My guide to sourcing upholstery materials for a classic car restoration, because the interior tells you immediately whether the restorer cared about the details.

The original materials for American cars of this era were specific: correct-grain vinyl, specific textures for each surface application, specific cloth compositions for areas that used fabric. The factories used different suppliers for different model years and sometimes for different plants. The variations are documented.

Quality reproduction material exists for most popular cars. The distinction between quality and marginal reproduction material is visible — in the grain depth, in the color accuracy, in the way the material handles at the seams. Ask in the marque forums before ordering. The community knows which suppliers have which cars covered correctly.