348 Re-trim

Hi. I've been having my 348 interior sorted out - sort of an extended re-trim -so thought I'd post up some pics of how things are going. This is most of what's been done so far, just the instrument cluster, the bits around the rear window and the parcel shelf to go. Sorry for the first shot being out of focus but hopefully it gives an idea. I decided to get the whole lot redone including the vinyl being replaced with leather. On mine the upper dash, round front and rear screens and the parcel shelf are vinyl and the texture was a bit different to the leather.
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This will give a better idea of some of the detail. Got to say I'm chuffed with the leather I've gone for - Andrew Muirhead Sateen Linen. Really nice texture and finish.
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I commented earlier on the vinyl that was used in Ferraris at about this time. Clearly it's down to individual taste to a certain degree, but I chose to strip it out and replace it with the same leather that I had the doors trimmed in. This gives an idea of the difference. Some may prefer the slightly shinier original, I just prefer it a bit more matt and with a finer grain. This isn't going to score well with any concours judges but then again, I didn't get her re-trimmed for them.
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Lastly just a few shots of what's currently left of my car. My carpet looked pretty good when it was in, it's not till everything was taken out that it showed it's true colours - quite literally. Faded in places, dirt ground in in others, and pretty ragged. As I said looked ok in the car but it will be being replaced. This also shows some bits all bagged up etc. Guessing you have to on this. And lastly my car interior right now. As I said, bit more than a re-trim, will have to see how it looks at the end. Will keep you posted.
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Thanks, mate. Take it you're not saying that about the last pic! That said, she's not in bad nick behind all the panels.

Must say I decided to go the whole hog, as it were, and have some pretty good leather put in. Also using a good quality carpet, probably a tad above what was there before. All in all, with the vinyl making a swift departure, it might even be a little above how she was on day one. Will just have to see how it all comes out but pretty pleased as things stand.

 

Thanks. I did think about tan, mostly because keeping the cream leather looking clean is harder, but just love this colour combo.

Yes mate, withdrawal symptoms set in a while ago, she's been in for over a month. The guy doing it is definitely taking his time, the work is excellent though. Golf wise, it's going pretty well. Got my initial handicap at 5.5 as that's the lowest our golf union will give straight off, would have been a 4.5 or so. Not bad for a newbie! It is taking quite a bit of my time though, hate to admit it but had more time for my car when I was working for Queen and country.

 

Thanks guys. Will post up the final results, hopefully you'll approve. Should go with the outside at that point, posted up recent detail here http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=383486

 

Will do. Next instalment may be in a week or so, though. Kind of want to see it all in at once for the wow factor.

 

Hi there. I live up near lincoln and got a local lad to do it. I looked at a few places, including getting it done through my Ferrari main dealer, but went to see Paul at D2S Upholstery in Lincoln and was seriously impressed with his work. He had a couple of Porsche seats that he had just re-trimmed in at the time - far more complicated than anything in my car, and they were just perfect. He went round my car and he identified every stitch, how it was done, etc. He's a young lad but really knows his stuff. I was also impressed with the materials he uses, very good leather.

He's never done a Ferrari before but I've seen a classic Bentley he did which was excellent. I guess in a way I took a punt using someone who had never worked on this type of car but having seen the door panels he's done (quite an interesting design on a 348) I'm happy that I did. Also I'm getting a lot more done than a regular re-trim and some bits are not as straight forward as they may seem. An example is the shot above with a black dash corner piece and a cream bit with the seat adjust handle in it. The dash corner piece is obviously a corner (clearly!) but is covered by what was a flat piece of leather. That takes some serious shaping and stretching of the leather. Also the sun visors actually had cardboard inside them! When they were taken apart they actually had to be rebuilt with something a tad more substantial, not just recovered.

 

I've heard of it done both ways but I've dropped my car off with them. That way they're doing the whole project, disassemble, reupholster, rebuild, including the carpets, so it's pretty cut and dry if it isn't right.

 

No, mate, already got a stripe on my car - the black one round the bottom.

 

Thanks

That makes two of us! Really looking forward to seeing how the slight changes in the material used for the dash etc comes out.

 

Don't worry, mate, thought of that. The reason it's shiny on your average 348 is because it's not leather - it's vinyl. Ferrari used vinyl on the black parts of the dash including the instrument cluster, round both the front and rear windscreen (side pillars and top bit as well as sun visors) and the parcel shelf. In fact the only black bit on the two tone interior that is leather is the doors. If you look at the doors you'll find it's a different finish than on all these bits. I've had all the vinyl taken out and replaced by leather with a fine grain and matt finish. Will take care of the reflection in the windscreen and mean that the whole interior matches and is to a high standard. That's the plan, anyway.