What was the original color(s) of the headliner in fhc’s with Suede Green interiors?
I know of a highly original car with a Suede Green interior, and a green headliner, but while chatting with a well-known, US-based E-type specialist, he commented he had never seen a green headliner, and questioned whether it could be original.
I’ve seen several references to green headliners in the archives, but they often refer to XK coupes. I have yet to find a picture of an E-type fhc with a green headliner.
I’ll confirm what Craig said. I bought my car in 1978 and it had the original green headliner. When I replaced it some years later the folks at OSJI told me that I had gotten near the last of that color, as in the future the replacement material would be grey.
Interesting. I’ve been wondering what’s with all the green? Green headliners, green instrument lighting, and my car came with green tinted glass. Just a '60s thing?
This post from our resident interior colour expert, indicates that suede green headliners were only paired with suede green interiors:
There is a neat feature in xkedata that allows you to search the gallery of all cars subject to specific filters. Searching for FHCs with original Suede Green interiors yielded a few photos of suede green headliners (not many folks photo their headliners…). Here’s a couple:
If the interior was green, the headliner was ”Suede Green” at least from 1946 to 1968, in all models. But for an unknown reason in 1968 when the XJ6 and Series 2 E-type were launched, they dropped the green headliner. So XJ’s and Ser 2 and Ser 3 E-types never had it.
But all Saloons and Ser 1 and Ser 1.5 E-types as well as XK’s (no headliner on OTS’s, only Saloons, Coupés, 2+2’s and Drophead Coupés) had it if the interior was ”Suede Green”.
From mid-1968 oneards there were only ”Fawn” (beige) and ”Grey” headliners used at the factory.
Also my 1966 ex Ser 1 2+2 was ODG with originally Suede Green interior, Suede Green headliner, green instrument lighting and all windows (windscreen, rear screen, side screens) in “Sundym” tinted green glass. Looked great IMO.
I believe green, and especially ”Willow Green” has been said to have been Sir William’s favorite colour.
