 miles so far this summer. I used a weather proof closed cell foam pad underneath. and a quality marine vinyl no problems yet.
I'm aiming for very early 50s mild custom with my car. I'm pretty well convinced that I can pull off upholstered boards and be period, although from what I've seen in my research and responses thus far I would probably be pioneering the vinyl board scene if it were 1952. If somebody came up with a pre '55 photo of upholstered boards I'd feel warm a fuzzy inside. But I think I like the idea enough already to go for it anyway Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Sorry, you could not be more wrong. I have upholstered wheel wells on my T coupe........they have been on there for about 4 years...........I beat the shit out of my car and drive it everywhere. A soap and water clean up gets it done
Please keep em coming. Is white the only acceptable color to cover your boards? Anybody seen any body colored upholstered boards? Still looking for that early 50s photo. I know you guys have more upholstered boards to share! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I don't know if it is upholstery or not, but this '29 Ford was sure flirting with the look when it appeared on the cover of the July, 1953 HRM .
Here's my 39....I started a thread on white running boards and interiors last year.... Lots of good pics on it..marine grade vinyl , super easy to keep clean
Most (not all) with white upholstered running boards have white walls. I personally think it ties it all together. I put black walls the back of mine (long story) to get me home from Bonneville and it looked horrible.
My T, Picture taken in 1959. My friend Wayne built a very similar 27 (we both went to school with the original owner) Wayne also covered his running boards, held on with magnets, and let me put them on my T to see what they would look like. I sent this (third pic) to my brother to get his opinion. This is what I got back from him.
When my car was painted I had no running boards so.....my "field expedient solution" was to upholstery real "boards". That was 1983? and they are still being used. The guy that painted the car and trimmed the interior suggested the running board treatment.
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