I have an extremely original / survivor 69 GT500 and I am considering upgrading the interior (a little)...
Very little has ever been done to this car, it even wears the original shocks, etc..
The carpet and seats are coming apart just from the material breaking down and disintegrating, not from wear/tear.
The carpet around the edges of the kick panels and a few other places are starting to shred and breakdown, pulling away from the underlayment.
The seat bolsters around the edges are also tearing at the seams and exposing the foam pretty bad.
The headliner is also apart across the main seam in the middle of the roofline.
QUESTION:
I'm ok with the car looking a bit used, that's what's cool about a survivor, but am I committing an unforgivable sin by removing the interior and replacing the carpet and upgrading the seats ?
Thanks,
Mike
North Texas
Post pics...
Not a "sin" but a choice and one facds by many people over time.
Some will choose to take the effort in trying to find replacement parts from other unrestored cars to replace the originals that came with the car. Keeping the originals. Others choose to use reproduction pieces and in turn changing their cars from all original to something in between restored and unrestored. You end up with something some of us refer to as a "tweener" Not a restored car nor an original one any longer. So of use have no choice in the matter where the car was repainted decades ago others have a choice and facing it currently or in more recent years. And with making the choice to "upgrade" your car becomes one of a few to one of many.
It is just is what it is, but you knew this already and are likely looking for some justification for what you really want to do. :)
Your car may be weak in other areas and it might just be the time to address them all or you can make the opposite choice. Good luck with it since it's near impossible to reverse
Replace the carpet and fix (re-upholster) the seats. No 'sins' by doing so.
While you at it, replace those worn out shocks too...
Your Shelby will thank you for it.
If it's still there I may know where some original carpet is
Hello and Thanks !
It would be nice to have the original carpet if it hasn't degraded or broken down over the years.
Nothing better than the original fit.