2door saloon headlining

[benpratt]

Hi everybody,
I’ve got my two door saloon that I’ve been restoring, it’s snowberry white with a black interior, what colour is the headlining supposed to be?
Many thanks
Ben

[palacebear]

Pretty certain it should be Pearl Grey, which is in fact almost white. Stocked by Charles Ware as 'Headlining - Grey'. The alternative is cream flecked which imho looks a bit 'fussy' with a later black interior.

[ManyMinors]

I don't think the headlining colour relates to the body colour. My "H" registration Snowberry white car has a cream flecked headlining. As far as I know all Minor 1000s did until late 1969 when the light grey headlining replaced it.

[palacebear]

@benpratt: Cream flecked headlining it is!

@ManyMinors: Ta for posting that info. I was aware that headlining colour didn't bear any relation to paint/trim colour, but I'd always thought grey replaced cream around 1967.

To occupy my mind during an extended spell of ill-health and inactivity, I've been slowly compiling a paint/trim colour database (drawing on a number of resources) covering UK Minor production from start to finish. Whilst its largely complete, there are a few errors to eliminate, headling colours being one of them apparently!

[jaekl]

The Pearl Grey headliner was introduced in 59 when the parcel shelf became deeper, the heater was covered, and the glove box doors lined. all of those items were now Pearl Grey regardless of interior color. Prior to that the parcel shelf bar was interior color and the shelf was more cream like the headliner. Of course the later parcel shelves were all black.

[benpratt]

Thank you very much for all your reply’s!! Mine is a 1970 so I from what I have read I should be buying the grey yes? I did call esm and they said the grey but he said it’s kind of personal preference, plus the fleck one is a little easier to fit

[benpratt]

Although I’ve called Charles weares and they said cream haha!! They are going to call me back in the morning when they can look on their data base apparently so should no for sure!

[SteveClem]

I'd just get the one that you like most. If a subsequent owner is into anal originality they'll change it!

[benpratt]

Well I hopping to win things with it so want it to be pretty original I’m only doing period modifications to it well and possibly going to paint the engine black so she’s black and white all round which might be frowned upon, but hey I’ve rebuilt a spare that’s in it that’s original colours at the moment which will also be frowned upon haha

[ManyMinors]

The Pearl Grey headliner was introduced in 59 when the parcel shelf became deeper, the heater was covered, and the glove box doors lined. all of those items were now Pearl Grey regardless of interior color. Prior to that the parcel shelf bar was interior color and the shelf was more cream like the headliner. Of course the later parcel shelves were all black.

There was indeed a grey headlining introduced in 1959. It is a different pattern to the grey being talked about in this thread. The grey headlining introduced in 1959 gave way to the cream/beige flecked pattern around 1962. This is the type that my 1969 car has and the type which gave way to light grey shortly afterwards. There were many many changes to Morris Minors during production!

[palacebear]

I've had another look at this... confusion!! According to Ray Newell's book (main text page 60), the early grey headlining (from 1959) was used alongside the cream fleck BUT the cream fleck was only used on cars with two-tone seats (1961-1964, also having cream parcel shelves and heater shrouds). No further indication when the early grey headlining was discontinued or when pearl grey was introduced.

Quote (picture caption page 62): 'Headlining fabric colours - variously Light Grey, Pearl Grey and Light Beige (assume this is cream fleck) changed frequently on Minor 1000 models'.

[ManyMinors]

I don't think it is the case that the 2 headlining materials were used together and depended on which seat trim was used. The manufacturers parts book gives chassis number change points for the grey headlining, parcel shelf and heater shroud changing from Pearl Grey to Light Beige.