All posts in Motor Trimming

High-end cars such as Ferraris, Maseratis and older Porsches have leather covered consoles. This leather eventually becomes faded, scratched and torn. Just as we can reupholster the seats, dash and panels, we can also reupholster the console in matching leather with original French seams.

Faded consoles that are otherwise in good condition may be redyed to restore the original color. The color of the console can also be changed as part of a complete interior colour change.

It is quite common in many cars, even if the console is plastic, to have a leather or vinyl covered armrest lid. From many miles of elbow usage these armrests often tear or develop a worn and flattened appearance.
If so, we can repad and reupholster this section.

Complete wood, carbon fiber or aluminum dash kits also typically include pieces to customize the console.

Another component in the console area which tends to wear prematurely is the shift boot on manual transmission cars. These boots can be remade in leather or can be customized in a variety of colors, two-tone, suede, etc. The emergency brake handle can also be reupholstered or redyed.

Many options in custom shift knobs are also available, including anatomic or ball shaped knobs in leather, wood or metal.

Console Repair & Replacement

Old broken consoles in popular restoration models, such as muscle cars, can be completely replaced, or parts of them can be replaced.
For other vehicles such as older Mercedes with console plates and separate console side panels, these components can also be partially or completely replaced.

Generic, economical consoles with many of these features are also available in a variety of colors for minivans or four wheel drives to mount between bucket seats or on bench seats.

Entertainment consoles incorporate TV/VCR/DVD/game players for those in the back seat on long trips.

Convertible Tops

Convertible Tops

Fold the top down, let the sun in on your face and let the wind blow back your hair. It’s great driving a convertible, but eventually your top and window are going to need to be replaced.
DA Motor Trimming offers the most complete line of high quality tops for virtually every convertible ever made, as well as expert installation.

Carpeting, Rubber & Vinyl Floors

Contour-Sewn Carpets

For most import models, floor carpeting is designed in a multi-piece configuration. It is cut and sewn to cover separate areas such as main and rear floors, side rails, transmission tunnels, kick panels, and rear bulkheads or decks, etc.
New, jute padding and sewn on heel plates are included with all carpet sets as well as shift boots where needed.

Molded Carpets

For some models from the early 1970’s to current, the floor carpeting is molded to the shape of the floor pan. That is, sheets of carpet are put into an oven and heated. They are then placed in a mold and pressed to the shape of the floor. The carpet is removed from the mold, it cools, is trimmed and retains the contour of the floor pan, with no need for any sewn seams.

Don’t forget to also refinish the trunk area of your car. Trunk mats, as well as tire covers and side walls, may be made from plush carpeting or trunk lining material.
Station wagon and hatchback cargo area carpet is also available.

Carpet for Other Trim Areas

In addition to floor carpeting, for most models, we also offer carpeting to cover the rear seat backrest, the cargo side walls, the tailgate, the door bottoms and kick panels.

Molded Vinyl

For the work truck which may get dirty or muddy, washable, heavy gague molded vinyl is available for the complete floor, just the main seating area or just the cargo area.

Specialty Padding

Jute Padding

The standard 1/4” feltlike padding included on the bottom of most carpet sets. Additional jute padding is available to provide extra insulation.

Heat Shield

For use when excessive heat is a problem. This is jute padding with a layer of aluminum laminated to one side which will reflect the heat away from the seating area.

Soundown

A thick 1/4” acoustical foam laminated to a layer of acoustical vinyl. This is superior sound dampening carpet underlayment.

Dynamat

To reduce road and engine noise. Thin, self adhesive padding will mold to contoured floor pans. It will help create a quieter interior and provide for better stereo sound.

Headliners

A torn or sagging headliner is an eyesore and can be a hazard by blocking visibility. DA Motor Trimming offers all types of headliners for all types of cars.

Convertible Headliners
Many later model convertibles, as well as some older, high-end, classic, import convertibles have headliners beneath the convertible top to cover the framework and to provide a more finished look to the inside of the car.
Often these headliners become torn, faded, or overly dirty and should be replaced. Naturally, the best time to change a convertible headliner is when the convertible top is also being changed.

Conversion Headliners

Occassionally, the headliner board of a later model car gets destroyed and cannot be reused. If a replacement board is not available, the next best option is to install a conversion style headliner.
This would be the same type of foam backed cloth headliner material, presewn with sleeves on the underside. Bows would slide into the sleeves and clip into position to suspend the headliner in place, just like that of an older car.

Headliner Boards
(To replace damaged boards)

For some popular models, replacement headliner boards are available to replace the original, damaged headliner board. They are molded to shape to fit each specific application.

Sunvisors, Pillars & Overhead Consoles
(Recovered to match the new headliner)

If the headliner is replaced and the sunvisors are not recovered, they will stand out like a sore thumb. Likewise, other components like overhead consoles, trim panels, etc., will look old and worn.

Whether they are old style cloth visors with leather finger tabs, or visors with piping and chrome tips, or visors with vanity mirrors, we can make them look new again.

Other items, such as the front windshield pillars or the rear sail panels next to the rear windshield take a beating from the sun. These, as well as other trim pieces should ideally be recovered when the main headliner is being done.

Suspended “Bow” Style Headliners
(Most cars early 1970s and older)

Up until the early 1970s, headliners were generally supported by bows (rods) which slipped through sleeves on the underside of the headliner. These bows were slid into clips at each end along the ceiling.
When the headliner is to be changed, the bows are removed from the old headliner and transferred into the sleeves of the new headliner. The new headliner is then carefully stretched, heated and glued into position.

Antique & Classic Cars

For an original restoration, Broadcloth or Mohair wools are available. For a more economical approach, or where applicable, napped cotton or synthetic cloths offer a nice, finished appearance. Matching headliner material is usually also used to cover the lower trim panels and sunvisors.
In addition, many classic cars also require windlace to be installed in conjunction with the headliner. The windlace generally runs along the roof line and and around the door openings.

Street Rods

Anything goes, including the use of tweed cloths, suedes or even geometric designs sewn right into the headliner.

Muscle Cars

A nice new headliner is another important part of a complete restoration. Most cars of this era had a variety of textured vinyl headliners including plain, perforated, bedford cord and recessed star patterns. Rear sail panels and sunvisors may also be recovered.