| As an owner of a vintage car that has needed | | | | well matched. Black or White upholstery is the easiest |
| complete restoration, I know the value of | | | | to match. |
| do-it-yourself projects. By doing the car repairs or | | | | Repairing Vinyl upholstery tips: |
| restorations yourself, you can save thousands of | | | | Don't try using glue to repair your vinyl! It seems like |
| dollars. One of the most often needed repairs for | | | | an easy fix, but the adhesive in the glue can actually |
| vintage cars is the upholstery. Let me give you some | | | | destroy the foam padding underneath the vinyl. You |
| easy tips for repairing it yourself. First of all, you | | | | don't want to create more problems! Instead, simply |
| should always clean the upholstery before starting | | | | cut a patch of excess vinyl found under the seat and |
| any repair projects. Use an upholstery cleaner that is | | | | use adhesive specifically made for vinyl upholstery to |
| made specifically for the type of upholstery you | | | | patch it. Again, follow the adhesive manufacturers |
| have and always follow the manufacturers | | | | instructions carefully. |
| instructions to the letter. I prefer to spot test the | | | | If it is just the piping around the seat that needs |
| cleaner in an out-of-the-way place just to be sure. | | | | repair, use this simple trick: Take a match stick and |
| You will be amazed at what a good cleaning can do | | | | remove the match. Add some contact cement to |
| for old upholstery! Sometimes it will reveal potential | | | | one end of the match and work it into the damaged |
| problem areas that you can repair before they | | | | area. Then apply the cement to the other end and |
| become a big problem. | | | | work that end of the stick in. Fold it in as you go if |
| Repairing Leather upholstery tips: | | | | necessary. Make sure you let the cement dry |
| If sewing or recovering the seat is not possible, you | | | | completely before using the seat. |
| could try a leather repair kit that can be found at any | | | | Do some research ahead of time and see if this do it |
| automotive store. The kit will come with a plastic | | | | yourself project is something you think you can do. |
| substance that you will tint to match as close to your | | | | You don't want that vintage muscle car looking |
| car upholstery color as possible. You'll have to apply it | | | | awesome on the outside and old as dirt on the inside. |
| and then let it dry. I don't recommend this for large | | | | With a little work you can get it in top notch shape! |
| areas. It is usually o.k. for small areas if the color is | | | | |