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Classic Car Interior Restoration and Custom Interiors

A classic car's interior tells you how it's been treated. Cracked seat covers, split door panels, and a faded headliner can make a beautifully painted car feel unfinished. Don's Auto Interiors & Tops has been crafting interiors for classic and custom cars in Alsip since 1977. Some customers want factory originality. Others want something that's never existed before.

Two directions: restoration or custom

Restoration. The goal is to bring the interior back to how it looked when new. That means paying attention to material type, grain, color, seam placement, and stitch style. When the original covers are still on the car, even in rough shape, they're the best guide we have, so please keep them.

Custom. Here the car is a canvas. Owners pick their own materials, colors, inserts, and stitching, from a subtle upgrade to a completely different look. We'll help you settle on a theme so the seats, panels, carpet, and headliner work together.

Plenty of projects land in between: an original-looking interior in a better material, or a factory pattern with a modern color.

How a full interior build works

Consultation. We look at the car together, talk about how you'll use it (driver, cruise nights, or shows), and agree on design, budget, and timeline.
Teardown. We carefully remove the original interior and document how it came apart.
Patterns. New patterns are made from the old covers, or drawn fresh for a custom design.
Frames and springs. Seat frames and springs are restored or repaired so the new covers have a solid foundation.
Foam and padding. Old foam usually crumbles on classic seats. New foam is shaped to restore the right profile.
Sewing and fitting. Covers, panels, and trim are built and fitted to the car.
Final assembly and a walkthrough with you.

What we can build

Seats: front buckets, bench seats, and rear seats
Door panels and kick panels
Carpet: custom-made or factory-molded sets. See auto carpet replacement.
Headliners, including older bow-type headliners and custom fabrications for antique vehicles
Armrests, consoles, and trim pieces

Materials

We keep over 1,000 cloth and vinyl material types in stock and work in leather, vinyl, cloth, and suede. For restorations, we'll help you find the closest match to the original. For custom work, bring photos of interiors you like and we'll show you what's possible.

Don't forget the top

If your classic is a convertible, the top and interior should be planned together. Colors need to work side by side, and doing both in the same shop avoids two separate teardowns. See convertible top replacement and our page on classic GM convertible tops.

Budget and timeline

A full classic interior is a project, not a quick repair. Timelines depend on the scope, the materials, and how much frame and spring work turns up once the seats are apart. We'll lay out the plan before we start and tell you right away if teardown reveals surprises. If you're aiming for a specific show or season, tell us the date up front so we can plan backward from it. Winter is a great time to start, since the car is off the road anyway.

Partial projects welcome

Not ready for the full interior? Many owners start with the most visible piece, often the front seats, and do the rest later. We'll make sure the first stage fits the long-term plan so everything matches when the project is finished.

Start the conversation

Bring the car by our shop at 11937 S. Cicero Ave in Alsip, or send photos of the interior, the car, and any inspiration pictures through our contact page. You can also call (708) 371-8020, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to talk through your project.

Frequently asked questions

Can you restore my interior to original, or do I have to go custom?

Either. Some owners want the interior to look the way it left the factory, and others want a custom design. We'll talk through your goals, budget, and timeline before any patterns are cut.

Do you rebuild seat frames and springs on old cars?

Yes. On classic seats we can restore frames and springs, replace foam and padding, and build new covers from fresh patterns.

Can you work from the old interior if it's falling apart?

Usually, yes. Even badly worn original covers are useful as patterns and as references for seam placement and stitching style. Don't throw them out before we see them.

Can you do the convertible top at the same time?

Yes. Tops and interiors are both done in our shop, so a classic convertible can get both in one plan.

Request a free estimate or call (708) 371-8020.