Monday, September 30, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Ferrari Daytona Interior (Dash and Trunk) Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration Redwood City (650) 364-0923




New Dash and restored the Trunk



The 365 Daytona is generally regarded as one of Ferrari's greatest ever GT's. A combination of enormous performance, stunning Pininfarina bodywork and its place in history as the last front-engined Ferrari GT that Fiat had no hand. Therefore it occupies a special place in Maranello history. The press in recognition of the prancing horse’s stunning 1-2-3 victory unofficially conjured up the world famous Daytona name at 1967's Daytona 24 Hours. Rumors persist that Ferrari was actually intending to name their new model as such but for some reason they never officially used this evocative title themselves.


source: http://www.daytonaregistry.com/

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Friday, September 27, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Porsche 356 Steering Wheel Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration Redwood City (650) 364-0923




As the 356th design study by Dr. Porsche, the 356 reigns as one of the longest running body styles. Out of the ashes of WWII and on the 'heels' of his successful Volkswagen design, Dr. Porsche invented an icon. The 356 went through iterations A, B, and C before ultimately being replaced by the 911 model. The shape of the 356 led to its nickname, the 'bathtub' Porsche.

In 1955, Max Hoffman was the sold US importer of Porsche products. He convinced Porsche that Americans did not buy cars with numbers for names. Hoffman created the name 'Speedster' for the stripped-down 356 and 'Continental' for the coupe and cabrio. The 'Continental' name was short-lived, as Ford Motor Company insisted that Porsche drop it, as it conflicted with the name of Ford's newest division. The Continentals were recalled and badged as 'Europeans.'

The car shown was severely damaged during the summer of 2006 when its trailer crashed into a guardrail, flattening the passenger side and folding the suspension under the car. Fortunately, the Detroit area is home to a very active Porsche community and the best body shops. The car was taken down to bare metal and hammered back to perfection.

'Racy Elegance, Styled by a Delicate Hand' -- in 1955 the sole importer of Porsche products, Max Hoffman, convinced Porsche that Americans only bought cars with identifying names. Hoffman convinced Porsche to badge the cars 'Continental' or 'Speedster'. Ford Motor Company objected to the name 'Continental' so it became the 356 'A' for 1956. The Continental was the luxury version of the 356. Coachwork for the 1955 Porsche was made exclusively by Reutter of Stuttgart, Germany.

You can see here we are doing a steering wheel reconditioning.

source: http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z1428/Porsche-356.aspx

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - 1959 Mercedes 300 Interior Wood Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration Redwood City (650) 364-0923




Without doubt, the 300S (W188) is one of the greatest cars Mercedes has ever built. Introduced in 1952 as a two-door CoupĂ© or Roadster, it was the Ultimate Mercedes-Benz at the time, was built in very limited numbers, and was incredibly expensive. In 1955 the model was upgraded with fuel injection, independent rear suspension and some minor cosmetic changes, it was re-designated 300SC



We are now redoing the wood trim in this car





History of the 1950-1960 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz re-entered post-war production with Hans Nibel’s 1936, four-cylinder, side-valve 170, which was made until 1955 with few changes. It was also available as a diesel model. Two cabriolets were offered from 1949, with 2+2 seating and five-passenger layouts.
A more modern six-cylinder, 2-liter, 220 model joined the Mercedes lineup from 1951 to 1955. The car had faired-in headlights and could be ordered in sedan, Cabriolet, and coupe guises. The Mercedes-Benz 300S “Adenauer” sedans (named for the German chancellor) were built from 1951-57 and aimed at heads of state with limousine and four-door Cabriolet options.
Mercedes-Benz’s first all-new post-war design was the “ponton” – that is unibody – design of 1953. Offered as 180 side-valve and 180 diesel and later as a 190, with a 1.9-liter OHC unit and a diesel, it had flow-through fenders and six-seater body and resembled the contemporary Chevrolet.
Once again a much more useful 2-liter, six-cylinder 220 series appeared with the same body in 1954. A convertible and coupe appeared in 1955 and are quite sought after today. These are durable cars, though not as iconic a design to most enthusiasts’ eyes. The 220S offered twin carburetors from 1956, the same year as the short-wheelbase 219, and a fuel-injected 220SE was offered in 1958. These are not without rust problems, and the over-arching concern that they are all over 50 years old.
Sporty relatives of the Adenauer 300 sedans, a 300S and 300SC coupe and Cabriolet were offered from 1951 to 1958. They had classic prewar styling and proved to be useful performers. The 1956 to 1958 300SC models were fuel-injected, with dry-sump lubrication, and actually cost more than the accompanying 300SL Gullwing. Only 760 of all models were sold, and they are near the top of postwar Mercedes collectability today.
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Monday, September 23, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Mercedes 560SL Carpet and Console Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923



