Interior

[Jaguartvr]

Not many Tributes have had full interiors done, I now know why.
We are doing a California and a 250swb.
We bought all the interior panels from various sources, the only thing that they have in common is that they don't fit. (except the Tribute dashboard)

Dashboards

If you want the easy route then I would suggest Tributes dashboard, it also has the big advantage of having a useable glovebox (the original BMW one). We bought one and it would be the easiest route, where's the fun in that. So we decided to go with the more authentic DNA version, we thought this would be an easy route as may have been fitted. It fits where it touches, which isn't in many places. Fit, cut up, fit, cut up and repeat. After the 5th go you want to top yourself. However, the end result almost makes it worthwhile.
Nearly there, just placed in position for the photo. The panel holding speedo and rev counter still to be made and trimmed. Centre panel is 3d printed but unhappy with the finish so a new one has been made from billet aluminium and polished, looks superb. A flat 3d printed section will be made and covered in leather to match the dash/interior. Switches still to be fitted. The cowls over the speedo and rev counter have been lengthened and the angle that the instruments sit has altered to make them more upright. This will be more apparent when the dash plate is fitted.

Seats

We have gone for MGB recliner seats, these have been fitted with early 70's hump foams, new diaphragms and backs. Plates have been made so that the seats attach to the electric Z3 bases. The existing Z3 plastic side fit the seats perfectly. The seats move back and forward and up and down electrically but recline has to be done manually on the original MGB mechanism.
The red seat is tuck and roll seams, the black seat has sewn seams, obviously, the sewn seams are much cheaper but the red seat obviously looks far nicer. Most seats that I have seen have creases somewhere, we told the trimmer that this would not be acceptable and he has done a superb job, but then again for the cost so it should be.


Just placed in position

Rear bulkhead panel is just about the only panel that didn't need remaking.

Door cards
F****** screws the door panels in place, even Ford in this era used hidden clips to fit the door cards. We didn't want visible door card fixings as it was felt that they looked cheap. Will we never learn?
Door cards , put on measure holes, drill and refit. Remove, filling holes with GRP and re-drill, repeat many times. Door opener modified so that it opens the door (easiest bit so far). Modifing the window switch, not so easy. Managed to use the existing wiring through the door plug, this way the doors can be removed for painting without disturbing the wiring, extra window switch on the dash so the passenger widow can be operated by the driver.


Centre console

The 2 parts containing the handbrake and gear lever are quite straight forward although both panels were quite modified. The forward bulkhead panel was much trickier. We wanted to use the existing heater controls but they are operated by short bowden cables so the options are limited. We managed ro modify the heater control panel and mount it behind the front bulkhead. `the knobs weren't quite long enough so we have had to have some new ones printed (still awaiting version 3).

Costs
This is why so few have been done, add the cost of a Tribute kit to the cost of painting and you will be getting close to the cost of the interior. This does not, of course, include the cost of the instruments, wiring or fitting. Having studied hundreds of pictures of replica (and original) interiors I am pretty sure that this will be among the best (down to the trimmer, not me), Everything including the dashboard has been covered in the finest quality leather, no vinyl here!

If you fancy losing the will to live, go on have a go!