​Should you just wait to see how much is left in your budget, before you decide what price range of upholstery will be good enough? The answer is no, a well-constructed interior is just as important to a classic car restoration, as the exterior. 

Waiting until the end of the project to set an interior restoration budget is a mistake, one that your interior will reflect, and you will regret. To avoid this common disaster, set a budget that includes all aspects of your classic car restoration at the beginning of your project, and stick to it. 

​Before you decide on leather or cloth, take a look at this upholstery guide to help you choose the right one for your classic car restoration. 

​Cloth is a vague term, for there are many different kinds of auto-grade cloths. Cloth is popular because it is an economical choice. The main faults of cloth is that it is very absorbent, however, it can easily be cleaned. Cloth has come a long way from its predecessors, and it a lot more resilient to fading, wear and tear, and can easily be patch repaired compared to vinyl or leather. 

The cloth seats in your average car is usually nylon or polyester. Nylon is such a common auto-grade fabric because it is durable and inexpensive. Nylon material is porous, therefore dirt is easily trapped, especially if it is goo you cannot identify. However, hot water, soap, and some elbow grease will most likely clean, and clear up any stains or buildup.

It's often called microsuede, in other words, it looks like, and feels similar to suede. It does look nice, but it is difficult to clean due to its texture that makes it prone to stains. Microsuede can be cleaned, but it requires a special soap, and you have to be careful not to get the fabric too wet, for even water can stain. 

​This fabric is similar to microsuede, and sometimes referred to as ultrasuede. The difference is that this product if flame-retardant, and more costly than microsuede.

​Leather is a high-quality fabric made from animal hide. Leather fabric has pores in it that allows it to breath, which alsoresults in absorbing liquids, and therefore harder to clean. Yet, with proper care, and moisturizing, the leather will stay plush, and luxurious.However, if you use the wrong products, or ignore caring for leather it will show by creasing, fading, or staining the surface over time.

Leather will always be the most expensive choice when it comes to upholstery. How much more depends on the quality of the leather, which can range from faux, to top-grain, or Nappa leather. 

​Faux, or artificial leather is made up of natural, and synthetic fibers. Faux leather will have a similar texture to leather, but will not have any breathability. Therefore faux leather will not absorb liquids, and will bevery easy to clean. Faux leather is more affordable than leather, but unlike leather it won’t continue to add value to the car.

​Vinyl can be an excellent choice for certain vintages, for vinyl offers an air of authenticity for vehicles of the right era. Vinyl is not porous, so it is basically waterproof, making any spill, easy to wipe off clean.However, similar to leather, vinyl is uncomfortable to touch in extreme weather conditions. Vinyl is also prone to cracking when exposed to extreme weather or direct sunlight. Those type of cracks, are very difficult to repair without having to recovering the entire seat.

​Who is going to be riding in this classic car restoration with you?  Take a moment to think about who will be riding next to you. You don’t want to have fresh upholstery infected with the smell of spoiled milk. At this point, you might be wishing you had paid the extra for leather seats. Jokes aside, consider who will be driving along side of you, and what interior will best function for your needs.

Detailed breakdown of the proverbial leather vs. cloth debate

​When selecting upholstery consider UV rays, and your climate, for these factors affect your enjoyment and the longevity of the interior. If you live in a seasonal climate, leather can be an attractive option because there won’t be as much fear of burning your skin from the hot sun, or risk fading due to the UV rays. However if you live in a climate of extreme hot, or cold, you might consider cloth as a more attractive option.

Still need some guidance? Here are a few popular public opinions:
​

• People who seek appearance, and style choose leather interiors
  
  
• In climate of extreme weather people opted for cloth interiors
  
  
• People who demand stain and smell prevention choose leather, vinyl, or faux leather interiors
  
  
• People who wanted little to no maintenance chose nylon or cloth interiors
  
  
• People who are concerned about resale value choose leather
  
  
• People who are concerned about allergies chose leather, faux leather, or vinyl
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• People who value animal ethics choose vinyl, faux-leather, or a cloth option

So which one is better, leather upholstery or cloth upholstery?

It's up to you to decide what you like, what will work best for your lifestyle, and what your budget can afford. Yeah, the debate of leather vs. cloth upholstery is always going to be a heated debate. However, now that you have read all about your options, and know the pros, and cons of cloth vs leather upholstery, you can now make an educated decision. If you are still feeling indecisive, go talk to yourlocal restoration shop for advice specific to your classic car restoration project.   

​When you think of a classic restoration, your mind may instantly go to the exterior. However, the interior is just as serious as an undertaking. Take a realistic approach to the project of restoring your classic car. In other words, take your time, shop around, do research and prepare a realistic budget. Keep in mind that you can find original factory specification, and photographs for guidance. Or have some fun hunting down the perfect parts, and accessories. If you don’t have that kind of time, or the patience, let your auto restoration specialist help you. It is important to remember that very few things go as easy as you assume it will go, to help yourself ,making plan is the best approach.

Here is a list of a few things you should consider before you start restoring the interior of your classic car.

​Learn all you can about the classic car you are about to restore. If you don’t know a personal auto enthusiast who can help, don’t be afraid to search the internet, books, magazines, or even seek a professional to help steer your project in the right direction. What are you trying to learn about? Learn about anything, and everything that could possibly help you with the restoration of the car of your dreams. For example, look at vintage ads, photobooks, and classic portfolio, anything that may help inspire the authenticity of your restauration. By learning all about your vehicle, it will help you realize what you want your restoration to be like, and the spirt you want your completed classic car to have.

​Before you begin consider whether this auto restoration vehicle is for a hobby car, or for your main form of transportation. Restoring anything takes a lot of time and money, so you want to make sure that your goal and intentions are clear from the beginning. The upholstery for a hobby or an everyday car will be very different depending on what your needs.

​Find out how much your interior replacements will cost, and add a little wiggle room for unexpected fixes. However, once you set your budget, it should be a solid figure, commit to yourself, and don’t exceed it.

​While you may think you can handle buffing, and polishing the finishes, you’d be amazed at the magic that professional detailers can reveal. You may realize that certain items, you thought would need replacing, now look good as new.

​Do a thorough inspection of the vehicle, scrutinizing each section. Take note of the conditions of each interior body part, and electrical.

​Your project will undoubtedly need the help of a professional at some point. A professional will save you time, and money because they will complete tasks the right way, the first time. With your own best interests at heart, make a detailed list of all the items you will want to get done by a professional, and get quotes. You can use this information so you can properly form a budget. Remember to honor yourself, and stick to your budget.