Opinions Please - A Few Costmetic Changes

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year!

As London is currently in Tier 4 (and maybe going back into a full lockdown), I thought that I would ease my boredom with a few cosmetic upgrades to my 1991 Cabby. I am keen to keep things as OEM as possible (and, am on a budget of sorts), however, please see my thoughts below on a few "upgrades" (not sure that is the right word) that I am contemplating. You all have such beautiful rides, that I really appreciate and trust your input! Also, links to anything for sale would be appreicated!

Please see below:

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1.) Hubcap / Rims

As you can see in the photo below, my hubcaps / rims (I am actualy not sure  what they are called) are very tired and kind of vanilla. I would like to change this to something a bit sportier, but not spend an absolute fortune. I am a fan of the below photo included, but they cost a fortune (£196 a pop (I assume that is not for the set of 4)).

Any thoughts / suggestions as to what to do (happy to replace them or get a cover - just need to find a garage to do it for me - also, please note that it appears that my car was lowered by one of the previous owners, so I am talking to a garage about getting this unlowered with new suspension):



2.) Grill

I have never liked the top of the front grill, which looks like it was added (the bit with the lip that "shades" the head lamps, etc.). From what I can tell, this is not OEM, so I would like to remove it. I tried today, but, when i took it off, the front had what looked like screw holes, meaning that the bit that I would I would like to remove would need to be replaced with something finish off the top edge and front.

Do I need to replace the whole front panel, or is there a top edge that I can add to replace the part that I don't want. Please see below:



3.) Seats and Door Cards

My seats and door cards are tired and dirty (please see attached). So, I was looking at getting some seat covers and matching door cards, and came across this site / style. Has anyone ever used Seatcovers.de before? Frankly, anything would be better than what I currently have, but I don't want something that is ill fitting (think of how bad sofa covers can be) and that is not great material (but, again, I am on a budget, so…). Below is what my interior currently looks like and also what I am considering. Please note that I plan to replace all of the interior carpeting at some point this year.





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Thank you so much in advance - as I said above, I really appreciate this comunity and your opinions and assistance!

Kind regards,

Bryan
 

The alloys you have are "le Castelet" and quite desirable esp with the alloy centre caps that you appear to still have. They don't look badly kerbed or suffering from corrosion but look like they've been cleaned with acidic brake dust remover once too often. I'd have them refinished for a fraction of the price of new BBS stylee, no matter how nice they are. (and the cross spoke designs will be a PITA to keep clean)

Agree the lip bonnet spoiler things are awful, I thought they screwed on under the bonnent edge so the screw holes wouldn't be seen? There are holes in the grille for adjusting the headlamps, are these what you can see?

If the seats aren't worn through or ripped I'd wait until the nicer weatehr returns and have a session with some upholstery cleaning products and a wet vac machine.

Hi bSteph,

Happy New Year to you too, I’m also tier 4 like most of the Uk now but minus my Cabby as its stashed in storage so you’re in a good place to give it a bit of effort over winter.

Asking for a view by committee will get you lots of different responses and opinions which may or may not shape your thinking as your car is your taste and style but it looks pretty good to me condition wise.

for what it’s worth I’d be tempted to have your wheels refurbished as they could be highly polished and a mate has a set the same as yours for his blue cabby in his garage highly polished ready for spring and they are stunning, would also be cheaper and you can retain your existing tyres.

The eyebrow spoiler was a 90’s styling touch, had one on my mk2 GTI but now they seem dated. They did screw to the grille direct so it’s either going to be a new grille which won’t be cheap or if you can find somebody local who can plastic weld they may be able to fill in the screw holes, smooth over a lick of black paint and you may rescue the grille.

Your interior looks solid and in decent shape but may benefit from a deep clean with some high quality interior cleaner which you could roll your sleeves up and give it a go yourself or get a local valeting company involved or specialist interior company to revive the colour and finish. I use Autoglym interior cleaner on my 38 year old blue cabby interior and it always comes up clean and better than before but never perfect as the material has aged but I quite like it that way.

im not a fan of the seat covers, seems a shame to hide away a standard interior with cheap looking covers that in my view detract from the quality of the car.

not sure this helps but couldn’t resist replying when your posts have your smiling face beaming at the enjoyment of your Cabby!

