1950s How to restore 55 Series 75 rear dash insert

[tluke]

I'm going to start working on my interior soon. Anyone know how to restore the rear dash insert in my '55 Series 75? Mine's supposed to look like this:

But it looks like this with lots of blemishes and the color faded (distorted):

It appears to be applied like sticky-back shelf paper (vinyl?) and then clear coated over, but I don't really know. I've seen pictures of a '53 Fleetwood (not a limo) that appears to have the same style insert in the back seat as well as the front dash. From the plastic on the seats it could just be a super survivor but it looks like it's been restored. That pattern appears to have been used over several years so maybe the insert stuff is still available somewhere, somehow? Any ideas on where to start looking?

[Lexi]

Very interesting project. I never knew how that backing was made, so I can't help. If it is as you say, you may have to hire a graphic arts place to copy, restore, then print it for application. They can print it on a self adhesive backing. I used this process on another project of mine & the medium the image was printed on was like a clear acetate so it was highly durable. Probably would not need a clear coat. Can't remember size limitations but in my case the image was at least 3 feet long. Enough to easily fit on each side of the clock and finish in one pass on your door side. In 1956 the rear dash background is different and made of what looks like thin striated metal. None of that '50s "star pattern" design in sight   Clay/Lexi

[Lexi]

If you need information on the dash itself prior to removal, let me know. I got a spare rear dash out of a '56 S75 which aside from the decorative star pattern and clock, are the same I believe. I could get some close up shots of the reverse side for you. Attached is a reported rear S75 dash from a '55. Clay/Lexi

[tluke]

Clay, thanks for the offer. I have installed the entire interior pieces myself already. When I purchased the car all the interior pieces were sitting next to it in the barn. The only thing installed was a bucket seat in the driver's position. All the pieces were all then just piled inside the car or trunk and the car shipped that way. I had to put it all together to confirm I had all the parts. I was actually missing the bulkhead and a few other pieces when the car arrived and they had to be sent separately. As I mentioned in another post about using and escrow company I withheld payment until he sent the missing parts. He ended up bringing them himself from Georgia to Utah as an excuse for a family vacation to the national parks in Utah and Las Vegas.
I had a '55 S75 in the 70s when I was in college and redid the whole interior on that one. Back then the car was just 20 something years old so it wasn't a classic, just an old Cadillac. Authenticity wasn't important so I just used wood grain vinyl shelf paper. One day when I had the rear dash out my neighbor in my apartment complex ran it over as it sat on the ground next to my car. I rebuilt the whole thing using a fiber glass kit. I also owned a '56 S75 and I much prefer the '56 backing. It's hard to believe there's only one year's difference between the two designs- the '55 is so old-fashioned and the '56 holds up better even today. Anyway, I'm not keen on using a graphic artist, I was hoping someone had already done that.

[Lexi]

Terry you are welcome. If cost isn't a reasonable concern, don't write off a graphic arts printer place. I had to build an electric light marquee for my Haunted attraction and planned on using a large sign that had florescent tubes inside and about 50 colored perimeter lights. I had a jpeg file of the Haunt's name & logo, which I took to the printer and told him what size to print. He did, and on that material I described in my earlier post. It was some sort of plastic, which also allowed my image to be back lit. It turned out looking like one huge Kodachrome slide, except it was thinner as I recall. They have other media options. Think the same stuff was used in the old video rental stores for the new release posters that were mounted in an electric back lit frame. It looked great. Just cut and trim to fit. Think it had an adhesive backing. The key issue is to have a detailed, very large size file of the image you want printed. Most internet photos are far from suitable. Too low a file size. Image size and quality are critical. The larger the better, include a scale so the printer has a size reference so the star like repeating pattern comes out in the correct aspect ratio. They may have to panoramic print them to fill the area on the dash required, but I suspect they work files as required via Photoshop or a similar program. Adhesive choice is another key factor as well as surface preparation. You will have to be guided by them. If you can't locate one, NOS or someone reproducing them, I would think your options are quite limited. There is a CLC Forum member/user who does specialty printing such as sign boards for our cars at shows. Perhaps he might have some suggestions? Can't think of his name, but if he reads this perhaps he can chime in. Clay/Lexi

[Lexi]

Perhaps your research can provide an answer as to how Cadillac applied that finish onto your rear dash. I would like to know how it was done originally. Clay/Lexi