PortraitPro
11-08-2014, 04:52 PM
So now that I am without a project car I have been going stir crazy with the free time that I have on my hands. I have come up with an idea and would like to get feedback from the forum on interest and to gauge a demand to see if it would be worth my time to pursue.
I am thinking about starting to make custom dash covers for Mustangs. I will create templates using an OEM dash pad. The covers would be made out of a durable vinyl/pleather material and would be stitched using French seams. French seams are the double stitching patterns that you see in modern and high end luxury cars. I would offer different thread colors as well to choose from.
The customer would keep their OEM pad and fill in any cracks and sand the surface smooth. Then I would send only the covers ready to be installed with simple installation instructions. This allows you to keep the OEM dash pad, that we all know fits much better than the aftermarket options, and get a custom upholstered look as well. This also prevents having to mail dash pads back and forth and cut down on expensive shipping charges. I would test fit each cover using the OEM pad that I would have on hand to ensure fitment before sending it out.
My price point right now would be about $190 for '65-'68 and $250 for '69/'70 shipped (within the lower 48). This is competitively priced compared to aftermarket pads (that are notorious for fitment issues) and not terribly expensive compared to the cheap $90-$99 plastic cover lay options.
What are you thoughts, good, bad or indifferent?
I am thinking about starting to make custom dash covers for Mustangs. I will create templates using an OEM dash pad. The covers would be made out of a durable vinyl/pleather material and would be stitched using French seams. French seams are the double stitching patterns that you see in modern and high end luxury cars. I would offer different thread colors as well to choose from.
The customer would keep their OEM pad and fill in any cracks and sand the surface smooth. Then I would send only the covers ready to be installed with simple installation instructions. This allows you to keep the OEM dash pad, that we all know fits much better than the aftermarket options, and get a custom upholstered look as well. This also prevents having to mail dash pads back and forth and cut down on expensive shipping charges. I would test fit each cover using the OEM pad that I would have on hand to ensure fitment before sending it out.
My price point right now would be about $190 for '65-'68 and $250 for '69/'70 shipped (within the lower 48). This is competitively priced compared to aftermarket pads (that are notorious for fitment issues) and not terribly expensive compared to the cheap $90-$99 plastic cover lay options.
What are you thoughts, good, bad or indifferent?