Looking for a good upholsterer

[No Soup For You]

Hello all,

I've started a light restoration of my '59 FC. I'm planning on just getting it up-and-running with some new interior, brakes and tidy up the engine/trans. Have included some pics for you guys to see :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/QARfGEiaZ2LYqyYD7

I'm starting on the interior first and I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good upholsterer in the Byron Bay area, or possibly Ballina or Lismore?

Also, the front bench seat seems to be some sort of after-market folding seat. This was my grandfather car and he was always out camping and fishing so it wouldn't surprise me if he had this installed so he could sleep in the car. Does anyone know about these folding bench seat? Can you get parts for them?

Cheers
Dave

[DJ]

One of the members here is an upholsterer. Glenn is based in SA but that just means he posts the covers & anything else you need to your address. His work is great.
Details: http://forum.fefcholden.club/index.php?action=profile;u=18
There are others on the forum who know more about the camper seats. Discussions can be searched from the home page. Here's an earlier post on the topic:
http://forum.fefcholden.club/index.php?topic=1984.0
Good luck with your restoration, it looks like you have a very good starting point. It's good to see these cars handed down in the family.

[59wagon]

Nice car, Dave. That folding bench seat looks cool 👍

[No Soup For You]

Thanks guys,

Yeah, the car is in good shape and I can't wait to get her out on the road  8)

I'm keen on finding someone close by to do the upholstery but if that's not possible I might have to give Glenn a call. Thanks for info on the camper seat, very helpful.

[Ken's 57]

Hi Dave. My father had this seat conversion in his FC sedan so that we were able to sleep in the car during holiday trips.:-\ If I remember correctly, in those days (early 1960s) we knew it as a camping body. Coincidentally I found the same thing on my FE after purchasing it back in 2007. This is the sticker still surviving on the rear quarter window.
Cheers, Ken

[No Soup For You]

Wow! That's really cool, Ken. I'll keep an eye out when I remove the seat, there might be a label or sticker somewhere underneath.

Any idea if you can get the plastic trim that surrounds the bench seat? Mine is pretty beat-up and cracked. I wouldn't mind replacing it, if possible?

[Ken's 57]

I am pretty sure they were re-produced a while back Dave. I have occasionally seen them on eBay since.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

[RET]

Any idea if you can get the plastic trim that surrounds the bench seat? Mine is pretty beat-up and cracked. I wouldn't mind replacing it, if possible?

Rare Spares did a run of them a few years ago, not sure whether there are plans to produce any more. It might be worth checking with a few RS agents to see if they still have any.

RET

[DJ]

Yes, the plastic trim is re-produced & available from Rare Spares again. They are not cheap but some of the originals I've seen are quite fragile & beyond being serviceable.
https://www.rarespares.net.au/mitchell/buy/st1000/seat-trim-set-upper-lower-fe-fc-both-sides-set
There are also a few fibre glass re-productions around.

[No Soup For You]

Thank you!  :)

[zulu]

Soup
If using the new seat sides with a camping seat the lower section will usually need to be modified (cut) in order to allow the seat to do it's  thing
Front seat looks pretty good as is just nedds re padding
Welcome aboard

[No Soup For You]

Thanks for the heads-up, Zulu. Great to be part of this community. :)