Kustom Upholstery Highlight: 1956 Bel Air Wagon
A 1956 Chevy Bel Air Wagon is an awesome American classic. Its timeless design just seems to get better with age. Our client loves his and asked us to design a custom interior for his pristine example.
As Zach Watertor one of our talented upholsterers at Karl Kustoms put it:
“We went a little overboard.”
From Weekend Cruiser To Show Car
This job started off with a client bringing in a console that he wanted to have fitted to his car. We stripped it down, added a wood inlay, and fitted it with an air ride controller, radio, and additional power outlets.
Changing the basic interior layout of the console or any other interior panel requires a lot of pre-planning. To get the dimensions and layout perfect, Zach uses a car board or paper template first.
He then cuts these templates out in plastic. For this job Zach used three to five layers for the panels. Our client could hardly wait to see the end result:
“Every time he’s come in here, he’s been like a little kid in a candy store.“
Zach Watertor, Karl Kustoms upholstery specialist
We initially started by upgrading and modifying the console. But it was clear that the client wanted to go the whole hog, and that’s when we revamped the entire interior. By the time the job was done, the ’57 Bel Air had been transformed from a weekend cruiser into an eye-catching show car.
Going Above And Beyond
Whatever the project, we aim to give the customer the best possible experience. Sometimes that means going a bit further than we originally expected, and that was certainly the case with this Bel Air Wagon. From an initial plan of upgrading the center console, we ended up transforming the complete interior:
- Seat re-trimming
- Console upgrades and modifications
- Rear air ride access panel
- Interior LED lighting upgrade, including doors and rear quarter panels
- New speakers front and rear
- Custom door panels with magnetic fasteners
- New carpeting throughout
- Suede headliner upgrade
Instead of just fitting an access flap, we made the air ride access panel a feature of the vehicle. The transparent cover and blue LED lighting tie in nicely with the rest of the side and door panels.
To give the car a clean look, we hid the fasteners behind magnetic panels. The dark suede roof lining and retrimmed seats also contrast very nicely with the concealed lighting elements. The result is a thoroughly modern look that still retains much of that original style that makes the Bel Air such a great classic.
Karl Kustoms Is The Customization Specialist
A complete interior upgrade can totally transform your classic or modern car. We approach every job with the customer’s needs in mind.
Karl Kustoms is also a machine shop, custom shop, and service shop, making it a one-stop solution for all your needs.
Do you need a complete restoration, custom upholstery, custom painting, bodywork modifications, or accessory installations? We are here to help. Contact our expert team for more information.