interior cost

[rob63mess]

Hey guys...Ive been looking into the cost of putting the interior in the 30 roadster....and although my car is stock, I think I would prefer a vinyl tuck and roll type interior. A local shop gave me a price of 2000 dollars...I about soiled myself. What do you guys think is a fair price. here s a pic of a car I found on the web that I liked( interior only).

[raprice22]

Since I haven't had an upholstery job done in many years, I really can't judge this upholsterer's price. However, it does seem steep. If I were you, and I'm not, I'd look into buying a kit. Doing a roadster isn't as difficult as doing a closed car. I did it on my '24 Model couple a number of years ago. It wasn't a professional job, but it came out very well. As far as vinyl, I'm not sure if it's available in kit form.
Rog

[Charlie Stephens]

Remember if you ever sell the call to a restorer the buyer will probably want an original type interior. The buyer would knock down the price of the car by the amount it would cost to replace the interior. The $2000 figure you got doesn't surprise me. Tuck and roll would be fine for a street rod but you say your car is stock.

Charlie Stephens

[Kahuna]

That $2K sounds fair to me in Norcal

[juke joint johnny]

Have a look at Le Barron Bonney's website They make the best kit's in any material you want. and a very helpful.
But I agree with Charlie The original pattern would be the best investment.

[rob63mess]

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Thanks for the input guys.

[Mitch//pa]

also recommend to buy the kit from LB... and do it yourself.. its very easy
look at their online how to videos
the kits come complete with hardware etc
i bought an air stapler that also does pin tacks from lowes
and a better hog ring pliers from amazon...

[wrndln]

Mitch,
Can you post a picture of the "pin tack" stapler you got a Lowes - or provide the Lowes PN? I have never heard of a pin tacker. Regular tacks are hard to install as you have to hold the tack with one hand (I don't like use the magnetic hammer head to hold the tack on the head), the tack hammer in the other and what's left to tug on the upholstery?
Rusty Nelson

[Mitch//pa]

Rusty
this is the one.. it shoots staples or tiny brads... worked great on my whole interior
bing bang

[Clydes 31 P/U]

My non stock interior. I used the old panels as patterns and my buddy did the sewing. I would add map pockets on the door panels if I was going to do it again.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by rob63mess

Hey guys...Ive been looking into the cost of putting the interior in the 30 roadster....and although my car is stock, I think I would prefer a vinyl tuck and roll type interior. A local shop gave me a price of 2000 dollars...I about soiled myself. What do you guys think is a fair price. here s a pic of a car I found on the web that I liked( interior only).

I honestly don't know what you were expecting but you asked a shop to custom make an upholstered interior that will require a lot more work because of the 'tuck & roll' pattern over stock, --AND that shop likely does not have a set of patterns of your car to work off of either.

When you look at kits ( in vinyl ), the "stock" covers & panels from suppliers are over one-half the cost of the total estimate your local shop gave you. Most small shops of any kind struggle to make a profit charging under $50 an hour. If you do the math, even at $50 an hour only gives that shop approximately 40 hours to pattern, layout material, sew, cover, install, ...AND please you! Since there are materials to pay for too, that means the craftsman has even less than 40 hours to get all of this accomplished. Since I know what goes into a custom interior like you are desiring, I personally feel they gave you a super price. I also assume you contacted other shops for their quotes?

[wrndln]

Mitch,
Thanks for post in the tacker info.
Rusty

[MAG]

give Elizabeth at Clastique a call 1-866-669-6604.
She makes kits.
Excellent workmanship and reasonable price.

[tbirdtbird]

the only ppl who make more than upholsterers are plumbers, who outstrip everyone

[rob63mess]

Brent....I guess I really didn't know what to expect. I certainly don't have a problem paying a fair price for a nice job. Problem is there aren't very many upholsterers
In my area. So that's why I decided to see what the folks on here thought. Seems like everyone feels its an honest deal. I looked into the LB kits....just not sure I want to go that route. Again....thanks for the input.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

the only ppl who make more than upholsterers are plumbers, who outstrip everyone

You are DREAMING!!!

[Marco Tahtaras]

0

Originally Posted by rob63mess

Brent....I guess I really didn't know what to expect. I certainly don't have a problem paying a fair price for a nice job. Problem is there aren't very many upholsterers
In my area. So that's why I decided to see what the folks on here thought. Seems like everyone feels its an honest deal. I looked into the LB kits....just not sure I want to go that route. Again....thanks for the input.

If you decide to reconsider then I recommend choosing different materials than their common "deluxe" offering of "cinnamon" orange for the kit that's not only ugly (my least offensive adjective), but not even authentic.

I agree with Brent on expectations other than patterning. A good trimmer can and will pattern 'on the fly' for every job and do it well. However it doesn't come cheap!

[pooch]

First time I have heard the word trimmer used here.

In OZ, a motor ( trimmer ) gets offended if you call him
a lowly (upholsterer ).

[Tacoma Bob]

LOL Brent,Marco and Pooch. Right on you guys. I have owned two upholstery shops and apprenticed in 68 as a Trimmer/Glazier. Most of the time folks cheap out on the interior because they have spent most of the $$$$ to get the car streetable. NOW pucker up boys. My Tudor badly needs new threads. I can buy a L/B kit and install it myself CHEAPER than buying fabric and supplies and cutting and sewing my own car. And that is buying at my wholesale rate. Granted the material would be a bit nicer than the L/B offerings.

[Mike V. Florida]

Skilled work costs. It is as simple as that. Yes, it can be a shock to see the price.