If you are working on restoring an old vehicle, it is possible that you might need to reupholster the interior. While the interior will likely have seen less wear and tear than the motor and exterior of the car, many upholstery materials tend to break down with age and will need to be replaced. At Vintage Rod Shop, we have worked on enough car restorations to come up with a good list of what you need to know before upholstering a classic car.
Classic Car Upholstery Preparation Tips
The reupholstery process for a classic car can be exciting because it is typically one of the last parts of a restoration process, but it can also be expensive, finicky, and stressful. Some tips to keep in mind before getting started with the upholstery procedure for a classic car include:
Call a Professional
Upholstery is a component of the car restoration process that requires proper training and experience in order to be done properly, so it is usually best to call a professional to get this job done. Although it can be expensive and take a long time to get upholstery completed by a professional, the end product is usually worth it.
Plan Ahead
Planning in advance is key. Because the time of most good upholsterers is in high demand, it can take a while to get a time scheduled to get your restored classic car in for its upholstery work. Schedule the appointment with the upholsterer well in advance for when you plan on having your car ready and consider adding 3-6 weeks onto the timeline to account for contingencies.
Consider Costs
When selecting the materials that you would like to use for the interior of your classic car, make sure that you take the material cost into account. There can be pretty massive variations in the difference in price between different materials and this can have a drastic effect on your budget.
Completely Strip the Interior
It is often best to start from a completely new interior surface. If you leave the old hardboard, plastic, or any other material that can absorb smell or to which the new upholstery materials will not be able to adhere properly, you could run into problems when installing the new interior in a few years after the restoration is complete.
If you would like to learn more information about what you need to know before upholstering a classic car, or to find out more about the car parts and services that we offer, please contact us at 604-538-8842.