 Mercedes-Benz shipped its most powerful SL of the decade to the U.S. in the 560SL. The car was also the heaviest of the 1971-89 R107 SLs that Mercedes produced, but the new 5.5-liter V-8 engine’s 227 hp did a fine job of mitigating that fact. Top speed was much improved (from 110 mph in the 380SL to 130 mph), and the car was quicker from a standstill to 60 mph by about 4 full seconds.

We are redoing the carpets in this car as well as the center console. Stay tuned for the completed restoration.


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Friday, September 20, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Ferrari 575 Rear Shelf Interior Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923



The key elements of the new 575M Maranello can be neatly summed up in the model name. In fact, the engine is described by the new numerical code, 575, as this is an abbreviated indication of its capacity, increased from 5500 to 5750 cc, resulting in an increase in both power and torque. The letter M, an abbreviation of 'modified,' underlines the fact that changes have been wrought to all areas of the model's performance. Key amongst these, apart from the engine is the introduction of an F1 type gearbox, first time on a 12 cylinder Ferrari road car.

This example just had the passenger side airbag fixed and the rear shelf restored back to its original condition.


 



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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Mercedes Interior Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923




An interior restoration in process. - door panels and back seats

Here is some history

Produced from 2003-'09, the second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class debuted in coupe form as the CLK320 (215-horsepower 3.2-liter V6), CLK500 (302-hp 5.0-liter V8) and CLK55 AMG (362-hp 5.4-liter V8). Convertible equivalents to all three joined for 2004. In 2005, the CLK500 switched from a five-speed automatic to the current seven-speed automatic transmission, and this was also the last year the CLK55 AMG was available in coupe form (and the year the navigation system switched from a CD-based to a DVD-based unit).

For 2006, the CLK320 became the CLK350 (268-hp 3.5-liter V6) and also got the seven-speed, while in 2007 the CLK500 and CLK55 converted to the CLK550 (382-hp 5.4-liter V8) and CLK63 AMG (475-hp V8), respectively. For 2008, the AMG coupe returned, but only in limited-edition "Black Series" form with a 500-hp V8, a track-tuned suspension and a six-figure price tag. Both the CLK63 AMG and the Black Series were dropped for 2009.

Notable standard equipment on the CLK included alloy wheels, leather upholstery, power seats, dual-zone climate control and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Major options included a sport appearance package, a navigation system, an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system and keyless ignition. Interior accommodations were airy in CLK coupes, thanks to their B-pillarless design, while CLK convertibles had a quick-acting power-operated cloth top. In addition to the extra power, V8 models added a body kit, different-colored interior pieces and paddle shifters for the automatic transmission.
 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Buick Roadmaster Front Seat Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923




This project will be to restore the front seats of this classic car.

Buick introduced its fifth generation of the venerable Roadmaster name in 1949. The car was the first of the “four-hole” Buicks of its era, with the brand’s trademark “ventiports” placed prominently on the front fenders. At first, these actually provided some ventilation for the engine compartment, but the ports were soon plugged and used thereafter as a visual cue only. The cars were slightly smaller than the 1948 models, and were markedly more modern visually, especially with the car’s large curved windshield.
The Roadmaster carried Buick’s legendary smooth-running, straight-eight, overhead-valve engine, with 263 cid delivering 152 hp. Roadmasters came with a two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission as standard equipment, compared to the three-speed manual transmission offered on lesser models. The Roadmaster offered an upgraded interior with better materials than the standard run of Buicks, and within the Roadmaster line, customers could order the Deluxe option. Among the features of a Deluxe Roadmaster were hydraulic power windows and seats.Available Buick Roadmaster body styles included a four-door sedan and two-door sedanette, a two-door hardtop coupe, a four-door station wagon, and a convertbile. Options included a toolkit, outside mirrors, hubcaps, a spotlight, a tissue dispenser, upholstery cushion toppers, a parking brake warning light, a sunvisor vanity mirror, and a polishing kit.
 
