[442garage]

Originally Posted by ent72olds

Gentlemen and possible ladies...getting set to start the winter project of a frame-on body resto of my brother's '70 VISTA. Any ideas or contacts where I could find the woodgrain? Is there a kit or do I have to wing it with a woodgrain contact paper(possibly 3M)...any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

New Life Auto Trim (Riverside, CA) - 909-785-7800
- Beaver Stripes & Molding Supply (Phoenix, AZ); 602-269-8000
- J.C. Whitney carries it in various sizes.....312-431-6102
3M (3M Automotive Trades Division, 3M Center 223-6N, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000, 800-364-3577) no longer manufactures the OEM woodgrain because Chrysler and GM have stopped using it. However, they do manufacture woodgrain for the aftermarket and RV industry, but they don't market it themselves. 3M sells it to a company called Sharpline Converting. Sharpline will sell it to you or guide you to a distributor in your area, usually an auto striping or graphics supplier. The woodgrain comes in three colors:
1.Berma Teak #579 (light in color).
2.Marine Teak #581 (darker in color).
3.Cherry Oak #578 (reddish in color).
You should be able to request a sample. It comes in 15", 18", and 30" widths, with lengths from 10 to 50 yards. Some have reported that this woodgrain is thinner than the OEM. (Thanks to Mike Bruyere for the 3M information.)
Bunny Bakers, PO Box 3950, Salem OR 97302. They have many, many types & colors of fake wood, in 54" rolls, from regular grain, cross cut, 1/4 cut, burls etc. They can even do the black lines in Ford trim. They will also send samples.