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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Cartouche vs LeBaron Bonny

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Cartouche vs LeBaron Bonny -- page: 1 2     MICHV8 11-01-2013 @ 6:41 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 428 Joined: Jul 2010 turn on pm and I will help with some info on an original LB 35 5W kit from 1990 (still in original box) supereal 10-31-2013 @ 2:57 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 I've never had a problem with L-B. They remade the seatback covers for me at no charge when we had problems getting them all the way down before splitting. On the last set, I had a local trim shop put them on. They steamed them (vinyl) until they were limp and slipped right over the generous padding that came woth the kit. As to materials, almost all original types and patterns are obsolete and can't be found unless custom woven at a huge cost. L-B has closely matched them. Next to plumbing, upholstery is my least favorite job. I only want to do it one time, and shaving cost almost always results in regrets. If you are doing a "driver" or other non-show car, cheaper may be OK, but I have found it to be disappointing, if the rest of the vehcle is very good. flatheadfan 10-30-2013 @ 12:12 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 450 Joined: Oct 2009 I just finished upholstering my '36 cabriolet. I have used both L-B and Cartouche kits and was disappointed in the L-B kit I used on the last car I did. With the '36 I went back to Cartouche for a kit but they did not have vinyl as an option for my '36. So, back to L-B. They had a vinyl option. It took nearly 3 months to get the kit. Upon arrival two pieces were obviously of poor quality. I contacted them and took pictures they remade the pieces at no cost to me (took three weeks). Installing the kit became a nightmare. Finally, I gave up and turned the unfinished work over to a professional upholster. He also had difficulty which required additional work on his part. He showed me places where the seat covering and side panels were obviously sewed wrong. This shouldn't be. Considering the greater cost involved and the experience L-B supposedly has, workmanship shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, for me, it was. Obviously, others haven't experience any problems but, in my case I can't in good conscience recommend them. Tom trjford8 10-29-2013 @ 7:25 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4214 Joined: Oct 2009 L.B has expanded the company to include kits for Chevrolets and an upholstery kit called EZ Liner for hotrods. I have found that when a company gets into too many separate projects the quality and service begin to falter. Since my last post on 1-31-13 I have had some experience with items from LB. I found that communications with the person taking the order was a bit difficult. When the items arrived the quality was not exactly the quality I expected from them. They have made me consider the Cartouche alternative. 35DeluxeCoupe 10-29-2013 @ 7:06 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 4 Joined: Aug 2013 I am having problems with L_B right now! It seems nobody there knows the correct upholstery for a 35 coupe. They are insistant about putting welting on the seat bottom and don't offer acolor anywhere near the correct color. not very happy with them now supereal 02-01-2013 @ 11:39 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 I've used L-B kits in several cars. The headliner for my Model A coupe came down overnight, and they replaced it because their "blind stitching" machine had problems. When I did my '47 convertible, the front seat backs split before they could be pulled all the way down. Again, we received replacements at no charge. I was impressed with their immediate assistance. Anyone planning on installing an interior themselves will find that their advice and response is worth any price difference. This message was edited by supereal on 2-1-13 @ 11:40 AM 42merc 02-01-2013 @ 8:29 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 126 Joined: Dec 2010 I've used both vendors. LB in Model A's & a v8 station wagon, a very good product. In my '40 coupe (a very pedestrian example per Kube's description) I chose to go with Mac's kit. Because my car is a driver and a price difference of about a thousand dollars. Granted it's not the same as LB, but I'm happy & I can buy more gasoline for my '40 with the money saved. woodiewagon46 02-01-2013 @ 6:48 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 698 Joined: Nov 2012 I have had four cars done with Lebaron-Bonney interiors and highly recommend them. I never had one problem with them. jal9846 02-01-2013 @ 6:23 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 53 Joined: Oct 2009 I've used Lebaron Bonney for years, and would not recommend any other company from the standpoint of custmer service and quality. They let you know realistic lead times, and up front if they have any material issues or backorders, etc. Not sure about Cartouche...I know it is usually cheaper...however for a 46 pickup I recently completed...the Cartouche was actually more expensive than the Lebaron Bonney! wilmalcolm 02-01-2013 @ 6:14 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 64 Joined: Nov 2011 Thank you all for your comments. I have visited the LB factory in Massachusetts a couple of times. They have been very friendly and the tour they gave me was interesting and informative. If for no other reason I see them as real people and the general consensus here is that what they sell is of the best quality and what's more, the sale at Mac's is over for the Cartousche.

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