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I would love to see pictures of updated interiors for 48/49 Club Coupes. I have a piece of the original (tan striped fabric) seat covers, but would love to see how other owners have updated their cars - seats and side door panels. I will upload photos of recent progress on my resto-mod. It is really starting to shine. Went with Regal Blue paint from 49 instead of the black original. Interior trim has been hydrographed to restore the wood-look finish. Windows are being set in now. Engine is in but still more work to be done there. Chrome components are being reattached. It is really starting to shine.
Personally, I might suggest a simple blue cloth to recover the original seats? Otherwise, I have seen people adapt seats from something newer, such as a Dodge Charger, if you want something more modern and already finished.
Thanks, I hope to keep the original bench seats and follow the original design for the door panels. Trying to locate upholsterers in TN now.
Hi Nancy,
That will be a great looking car very soon! Love the color! Since you are an NDC member I recommend contacting NDC board member Fred Mehr. Fred owns a super-slick modified '48 coupe, very similar to yours. He used a late model Charger as a donor car including many interior components. Fred is a fine craftsman and a real gentleman and I'm sure he would have some great advice for you. You should be able to find Fred's contact info in the front of your latest DeSoto Adventures magazine. If you cannot find it, LMK.
Thanks, I have the last issue for NDC.
@nancydailey Fred's car was actually where I got the idea to suggest the Dodge Charger seats.
Progress report on 49 DeSoto Club Coup: Engine work, suspension work, interior trunk work, steering column etc. Hope to be ready for interior work in early 2024.
Looks great! I may have missed it in an earlier thread, what engine/transmission combination are you using?
Interior choices are many if you want to stick to the original bench seats. You could stay with a cloth or go custom with leather or some other material. I agree, finding a good trimmer is often an issue. I was fortunate to have one near who has done work for 46 years and is well known and respected by many.
It's a Ford 302 crate engine/blue print. Will have to ask about transmission. Probably ford too.
That blue looks great, but then again, I am partial to blue!
It's the 48/49 DeSoto Regal Blue. So I stayed in the right color family for the car and you're right it's much prettier than the original black.
Here are some current pics of the restomod of my 48/49 DeSoto Coupe. It's really coming together. She's going to be beautiful....
Nancy Dailey
Knoxville TN
Looking good! Hopefully it will be done in time for you to bring to the NDC convention in New Orleans next year - it's a shorter drive from Tennessee than from here in Wisconsin! Tennessee will be approximately halfway for me.
Yes, I would love to attend the convention this next year.
@nancydailey awesome! Hope to see you and your car there! In my conversations with Thomas Rogers (convention chairman for 2024), it sounds like he is really trying hard to incorporate a lot of the New Orleans culture, food and other experiences into the week's sightseeing and activities.
