Reupholstering Miss Vicky's seats
Ripping off the old covers and installing new JCWhitney bought replacements
the Turkey-made rolls-and-pleats seat covers had badly deteriorated since their installation in 1987
sunlight exposure made the material so brittle, it was all cracked and torn at the tops
to get the covers off I began by levering out thousands of hog rings
to reveal what I thought was the original seats done in metallic turquoise and off white
then I test fit the brandnew JCWhitney seat covers, only to find out they were too wide
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so I talked my mom into pulling out her old sewing machine and give narrowing the covers a try... it worked
when I pulled the old front covers...
I found out the seats had been redone before in Turkey in 1976 because they used newspaper under the covers
and only then came the supposedly original upholstery
after ripping off the old covers, it was time to start reupholstering
one last picture of 'peeling the onion' using vintage tools ;-) rollover
then it's time for a good dose of spray glue
to attach the extra padding
use of plastic bags makes an easy job of slipping on the covers rollover
originally sewn together, I used hog rings to close up the bottom
to attach the seat covers you simply start at the front center by correctly positioning the welting
and then stretch the material around the back rollover
hog ring your way to the sides stretching the material as you go
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warm covers will go on a lot easier than stiff cold stuff and even a hair dryer works nicely
seat frame's still a bit shabby but the covers look absolutely nice
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the little gap is for the tilting back rest arm to go through
back seat's done
front seat's still awaiting reinstallation
just have a look at now and before and you'll agree, a world of a difference rollover
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all in all, a fun job with a rewarding result