Upholstery and trim: what to expect

Get the trimmer involved before you strip the interior. Original assembly order matters and a good trimmer will want to see how it came apart.

Points to settle up front:

- Material: original-spec leather or vinyl, or a modern equivalent. Ask for hide samples. - Foam and webbing: seat frames usually need new diaphragms, webbing and foam, not just covers. - Carpet sets: fitted moulded sets versus cut-and-sew from the roll. Cut-and-sew fits better on older cars. - Headlining goes in before glass. Get the sequence agreed. - Sound deadening: worth doing while everything is out.

Budget separately for door cards, headlining, boot trim and hood or tonneau — they are rarely in the seat quote.