Interior – Before & After

[Foster48x]

Very nice work...but I prefer personally the first pic of the car prior (IMHO), if the original tan interior was spruced up and new carpets along with the new dash cap you'd have a super looking interior. Are those seatcovers over the original seats? How does the seatbelts stay on without the seat belt guides on the back of the seats?

Nick

I like the tan to but the original interior (you can’t really tell in the pics) was in pretty bad condition. Sprucing it up was not an option, it all needed to go. I did consider going back with the original colors but decided in the end that I wanted to take the road less traveled.

Yes those are cheapo seat covers. I think they cost me $6 for both of them. Don’t laugh but I’m in the process of learning how to sew on a machine. Once I get the hang of it I’m going to have a go at recovering my visors and making my own seat upholstery.

For now the seatbelts seem to hang on the seats pretty well without the guides. I’m in the process of fabricating a set of brushed aluminum guides that look like the plastic ones that come on the pre 78’ seats.

Rick

[radiopilot]

Rick... That's cool... I'm sure when you're done it'll look fantastic...

Regarding doing your own upholstery and learning curves... I've been there all too often, lots of headaches but in the end you'll be proud to have done the work yourself and the satisfaction you'll have when people admire your crafts.

I upholstered my son's car and my car and till this day people can't believe I've done the work. They actually ask if I do this for a living but of course I admit it's just a hobby...

My Spider






And my son's Spider






Everything you see is real leather, and carpets, wood, trim all hand made to fit.

Nick

[Foster48x]

Nick,
The work you did on both of those cars is outstanding! Funny, the write-up (with those pics) you did on doing your own upholstery was what motivated me to do my own also.

Rick

[SpiderJim]

Nick... Fabulous job. I assume a heavy industrial sewing machine? When I get my car back from having the paint shot next week I will be attempting a major change to my interior also. I did make my own race suit once but it split in the bum when I climbed in to my seat... Laugh But then again I used a cheapo nogahide seeing I was still a student and mostly broke. Did you use a particular type of leather or vinyl that I could source?

[narfire]

Nick, that looks terrific,really nice job. One thing though... going to have to talk to Mike B. about that long thing in the center consol Have you protected it with anything? sealant? I'd guess food or drink are not allowed within 10 feet of that interior.

[wachuko]

Nick, that looks terrific,really nice job. One thing though... going to have to talk to Mike B. about that long thing in the center consol Have you protected it with anything? sealant? I'd guess food or drink are not allowed within 10 feet of that interior.

No kidding, anyone with a can of Coca Cola or a cup of coffee will be shot within a prudent distance (so blood does not reach the car either...)

That is a beautiful interior!

[Hvnfn]

OK, that is beautiful. I love the look of that dash! Great job!!!

[Foster48x]

OK, that is beautiful. I love the look of that dash! Great job!!!

Thanks!
Rick

[htchevyii]

Looks great Rick , I don't know how I missed this thread before.

[Foster48x]

Thanks Trey. I liked the ones you did so much I had to have a set of my own .

Rick

[Foster48x]

Well guys I finally finished reinforcing my seat backs (no more gansta lean) and sewing new upholstery for my 80FI. Considering my amateur welding and sewing skills I’m pretty satisfied with the results. Let me know what you think.

















Rick

[wikkid]

Those seats are way better with your new upholstery! It looks great, and really brings the interior into better focus. Good work! I would love to know if you took pictures for some insight into taking off and then replacing the seat upholstery, since I am starting a slow restoration process of my vinyl w/ leather seating surface 1984 seats. I'm going to have to take them off carefully, work on restoring them, and then putting the restored covers back on. Without anyone's prior experience in this, I'll just be winging it, very slowly and carefully.
Pic's are so inspiring - thanks for posting them up.
-Chris

[Nick]

Those seats look amazing! We just bought a new rear seat back to get rid of the "gangsta lean" too. I have IAP seat covers, they're nice, but yours look great. Very professional.

[mdrburchette]

You did those yourself? They are absolutely beautiful!

[Foster48x]

Thanks for the compliments. Yes I did the upholstery myself. It cost me around $50 for the fabric and supplies and about $2000 dollars in time. I did take allot of pics while making them if anyone's interested in seeing how they were constructed. Chris, let me know exactly what you need pictures of and I'll post them for you.

Rick