Early-1800 said

The alloys you have are "le Castelet" and quite desirable esp with the alloy centre caps that you appear to still have. They don't look badly kerbed or suffering from corrosion but look like they've been cleaned with acidic brake dust remover once too often. I'd have them refinished for a fraction of the price of new BBS stylee, no matter how nice they are. (and the cross spoke designs will be a PITA to keep clean)

Agree the lip bonnet spoiler things are awful, I thought they screwed on under the bonnent edge so the screw holes wouldn't be seen? There are holes in the grille for adjusting the headlamps, are these what you can see?

If the seats aren't worn through or ripped I'd wait until the nicer weatehr returns and have a session with some upholstery cleaning products and a wet vac machine.

Thanks so much - do you have any recommendations for a place that could refurb the alloys? Sounds like a good call.

For the grille, you are correct that the screws are covered by the hood. However, it covers two screw holes (or other holes on the front of the grille). So I assumed that something need to replace the lip bonnet spoiler? Or do I just need to get plugs for the grill.

I've had the seats shampooed etc professionally and nada. Plus the door cars have some rips, etc, so I need to get those completely replaced.

Kingy76 said

Hi bSteph,

Happy New Year to you too, I’m also tier 4 like most of the Uk now but minus my Cabby as its stashed in storage so you’re in a good place to give it a bit of effort over winter.

Asking for a view by committee will get you lots of different responses and opinions which may or may not shape your thinking as your car is your taste and style but it looks pretty good to me condition wise.

for what it’s worth I’d be tempted to have your wheels refurbished as they could be highly polished and a mate has a set the same as yours for his blue cabby in his garage highly polished ready for spring and they are stunning, would also be cheaper and you can retain your existing tyres.

The eyebrow spoiler was a 90’s styling touch, had one on my mk2 GTI but now they seem dated. They did screw to the grille direct so it’s either going to be a new grille which won’t be cheap or if you can find somebody local who can plastic weld they may be able to fill in the screw holes, smooth over a lick of black paint and you may rescue the grille.

Your interior looks solid and in decent shape but may benefit from a deep clean with some high quality interior cleaner which you could roll your sleeves up and give it a go yourself or get a local valeting company involved or specialist interior company to revive the colour and finish. I use Autoglym interior cleaner on my 38 year old blue cabby interior and it always comes up clean and better than before but never perfect as the material has aged but I quite like it that way.

im not a fan of the seat covers, seems a shame to hide away a standard interior with cheap looking covers that in my view detract from the quality of the car.

not sure this helps but couldn’t resist replying when your posts have your smiling face beaming at the enjoyment of your Cabby!

Thank you so much for the suggestion! I will try the Autoglym! I have had it professionally valets but still the stains. Plus the door fares have a few small rips and definitely need to be replaced. Just not sure I can get the same door cards these days…

I hear you on the seat covers! That was my fear too.

And, shame for the grill. I was just hoping there was some sort of topper to replace the eyelid thing!

Hi,

Those "castellet" wheels are quite desirable, to people who like them, so it's up to you.

 I prefer the BBS or "snowflake style" on a Cabrio.

For the eyebrow thing on the grille, that needs to go (in my opinion)
can you not try unscrewing and removing it and replace the screws back?

Trim is really difficult to find second hand, and to replace the seat covers might be a bit beyond your  skill set by the sounds of it,

also, a seat re trim is very expensive. Unless you have the money for a Retrim in leather , best just live with what you have there.

Good luck

Have your rims stripped and Polished do not have them re-sprayed… The polished is easy to maintain, and will look better in 10-15 years it will increase the beauty of them.  I have Teardrop's that I stripped and polished…Totally look way different than original.

I like the grille lip.. I had that on my blue cabby.

Asking for opinions are just like asking anything the only opinion that matters is yours, what you want to do and it don't matter to anyone else but you in the end.

I had a similar dilemma as my interior was very badly deteriorated and I couldn't justify the £2.5K fir a new one. eBay and new covers door card covers and seat foam from Germany, I'm really happy with the results, a lot of work but £500 and the fun of doing it …. okay 80% fun