Interior Re-Trim

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Fordoholic Nick
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Interior Re-Trim

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

Hi all,

So after many years thinking about it I'm finally getting my recaros AND door cards re-trimmed. Whilst the Strobe is really nice it's looking a bit tired and I always had a soft spot for a Carla Check.!!! So i found a guy who had some Orange Carla made up to a brilliant standard. The pattern is 100% spot on as you can see from the photos below. The Orange is a tad darker but its brand new andvas original Orange Carla is impossible to buy now this is a superb replica.. Really really pleased with it.

So I hired a transit van and drove two and a half hours down to Poole to Mike Stainer at MT Trimmers. Some of you on here will remember Mike. Lovely guy. The quality of his work is just outstanding as I been following him on fb. He has re-trimmed many recaros so knows them so well. Some of his recent jobs you can see on his fb page. He was really impressed with the CarlaI had bought as he compared it to an original section he had.

So he's going to strip the seats right back then rebuild them adding a new membrane layer and extra foam to give that "as new" fuller look and feel. I am getting him to retrim with Black side bolster material and Black Vinyl surround/back so this will really make the Carla pop !!!! The door cards he is going to strip and replicate the Black "S" / Ghia Vinyl cards as best he can. . I know this one is a big ask :lol: but he is confident he can do this although the shiny plastic finishing strips will be a challenge but he is working on this !!! Whatever he comes up with is going to look great !!

These are my seats and cards I have now...

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This is the "Orange Carla" cloth I bought...

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As you see it really is a very defent match to this original Orange Carla seat Mike worked on recently. The pattern design /size as said is 100% spot on

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And if Mike can replicate this for me it will be superb but Ill leave this one with him... :lol:

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Mike is working on a Bel Air he has in his workshop at the moment then i am his next job !!! This Bel Air is just STUNNING The underside looks like it's just come out of Dan's workshop on Fantom Works :lol: Everything about it is just BIG.!!!! Mike parked his White capri in front of it so you get a sense of how MASSIVE it is. Just gorgeous and Mike is doing an incredible job trimming it from top to bottom !!!!


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All the best

Nick
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by andyd »

Great choice Nick, I have always been a fan of that interior and Mikes work looks great!!

I considered having my 2.8 shark grey replaced with it a few years ago, and found some grey Carla on Ebay and he had the orange too.

Look forward to the pics :cool:

My XR3 has the red strobe and that is now impossible to find.

:goodluck:

Andy
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

andyd wrote: Fri May 05, 2023 5:29 am Great choice Nick, I have always been a fan of that interior and Mikes work looks great!!

I considered having my 2.8 shark grey replaced with it a few years ago, and found some grey Carla on Ebay and he had the orange too.

Look forward to the pics :cool:

My XR3 has the red strobe and that is now impossible to find.

:goodluck:

Andy
Thanks very much Andy. As much as I like the Strobe, Recaros just "pop" with a check cloth.!! Always planned to hopefully get them done so when I seen the material it was too good a chance to miss out on. I did buy from that guy on ebay but I dealt with him on the phone outside of ebay so we agreed a price between us!! I actually bought some of his other cloth too so I have enough Carla to trim two Capris. !! :lol:

Jason said i should get some Carla pyjamas made up :shock:

At some stage I'll probably sell the other one. He lists it as Black/White, it looks more like Grey in the photos but it actually has much more of a Blue tint to it. Lovely cloth and again 100% spot on for pattern.

That Red Strobe you have in the XR3 is impossible to buy new original too Andy. Its a lovely cloth is that. I had a chance to buy a whole set of front and rear seats from a guy on fb in the Blue Strobe a couple of years back in pretty much mint condition on recaro fishnets with runners all for £650 but just missed out.!! The guy who beat me to them still has them stored and winds me up every now and then :lol:

But I'm well chuffed with the Orange Carla and with the Black trim it will look great :)

All the best mate

Nick
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by andyd »

I had some slippers this year for my birthday in a grey carla type check, first thing I thought of was my old Capri :D

An XR member bought a roll of red strobe material several years ago for £1000. He cut it into the correct size required to cover Escort seats and sold it all and doubled his money!

Mine arent too bad, slightly faded and they crease a bit when sat on but not enough to go to the expense of retrimming yet.

If I ever need to, Aldridge do this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264587100501 ... %7Ciid%3A1 Apart from the Capri it was standard in the Fiesta Supersport so might be ok :?

My car already has subtle engine and suspension mods so not one for the purist :lol:
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by Jasonmarie »

Will look really nice fella , I guess your not telling anybody about your outfit your be using when you drive B112 ? :lol:

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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by D366Y »

I've been wanting to do this for my S for a while but have always been put off by the insane cost people want for the material!

Might have to ask you about the spare material Nick! 👀
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by mgentry90 »

The original interior looks ok from the photo. Is it not worth selling that as it and buying a recaro interior which is worn out even more for less than you sell yours for? Make a few quid towards the upholstery?
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by Paul G »

The Carla on my 3.0S is a bit faded but not torn or worn so, with finances as they are, I think it will have to stay as is. However I do need some bolster work and the piping renewed and will need some of the black surround cloth on the driver's backrest in the usual place that seats first wear.
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Re: Interior Re-Trim

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Interesting project, it will be good to see how it all looks once fitted back in the car.

Andrew.
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