Principle reason for post is that the quilted material for Trojan is available but only in white. It can be spray painted after testing solvent/material reaction. Trojans seem to have had either silver or red trim in this plastic coated sponge material that at the time was found on boats, caravans and even Thunderbird Two! The diamond pattern is of diverse size through production. The stuff available is more the size of the moulded door insert in this case rather than the large diamonds. Source - Alan Hitchcock.
On quality of cars etc. Yes cars are going into collections now. They tend to be the better ones and as collectables the issue becomes history and accuracy. I have been disappointed at the lack of freely available information on accurate data with respect to originality of specifications through the production runs of microcars. A difficult topic in some cases but very much simpler in others. The collectors can be buying on recommendation or cuteness. This is where wrong cars become right and fakes real, often via auctions. It is the responsibility of the clubs and those who hold information provable on originality to attempt to provide this information so that the history and quality of the cars remains pure. This is important for Enthusiast, Owner, Collector and the cars themselves to protect the heritage and prevent folk getting ripped off.
To look at it another way. Having gone to the trouble of restoring, conserving or salvaging a car most people seem to forget that they have created something that will outlive them. In fact you become part of the history of that car just as the guy who first bought it did. At some point you have to let go of the car and I feel I would like it to be as well supported by information as possible and be an example that my period with the car was good. The rape and pillage types really take the opposing view and profit is the motive.
The danger of rich collectors is that they can hoover up all the best cars leaving all the shagged and bodged cars and that some accuracy of what they own is twisted since many collectors are also or only investors, therefore value is important. Meanwhile the ordinary enthusiast is left with the tat or finding another hobby he can afford. Thats life I guess.
The real value of clubs and forums longterm therefore is that the should act as sources of information and data for those wanting to own, owning or working on cars so as they can do the best by the car. This seems to not always be happening with information being restricted and in some cases used to a private group or individual's advantage.
Case in point. The HTC know that Alan Hitchcock had a supply of trim material. They were even offered supply direct from source but refused it........
Thread Bear, laying bare the thread.