1955 Cadillac Interior, ReUpholster Front & Back?

[Kevin Kenneally]

I have a 1955 Series 62 Cadillac with just 20,600 original miles.  Unfortunately the car has sun damage to the fabric, mostly the front seat and the top of the back seat including the package shelf.  I was going to replace the fabric on both the front and back seats and put a new package shelf in but a fellow told me he would not replace the back seats, just the strip at the top of the seat that has damage.  He said the car would be worth more with as much of the original material as possible but I think it will look odd having multiple color seats with old and new fabric.  It is not a financial decision, I just want to do the right thing for a very rare mileage car.  I have documentation to prove the mileage is correct.  I bought enough fabric from SMS to do the entire job, front and back.  The carpet, headliner and door panels are fine.  I appreciiate any suggestions!  Kevin

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

In order for the seats to match -- I would recommend that you replace all of the
fabric.

Otherwise, it will call attention to the interior that you replaced one and not the other.
This outweighs any "originality" issue that you may have with wanting to keep the rear seat
intact, in my opinion.

Mike

[Terry Wenger]

Kevin:

If you have the material from SMS do the whole job. From my experience with '55 62's, they didn't use really good  material and if you do part of the seats, you will find the older material deteriorating before long.

Terry Wenger

[Kevin Kenneally]

Boy, this was sure the thoughts I was having so I am glad you guys have responded..  The way I look at it, SMS sold me the exact matching material so while I am paying a guy to do this job, I might as well do it all and not have to "apologize" for the seats, especially when everything else is original.  I am sure people don't expect cloth seats to last forever!  Thanks!

[Otto Skorzeny]

In my opinion you don't have to explain anything about your car to anyone anyway let alone apologize for it. Do what you want to do and can afford to do.

On the rare occasion I bother taking mine to a show I never open the hood and people only know it's mine when I get a beer out of the cooler in the back seat. I see no reason to engage people in a "discussion" of all the things they think are wrong with the car or hear what they would do differently (put 20" rims on it and a Chevy 350 under the hood)

[jeff1956]

I agree with Otto one hundred percent.  I think starting this year I will no longer raise the hood on my car during shows, except when the judges get ready to judge the car and then close it back up when they're done.  I think it detracts from the beauty of any car to have it's hood raised, but I understand people wanting to see the engine.  I have random people open the gas door on my 56, mostly older folks,  they are not gentle when they close it and they let it slam.  I have had two broken taillight lenses because of this.  I now use clear scotch tape and tape it closed because I cannot afford to keep replacing the lens.  Of course, they won't replace it, but they sure were the ones who broke it.  I don't like the trend I'm seeing with shows recently about the lack of courtesy and respect.  I've had people sit in my car, just open the door and get in like it was their own.  Since it's an extremely nice, mostly original, driver that really doesn't bother me too much.  Just the fact that they don't ask...just treat it like it's a new car sitting on a lot for sale.  There is a member of this very club who knocked my car for not being as nice as his 56 Sedan de Ville with something like 130K miles, frame off resto, the only real option it had was a/c.  I just looked at him and smiled and was happy when he walked away.  I relished the fact that come judging time his car did not win the luxury class trophy and that may be mean of me, but I just thought it was funny.  Anyways, do what you want with the car and have fun with it.  If you're doing things with other people in mind then you'll never be happy with it and you'll eventually lose interest.

Jeff

[Otto Skorzeny]

. . .  I will no longer raise the hood on my car during shows.  I think it detracts from the beauty of any car to have it's hood raised . . .

I agree. I hate seeing a row of beautiful cars all sitting there with their hoods open.

I too have had old geezers just flip the fuel door up and then let it slam. I was patient the first time but when I bought new lenses for it I shut that nonsense down quick.

[Greg Powers]

Looking at it from another point of view. If the originality of the car is what you want to maintain,leave it as is. There is a group that believes that there is real beauty in seeing it as it came from the factory with 55 years of age. With enough money you can replicate almost anything, but it's only original once. Just another thought-Greg

[Kevin Kenneally]

That is the reason I posted the question..  I just wanted to hear from different people that could give me some different views..  In the end, I will have to make a decision..  It is a pretty special car due to the mileage, I just want to do the right thing..

[Otto Skorzeny]

What gives you more pleasure - driving and using it, or showing it to people and telling them how original it is? I know what my answer is.

If it were mine, I'd reupholster it.

[Greg Powers]

I am glad to see that you are giving this a good deal of thought. As we both know, once it's changed you can never go back. I feel for you for I  have a 1954 Series 62 Sedan with only 29,000 original miles. I have the original bill of sale and trade in papers, written in pencil, the owners death certificate and power of attorney letter, and even pictures of the original owner. I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to fix the split in the fabric on the driver's door handle or the water spotted fabric on the top of the back seat.  I am still in contact with the owner's niece and hope to find out even more about the Cadillac and the business women that purchased it new in 1954. I just love the stories and the amazing low mileage after so many years. It may not add to the value, but it gives me more pleasure than money can afford.  Best of luck with a tough decision. - Greg

[David King (kz78hy)]

Kevin

Sometimes I can come up with a really screwball idea, and one came to me will reading this. If you have the storage space and few extra dollars how about buying a second set of seats out of a parts car, reupholster them and use them. This way you could preserve the originals and enjoy the better look and durability the new ones could provide.
Just another idea to mess up the current thought process.

David

[Otto Skorzeny]

Hey while you're at it, why not buy a whole other car and drive it? Then you can put the current one in a hermetically sealed glass case to "preserve" it!

Gimme a break! It's a car. It should be driven and enjoyed.

Who are you preserving it for, somebody who'll get it after you're dead? Screw that! It's your car. Enjoy it now for what it is and let the next guy worry about whether to cover the seats or not cover the seats or turn it into a hot rod or an end table or whatever.

If you'll get more pleasure driving it with nice new seats, then do it. Life is short and you only get one shot at it and that trumps the whole original seat thing by a long shot.

[Kevin Kenneally]

Thanks to everyone for the help!  I am going to re-do both seats..  Otto, you are right!  I just drive this car around town and out in the country and I would enjoy it more if the seats were fixed.  You are right about life being short!  You guys are great!  Thanks!

[Otto Skorzeny]

Glad to be of service. Post some pictures of the car inside and out before and after!

[Kevin Kenneally]

I tried to post a picture but I guess they have a 500kb limit and I could not get the picture to fit..  I will try again..

[Otto Skorzeny]

If you can't do it, email them to me and I'll post them for you.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Here are Kevin's seats. I think most of you will agree that there is really nothing to preserve - at least on the front seat. The rear is stained so like Terry said, "Do the whole job."

The rest of the interior looks remarkably nice. I don't think the new seats will take away from that at all.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Here's the whole car. It is really deserving of a fresh interior. Great looking car, Kevin. You will be very glad you have nice new seats to sit on without worrying about getting stuffing on your clothes or tearing them more every time you get in.


Next on your list, Kevin, should be new center medallions for the hubcaps. They will really set off the car.

[Dan LeBlanc]

I agree you made the right decision to re-upholster.  If it were my car and it were as nice as yours, the fact that they're in bad shape would bother me much more than knowing they're not original.  Besides, only you need to know if it's done right.