My opinion is that the "pigskin" hides were not actually pigskin, they were natural colored beefhides embossed with pigskin-like dimples. I agree with Keith about pig hides being too small to make a standard Mark II bolster.
Attached is a picture of a swatch that Lowell Domholdt sent to me. This is from a hide that Elmer Rohn gave Lowell years ago. Lowell isn't sure whether it's from a hide for a car with DSO specifications for "Natural Tan Leather" or "Pigskin" (There were three of each). Because of the dimpling in the grain pattern, I believe that is from a "Pigskin" hide.
I believe that a hide produced for a "Natural Tan Interior" would have the normal Bridge of Weir graining. This sample certainly doesn't!
So, I'm calling it pigskin until better information comes along.
Last edited by Pat Marshall; 05-11-2014 at 09:40 AM.
Pat Marshall
Lancaster, OH
Lowell sent me a similar pigskin sample obtained from Elmer Rohm. Keith made an valid point that real pig hides would be too small for the large upholstery panels. I came to the same conclusion as Pat that it’s pigskin grained cowhide. Further, the DSO specifications differentiate between Natural Tan Leather and pigskin. It’s reasonable to assume the only difference would be the grain pattern; natural tan being approximately the same color but with the regular Bridge of Weir grain.
Ralph Messina
Bridgewater, NJ
Here is a picture of 2815's current interior from the For Sale Listing by Exotic Classics, Syosset, NY
Last edited by Pat Marshall; 07-04-2014 at 08:21 AM.
Pat Marshall
Lancaster, OH
I agree, my hood has just also been repaired at the hinge attachment points, there is a huge bending moment applied by the hinge springs in order to keep tht hood up. In fact the hood inner panel was pulling the spot welds out from the hood top panel, I suggest using a hood prop (stick with cloth wrapped around each end) when working on the car so as to minimise/remove these the bending forces on the hood inner skin.
Mark Norris
C56G3186
1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage
1951 C-type Jaguar (alloy replica)
1934 Lagonda M45 Tourer
I ALSO put a moving quilt, {you know the kind we never put back in the U Haul truck after we rent the truck} across the panel between the hood and the windshield. This helps in case you or the other 4 people that are helping you hold the hood in place lets it slid backwards.
Mark A Maromonte