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Rear Tack Rail
Well Liner
Rear Curtain
Top Fitment
Prior Damage Repair
Hydraulic System Servicing
Tack Rail Reconditioning
Double-Blank Curtain
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to acknowledge Don Hanson, Russel Peterson, and Lon Burris for the opportunity to work on their projects and share them with you, the enthusiast.
Most of all I thank the one who saw the potential in me as a child, my grandmother, Rose, who taught me how to thread a needle and sew buttons.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fred Mattson began working on car interiors as a teenager in the 1970s by hand stitching inserts into his own 1969 Oldsmobile and working on the cars of several friends in his neighborhood.
Soon after opening a full-time upholstery business in 1980, Fred’s auto trimming career expanded to sewing car interiors for many prestigious upholstery shops and restoration specialists in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities, in Minnesota.
Having earned the nickname “Fearless,” Fred works his magic on hopeless projects, restoring them to factory condition by fabricating missing parts and reconditioning the potentially hopeless.
Fred now restores vintage American cars. His clients have won numerous awards and trophies and credit their wins to the high quality and correctness of detail of their interiors and convertible tops.
INTRODUCTION
My goal for writing this book is to pass along some knowledge and spark interest in vintage car restoration. It is my intent to leave you with enough information to take on a project and complete it with confidence and success.
Through years of research and conversations, I have learned a trade that has brought me much joy and pain. Learning about the evolution of the automobile and then applying that knowledge to the restoration of these wonderful works of art gives me much satisfaction. Turning junk into gems is a fulfilling endeavor. I wish you the joy of being a part of the auto trimmer trade.
Except For …
The one phrase I hear all the time from car enthusiasts is “except for.” My seats are in excellent condition … except for this one seam that is split. The top on my car is like new … except for the rear window that is yellow and difficult to latch. My car is perfect … except for the mouse hole in the headliner.
What I know for sure is, the seat springs are broken, the foam has deteriorated, and the burlap foundation is dry rotted. When the convertible top binding is cracking and it is almost impossible to latch, it is time for a whole new top. Oh, and a mouse hole means a nest and a lot of mouse dirt is lurking just overhead.
Just because a car interior looks good, doesn’t mean that it is serviceable. After 45 years or more of use, compounded by exposure to the elements, everything inside the car needs extensive repair and replacement. Factor in animal and insect infestations, and you have a smelly, filthy mess that is crying out to be replaced with clean and fresh materials.
Most car owners believe that restoring their car’s interior will be really expensive. Well, it is expensive if you go about it the wrong way. You can save money on restoring the interior of your car if you know a few things.
Why Restore the Interior
The interior makes up one third of the car. The engine is one third and the body and paint are one third. Unfortunately, the interior doesn’t get one third of the budget and often becomes an afterthought when it comes to your restoration dollars. As the driver, you will spend a lot of time sitting inside the car. Why wouldn’t you want a nice, comfortable interior?
The value of your car increases dramatically if the interior is in prime condition. An old, worn-out, and damaged interior only detracts from the value of the car.
You can save money by restoring your interior yourself, if you are smart about it. Knowing your limitations and preplanning make all the difference in any restoration. Do not start buying stuff just because it is a “good” deal. Online “box” houses do not care what you buy; they just want you to buy. It is up to you to know exactly what type of car you are working on; purchasing the wrong parts can be an expensive mistake.
Changes cost money. Redoing something because you changed your mind about it costs money. Moreover, if you find yourself in over your head after purchasing interior materials, hiring the wrong trimmer will cost you money.
Working with a true professional gets you the best products for the best price. They also know how to properly install the interior components. If you are a hands-on person looking to restore a dream car, this book will help guide you in the right direction. Any task can be accomplished in many ways, but there is only one way to restore a cars’ interior: the right way.
CHAPTER 1
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Tools are designed to help you do a better job. Cheap tools are often made poorly and do not operate as smoothly as they should. They often fail prematurely, which can cause damage to your work or injury to you. When a tool breaks it usually is replaced with another, and this frequent replacement gets expensive. For these reasons, off-brand or cheap tools are usually not good choices for the professional. Higher-grade tools made with precision and quality cost you less in the long run because they help you save time working on your projects and achieve professional results. You also get a lot more use out of a professional-grade tool.
It is always a good practice to put your tools away when you are finished using them. You will work more efficiently in a neat workplace, with less time wasted searching for a desired tool. It is also important to keep your tools clean and in working order. As you work on a project, your tools become covered in glue and dirt. Take the time to properly service your tools. Wipe them off when they get dirty and keep them oiled and sharp. With a little care, your tools will stay serviceable for a long time.
Tools can be expensive and take a lifetime to acquire. If you do make a living with your tools, make a habit of not loaning your tools to others as they tend to come back broken or not at all. I know only one thing for sure, and that is, if you take care of your tools, they will take care of you.
As with any specialty trade, upholstery requires some unique tools that can make each job easier to accomplish. Every shop should have the basic tools found in any toolbox (i.e., screwdrivers, socket set, hex wrenches) to perform the everyday tasks of auto upholstery. Upholstery-specific hand tools that are essential to the trade include hog-ring pliers, staple and tack lifters, heavy-duty scissors, and my favorite tool, the regulator. Although not required, a walking-foot sewing machine, foam saw, and steamer are nice to have.
