308/328 Original Interior "Survivor" Methods

I'm at the 'anti progress' stage! The interior is finished (my part) but the car hasn't made it back to my little shop yet, so here I sit, in my newly recolored driver's seat making vroom vroom noises.

Funny you'd say that about the smell, 'cause there was a significant thread about the 'old Italian leather scent', recapturing same. Hard as the dickens to find as a spray or other topical effort. I bought some 'cards' impregnated with the smell from jolly ol' England and it smells VERY nice, but not like automotive leather, more like a fresh new handbag or something. Hard to describe but try this: <SCRATCH AND SNIFF THE SCREEN HERE>.

Did that work? No? Try again!

Anyway, when I stripped the leather of its previous coating, you could DEFINITELY tell the good ol' smell was being released, so doubtless that fragrance 'lives' in the leather.

Since you brought it up, my Viper had NO leather smell at all. None. ("Sealed leather" as I've come to find out.) I put one of those cards in there and it really helped immensely.

Once I get my interior back in, I'll let you guys know how the smell and the look turns out.

 

Leatherique for the prep agent, dye for both carpet and leather. I had my own stash of conditioner, but theirs is great.

I ground the torn aluminum hole area from underneath, then cut a new piece of aluminum that was epoxied from underneath. Once dry, filled with leather 'crack repair' which is a semi pliable (like leather) filler. Sanded that with 220. When recolored, I used the pattern within the paper towel to 'tamp' this pattern across the entire area.

 

The cloth covered pieces were indeed a mess, as I'd presume many 22 year old cloth, exposed to the outdoors on some occasions might be. Anyway, redone in German tight grain vinyl, very well done by a good trimmer. I considered leather, but with the frailty/exposure, chose no near future maintenance instead, with long lasting good looks and a match for the dash. Seemed right.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks very much. I did the strip/clean/redye, but not the retrimming. Had a guy do that; I'd have sewn my fingers together. He rebound the carpet too after I redyed. Did a nice job.

 

NO DING DANG IT. The technician has leprosy this week; last week, his spleen fell out. Week before, weasels had eaten all his shoes. This of course, after lightning had struck his toolbox, welding all of his tools together. He's had a rough go of it.

I really don't know what to say, other than my interior is looking mighty lonely. The tech (who's excuses/delays are more credible than the above, but also more numerous) is SUPPOSED to be finishing up "any day now". That of course includes all future days, until the Apocalypse, at which point it won't matter much.

All I can say is I'm finding new levels of patience.

 

The upholstery guy was/is fantastic. My part's LONG been done. Technician doing the clutch found he has no spare time, thus 5 months of this is enough. Spoke today. Says "This Thursday". We'll see.

I looked at that material, basically the same as the factory stuff, and quite costly. Leather would be less, and honestly easier to keep clean.

The German vinyl is available at many upholstery shops. Often for BMW, Porsche, some MB, but just a tighter grain that - to my eye - matched the dash on the 328. Tough stuff for a tough environment, so it seemed right.

Not to stray TOO far from this thread's intent, I've invited Brian B, from Atlanta, one of AutoWeek's "Top 9 Detailers in America" over here to do a car for me and a friend (who has WAY more special rides than I could ever hope to). The 328 is likely to get the detail of its life.

 

I'd take that 5th camp any day! Looks great. When I saw your pictures, I must confess, I did a bad thing...

I had those pedal in the 328, and good as they looked, were more likened to the 512 "M" pedals, so I put them in the 512TR. Stayed 'rubber' in the 328. And since I'm a loser with no self esteem, I also put a 512 "M" gear shift on the TR also. I obviously keep veering from the topic at hand, likely to keep me from finding the technician, starting a Red Bull IV drip and making him work til he's finished.

Thanks Michael for getting my blood pressure up. Only slightly though. Good things happen in good time.

 

Some COMPETENCY ENGINEER YOU ARE! Yes, I reported that somewhere I thought you were listening/viewing/responding on some such thread. I said you and I would be the only members of the 512TR Club if you came here to visit. 'Twas a little vague I admit; my specialty as it turns out. Those interested in the 328 interior don't care about all that, but here's a post from that "other" section of Fchat.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237248

Back on topic: The tech PROMISED the 328 would be at my place tomorrow evening. I cleaned out a spot in the garage awaiting the arrival!

 

If you pay my way there, that small job will be free!

Spoke to the technician today - says the car will FINALLY be in my garage tonight. I've got various body parts crossed in hopeful expectation.

 

AGREED! That looks absolutely fantastic. Really nicely done, well chosen materials and colors. You make me want a 'b' even more.