Here's something a little different to my usual type of job: a vintage 1957 Wolseley 15/50 that was in the midst of a comprehensive restoration.

When I went to see it, the bodywork had very recently been refinished in Gloss Black but, as you can see from the first six pictures, the interior was in need of major work!

All the leather had grown brittle and split and the repair to the driver's seat was incredibly obvious. The headlining was ripped in places and dirty beyond belief. In a nutshell, everything needed to be replaced.

After an in-depth conversation with the owner, we settled on using an Antique Red leather hide throughout as this would have the correct finish for a 1950s vehicle and also provide a nice contrast against the gleaming black bodywork. The headlining and accompanying trim sections were remade in cream brushed Nylon and they all look very striking next to the red leatherwork.

The list of parts that were repaired and then retrimmed in leather were: front and rear seats, rear armrest, dashboard, front and rear doorcards, rear shelf, B pillars, sun visors, door handles and gear gaiter. The horizontal pleats were remade to the same dimensions as the original trimmers used, so as to retain the authenticity of the interior.

The transformation at the end was pretty striking and this Wolseley became a much-deserved centrepiece in the owner's extensive collection of classic vehicles.