'59 Plymouth Forum

Dick Koch wrote:Dan - Those clips are there to keep the headliner from sliding down to far. They hold the headlinger at a fixed position so the other edge will fit in the rail and not fall out. The inner chrome rail doesn't really hold anything, it's mostly to cover everthing, it probably holds it somewhat but I don't think
that is its main purpose.
Dick.

Hmmm... I have to confess, I'm still not getting this.

Tonight I dropped one of the inner chrome rails from Faulkner. Yup, the three clips are there. Here's a pic of the front one:

Here's a pic from the other side of the car, with the rail still up, same relative position:

You can see from the first pic, that the clip pops into a hole in the roof frame. But, from the second pic, the rail covers that hole -- and the clip.

How can the clip hold up the cardboard -- if the clip is covered by the rail?

I'm thinking it must have some other purpose. Is it to springload the rail to keep it away from the roof frame, so that the rail always forms a ledge for the headliner?

Speculating now. But I don't think the clips come into direct contact with the headliner, at all...

Dan

Trust Me - The outer edge of the outer cardboard headliner rests in the clip then the inner chrome rail covers the edge of the cardboard and the clip. By the way if you do not have the three piece headliner in your car and don't need the clips I would very much like to purchase them from you.
Dick.

Dick Koch wrote:Trust Me - The outer edge of the outer cardboard headliner rests in the clip then the inner chrome rail covers the edge of the cardboard and the clip. By the way if you do not have the three piece headliner in your car and don't need the clips I would very much like to purchase them from you.
Dick.

My headliner isn't original, Dick -- although, it is three piece and will remain so.

It sounds like the original has notches in it, that fit into the clips? Is there a beveled edge to the side panels, that permits them to slide behind the chrome and sit on the clips?

I guess it would help to see a photo of the edge of the original headliner sections, not just a photo of the clips.

Dan

P.S. now that I see what everyone is talking about -- I'll be happy to mail one to Restoration Specialties, and see if they can repro them. Not ready to give mine up yet, though, until (and unless) I understand what this is all about

The World's Slowest Auto Mechanic dropped the other upper chrome rail tonight -- yup, the three clips are there. I've emailed Restoration Specialties, to see if they will return the clip to me quickly after they inspect (and, hopefully try to reproduce -- thanks for the contact, Curt).

I still would like to see a photo of an original headliner outside edge, if anyone can provide...

Dan

No word from Restoration Specialties. I guess I'll give them a phone call.

No one have a pic of the outer edge of an original left or right headliner piece?

Dan

Dan - My headliner boards are out of the car, as soon as I can get them out I will take a picture and send to you.
Dick

This just in from Restoration Specialties (*sigh*):

From: Restoration Specialties & Supply, Inc. [mailto:restspec@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 10:21 PM
To: Dan Morton
Subject: RE: FW: Parts for 59 Plymouth

I do not have clip. Will need 3 or 4 samples to make. 4 to 6 months to have made

Dan - Unbelievable but I found the headliner clips I need locally. Several years ago I found a local car Guy that had a 59 four door and a 58 Belvedere two door hardtop. I bought the 59 for parts for $200.00. The 58 was a rust bucket then but previously the drive train from the 59 was put in the 58. The interior of the 58 had been radically customized (pleates everwhere, even the headliner). He had been divorced and the ex wife was in possesion of the cars and she wanted $6,000.00 for the 58. The only thing any good was the drive train, power steering, and rear axle. She finally sold the 58 to the owner of a local body shop about three years ago. He is restoring the 58, 92 SF of sheet metal and installing everything Chevy. Front clip, engine, axle, etc, etc. The only thing good about that is I got everything he took out. I mean every thing. Including the clips that were still there, 7 of them.
Dick.

Dick, I am happy for you that you found them locally, Especially when I could not come up with them as I thought I could. I think Ron is still looking for his set. So keep your eye out for more everyone.

If anyone needs the type that uses the bows on a 4 door, I have 6 of them that I picked up at a salvage yard. These are the type that are round that the headliner bows fit in to.

Free to good 59 owners home...

John Q.