Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Mexican Westy Upholstery Job
From:PSavage
Date:Fri, 13 Jul 2001 19:02:18 -0700

Would I do it again?
Absolutely!--tho my new upholstery is so tough & well done,
it might even outlast me.
When I bought my '85 Wolfsburg Westy, she had sad looking,
ripped, beige cord upholstery.  Once in Mexico, I began to get
estimates here & there, & found them to be consistent, so long as
I avoided tourist zones & expatriot colonies, with their high prices.

I found a nice father/son team with a little sidewalk shop across from
a huge auto upholstery warehouse.  I told them I wanted a heavy weight,
tan vinyl with a bonded stretch back--which would look smart, but stand
up to spilled salsa, beach sand, wet bathing suits, & gummy dog chews.

After we chose the fabric, they removed the passenger seat from the
front of my van, along with the jump seat, back folding seat & cushions.
They agreed to replicate my old upholstery pattern, but to add two deep
pockets each to driver's & passenger's seat backs.  Wonderful for books,
maps, dog leash, tent pegs, etc.  I also asked them to build in a *secret
pocket into the back of the jumpseat & to make an additional slipcover
for this seatback, which would be heavily padded on the top edge--since
this is my "ladder" to the upper berth.

I gave the man & his son half of the agreed upon price & returned in 48 hrs.
The work was completed & installed in an hour.  The job is gorgeous--with
zippers, velcro, & even piping on the edges of the front seats.  They
recovered
all the van's upholstery, including the fold down bed & separate zippered
engine compartment cushion.
Total Cost Including Vinyl Fabric:  $217.00

!Andele!
Phaedra
'85 Wolfsburg Westy Basecamp

.

> Could you tell us more about the upholstery job in Mexico?
> What was done?
> Where?
> Cost?
> Materials?
> Satisfaction:  Would you do it again?
>
> Thanks,
> Tom Salicos