Cost to trim your Cobra's interior

[Paintwerks]

I've been calling around to find out some prices on interior trimming, and I've been a little shocked at the disparity of the prices they're telling me. I have asked for prices on:

2 x door cards
1 x flat dash (no console or glove box)
2 x seats (main unit and separate headrests)
1 x full carpet for interior (no boot trim or carpet)

One very highly regarded motor trimmer in Melbourne quoted me $4K with leather, and another guy just quoted me $8K with leather too!!!

So, for those who have built a car (or those who have asked for quotes):

1. What sort of price did you pay?
2. What work did they do?
3. What material did the trimmer use?
4. How long did they take?
5. Were you happy with the end result?
6. Did the invoice price differ from the quoted price (and if so, why)?

Thanks in advance for any info you can share (and pictures you care to provide)!

Sime

PS> I do appreciate/understand that different prices will be quoted based on materials used, quality of workmanship and the extent of trimming performed.

[YerDugliness]

I priced vinyl for the seat covers, bulkhead cover and door panels with regular carpeting at $1400, I think.

Leather for the seats and door panels and marine carpeting with vinyl for the bulkhead cover and it was $2800.

I'm going with the leather and marine carpeting.

Cheers!

Dugly

[sambo]

My trimmer said we'll need two hides to cover my Kenmer seat frames, dash, door trims, shifter boot etc. I have some leather samples arriving on Monday from Leffler, who said the average hide is around $500 depending on size. This is the good stuff from House of Weir.

I've been told to allow roughly 5-6k to do the whole interior. I think that's pretty reasonable for the value it adds to your car.

[Wazza]

Mine would not be to everyone's liking....and that's cool....
But Kerry Morrow here on the Gold Coast did mine.

He ended up spending way too much time on my car....charged me $5800...but I chucked in an extra $1,000 understanding that he probably would charge $10,000 to do the job if he had to do it again.

It was really just Kerry wanting to go the "extra mile", ( he really liked my car , so that helped a lot !)
and he kept coming up with great ideas on what he could do.

Hidden compartments,heater outlets,recessed all of the speakers,best leather,best Suede(alcantara)double mats,full boot trim,etc.etc.

It turned a " few weeks job" into almost 5 months....but very happy with the end job.

As I said....not really everyone's cup of tea...but thought I'd chuck in the photos,in case you might get some ideas.

Keep in mind though....

"Traditional" still looks awesome, and a squillion bucks cheaper to do.

Cheers,
Warren

[Rob. Smith]

A bloke I know is having his interior done ,...leather tunnel, side-walls, doors, seats and rear wall + carpet $3000.00. Not bad ! Its a DRB and the seats were only a frame.

[Chris L]

Paintworks;
There is a guy in the Gisborne Industrial estate(15mins past Sunbury in Melbournes North) who was recommended to me me via Don Stafford of the Vic Cobra Club. He did mine and was very reasonable and I am very happy with his work. I believe he also did Dons car, so he knows his way around a Cobra.
May be worth a look, I just cant remember the name, sorry. Someone may be able to help or chase up Don through the club. I have no details with me, in Far North QLD at present.

Cheers
Chris L

[Beejay]

I did my interior twice myself and was never happy with it.

If you want to go with a pretty standard job in black it may only cost a few thousand.

If you really want a top job with some extra features like Woz it could cost more than $15K if you go all the way.

I get the feeling you will have nice paint on a trick chassis. Don't bugger it up by going cheap on the interior - it is the difference between a good car and a great car.

Ben

[BMK]

The Trim Shop
Thomastown Victoria

Owner Manny.

[kyleb]

Ascot auto trimmers in airport west did mine.
They used to do factory Robnell cobras.
Talk to Terry, I think you will be happy with the result and price.
Cheers

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by sambo

I have some leather samples arriving on Monday from Leffler, who said the average hide is around $500 depending on size.

The guy I'm using said $350/hide.

I'll be ready for a price increase.

Cheers!

Dugly

[guye]

Originally Posted by YerDugliness

The guy I'm using said $350/hide.

I'll be ready for a price increase.

Don't panic Dugly, unless you too are ordering Australian hides. You see, bigger cows here. And we have thicker hides downunder too

[Baz]

The Connolly leather skins were $2K suppled. Then there's the English Wilton carpet plus the labour. It's not traditional, but I like it.





Baz

[Ryder]

There's some seriously beautiful interiors going around on here! Very nice

Always wondered though, with the fact it's an open top car there's a better than average chance that one day, you will get caught in the rain with no top on. Or your top wont seal properly. Can't help thinking nice leather, nice carpets and thick soundproofing ect will eventually get soaked. I'm wondering if vinyl seats, marine carpets, a few small drain holes in the floor, the use of stainless fasteners in the cabin, sealed wood dashes ect ect would be more practical and also cheaper? How well will the really nice stuff hold up?

[leroy17]

Go for vinyl seats and all brushed alloy panels. Then you only have to worry about 200 degree surface temp from the Aussie sun. And fit a bilge for the wet trips.

Seriously, there are some stunning interiors here, well done guys.

[Wazza]

I've copped a couple of fairly decent downpours in mine...and the interior was fine.
A chamois over everything, andit helps clean up any dust you might have gathered as well.
That Alcantara ( Suede stuff) is the same as they use in Ferarris etc. and is extremely durable.

Any stains/spills...a clean cloth with metholated spirits on it , lifts every mark, and keeps it as good as new.

My interior guy told me that "Dry cleaners" use this method...just Metholated spirits on a clean cloth to get all stains and marks off this stuff.

[Ryder]

Originally Posted by Wazza

I've copped a couple of fairly decent downpours in mine...and the interior was fine.
A chamois over everything, andit helps clean up any dust you might have gathered as well.
That Alcantara ( Suede stuff) is the same as they use in Ferarris etc. and is extremely durable.

Any stains/spills...a clean cloth with metholated spirits on it , lifts every mark, and keeps it as good as new.

My interior guy told me that "Dry cleaners" use this method...just Metholated spirits on a clean cloth to get all stains and marks off this stuff.

Sounds a lot better than I thought - thank you for replying

I was just thinking back to when a mate of mines kid dropped a bottle of lemonade in the back seat of his fairlane, he couldn't get it out the leather seats or carpet properly and it always stank after that.
Though I guess it'd be fair to say his interior wasn't as well made as yours wazza

[guye]

Originally Posted by Ryder

..mate of mines kid dropped a bottle of lemonade in the back seat...

Well I'll be stuffed if anyone's going to be drinking anything in my cobra (when I build it!).

And they wouldn't be my mate anymore!

(Co)bras before bros!