 
 
 

 

Friday, September 13, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Rolls Royce Convertible Top Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923

Cooks Upholstery is finishing a Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible Top. - You can see that this custom restoration will bring this cars top back to it original condition.

Key Features

  • Quality: Made to Rolls Royce specs, 100% fit guarantee.
  • Original Configuration: One piece top, plastic window sewn in or heat sealed
  • Original Factory Material: British Everflex Vinyl
  • Original Window: Plastic window




The Rolls-Royce Corniche replaced the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow convertible and coupe in 1971, and was introduced in both closed and open body styles. Its name was derived from the Grande Corniche, the touring road high above the Mediterranean between Nice and Monte Carlo.
Essentially being the coupe and convertible versions of the Silver Shadow, the Rolls-Royce Corniche continued the use of the Shadow’s unibody construction. The car was smaller and squarer than earlier models, though the Corniche was aimed at buyers who insisted on coachbuilt bodies. The Mulliner Park Ward design took four months to build – two weeks alone were spent just creating the convertible’s top. Powered by a 6,750-cc, Bosch fuel-injected OHV V-8, the Corniche was hand-built, and despite its weight of almost three tons, topped out at 120 mph, with 0-60 mph reached in fewer than ten seconds. The self-leveling suspension was based on the Citroen hydraulic system and the Corniche employed power disc brakes, like the Shadow.

source: http://www.hagerty.com/price-guide/1979-Rolls~Royce-Corniche_I

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Aston Martin DB9 Dash Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923

Here we are doing a leather refitting on the Aston Db9 - You can see in this picture that the leather is pulling away in dash..

 
 
 
The Aston Martin DB9 is a car that creates a physical ache of envy. It's effortlessly beautiful, still reasonably rare and is a car that's far from an obvious choice. All of these factors have boosted its desirability and make well looked after used examples worth tracking down. It's a car at a vintage stage in the company's development, retaining a lot of character of the older Astons.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - 1999 Ferrari 355 Dash Restoration - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923

Cooks refurbished this dash of this Ferrari 355. All new leather and a full restoration



The 1995 Ferrari F355 had as a basis the previous V8 engine Ferrari, the 348. The famous Italian design studio and Ferrari traditional partner, Pininfarina, did the styling of the new model. The F355 was produced between 1995 and 1999 in nearly 12,000 units and become one of the most popular Ferrari’s of all time. At launch it was available in fixed-head Berlinetta (or GTB) and Targa (GTS) followed later by a roadster (Spider) variant. The Spider was Ferrari’s first vehicle with an electronically actuated soft top.


source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ferrari/1995-1999-ferrari-f355-ar11026.html

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - 1968 Toyota Land Crusier Convertible Top Replacement - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923

Cooks Upholstery is doing a full custom convertible top replacement of this 1968 Land Cruiser. We will be able to duplicate the current top to have it come out just like it came from the factory.




The "original" FJ40, FJ45 and FJ55
The tough, time proven, no nonsense FJ40 was produced for the U.S. for over two decades (1960-1983). The FJ40 is unmatched in its off-road prowess and equally at home in urban environments due to its remarkably thorough engineering. TLC will guide you through the many variations of this model to help select the year, equipment and level of restoration that best suits your needs.

Although the FJ40 usually steals the spotlight, Toyota simultaneously produced other unique Land Cruiser models. The FJ45 and FJ55. These two models utilize the same famous drive train as the FJ40 but with body styles to meet a variety of needs.
 source: http://tlc4x4.com/ch.htm

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Auto Upholstery Bay Area - Bentley 1949 Mark VI - Interior and Seat Work - Cooks Upholstery & Classic Restoration - (650) 364-0923

Cooks Upholstery is redoing the front drivers seat in this beautiful car to better accommodate the driver making it more comfortable and safer to drive.



The Bentley Mark VI was introduced in 1946 and was the first post War Bentley of Rolls-Royce design. The first owner of the Mark VI took delivery of the car in September 1946. Power was from a new F-head engine featuring overhead intake and side mounted exhaust valves. The six-cylinder unit featured an aluminum alloy cylinder head and offered about 150 horsepower. 

The Mark VI was the fist Bentley with standard factory-designed bodywork built by the Pressed Steel Company of Oxford with ex-Gurney Nutting Chief Designer John Blatchley applying the detailing. Custom coachwork remained as an option.

In total, there were 4,949 Mark VIs produced through 1952.