Another wild goose chase has ended on a happy note; I found another “needle in a haystack”. When I took ownership of my 1948 Chevy ½ ton truck (5-window deluxe) in 2009, I began looking for some nice used OEM maroon fabric material for both the seat and back. After a few years, I learned that finding “survivor” upholstery in decent condition is a difficult find. In February 2025 I was fortunate to come across a NOS seat and back upholstery set on The H.A.M.B. forum. It survived all these years in a worn box on a shelf in Yorba Linda, California. A minor blemish in the fabric was repaired before diving into the placement of this new upholstery. I removed the fabric only from my 2012 complete upholstery job; I had used an upholstery kit from Jim Carter Truck Parts that required the use of hog rings. Reproduction “C” Spring Clips from Jim Carter were used to fasten this NOS upholstery into place. I found helpful “C” Clip installation information here on Stovebolt.com. Necessary minor repairs were then made to the frames and springs. Carefully getting the new upholstery in place and correctly placing those spring clips was a test of my patience. My bride of nearly 38 years was helpful by compressing the coil springs by standing on them (true love!). This allowed the fabric to be stretched to the proper position for the c-clips to be attached. The beaded/welted seamed seat and back now look like they did when they originally came down the assembly line April 1948 at the Chevy truck plant in Oakland, California. The NOS upholstery is nicely complimented by the NOS door panels and NOS armrests in my truck. FYI—SMS Auto Fabrics has a very close match to the NOS upholstery.
Needless to say, I am one happy camper. I realize that I have been blessed to find the upholstery, door panels, and armrests for my truck. It does demonstrate that some of the parts and materials that we look for during the restoration process are still out there waiting for a new home and to be put into service. There is nothing like using original vs. aftermarket supplies. Do not give up; patience and networking are key. I just happen to enjoy the search process. It is satisfying to finally find what you have been looking for…sometimes it takes years. Best wishes to all who are looking for “hard-to-find” parts to use in their restoration.
Wow, NICE! I'd never have guessed NOS seat covers were out there. My truck still wore its original covers when I acquired it back in 2013. I installed Jim Carter covers in 2017 and they turned out fine, but they ain't original vintage stuff.
Well done Sir, both the search and find and installation.
Looks amazing. If you can remember, please update us on how they wear over time compared to today's vinyl covers.