A car headliner in a Model A interior restoration that ‘rules’

Even though Oklahoma City, Okla.’s Boatman Marine Canvas primarily focuses on custom watercraft projects, sometimes there’s a “uniquely different” project that just can’t be passed up. Such was the case when employee and upholstery expert Dwight Miller brought in his mid-restoration Model A hot rod. Every component had been replaced over the prior three years, from the frame to the drivetrain, just not the body of the vehicle. It was time for the interior.

Miller “sought a design that was clean and simple yet with distinct elements that would stand out,” wrote company owner Mike Boatman in the project’s entry into the International Achievement Awards in the Marine subcategory of Uniquely Different. Inspiration for the design came from Woody wagons.

“We custom crafted new door panels, featuring raised-bead internal outlines and inlaid pockets for a subtle yet refined detail. The original front seat frames were restored, while the back seat was entirely built from scratch,” Boatman’s notes detail.

The headliner was created using vintage wooden rulers, “evoking the iconic wood-slat design,” he wrote. Miller “was so thrilled with the unique look that he decided to leave the metal roof off, allowing the open-air design to showcase the craftsmanship from above as well.”

The project allowed staffers to flex creative muscles in different ways on a once-in-a-lifetime, showstopping project.

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