PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: Henrius on February 01, 2015, 02:14:47 PM

Title: Interior plastic panel refurbishing
Post by: Henrius on February 01, 2015, 02:14:47 PM

My 1973 Runabout restoration is going well, and I am doing the final interior restoration. My upholstery shop was lucky enough to find original fabric!


The hardest part is how what to do with the plastic side and back panels in the hatchback area. Years of UV has discolored them and made the plastic crumble a bit on the top edges where sun hit directly. I was talking to an upholstery guy about laminating the compound curves with vinyl with seams, cemented to the plastic in some way. He was afraid that no cement would hold the vinyl for long.


What have some of the rest of you done to rejuvenate these pieces?

Title: Re: Interior plastic panel refurbishing
Post by: DBSS1234 on February 02, 2015, 08:48:28 AM

I worked on a 79 Camaro for a person and his panels where flaking also. To make them look close to original I sanded the old flaking and dry plastic off with 80 grit paper. Then I sprayed on a course texture with rocker panel protector (available in spray cans). It is not perfect but it does make the panels respectable again. After that repaint to the interior color.

I also do not think the vinyl glued on idea will work unless you sand off all the old dry plastic layers first.