Grassroots/BABE upholstry

Its a busy night here....wife is outta town. So time for some more BABE car projects.

This time...upholstry...c'mon...who says it HAS to be nasty? I for one have fun with the "decorating" part and this is just an extension of the theme.

So we start with a crappy, dirty, ripped, cracked, gross vinyl seat.

Get some spray adhesive and some fabric batting

Glue the batting over the old vinyl (I said this was BABE style...none of that removing the old crap here)

Lay a suitable covering (mexican blankets rule and they are cheap) over the seat and using zip ties secure it to the seat frame. Make sure you have a dog available to supervise your work.

Repeat for seatback, install in car and viola...BABE worthy upholstery.

Yeah, I could have just layed the blankets on the seats and tucked them in, but this way the dang things stop shifting around and look better.

Oh and I added a little bit of "bling" while I was at it. It doesnt show up well in the picture but thats red metalflake :)

My boxer is scared of the garage

looks great!

having helped prepare Mickey, the babe ralley Midget (2 or was it 3 years ago? first one anyway)I approve of this message!

wished I could have actually went, my co-conspirator went with out me, and I know I missed a adventure of a lifetime.

That an olds 88 dash?

willy19592 wrote: My boxer is scared of the garage looks great! having helped prepare Mickey, the babe ralley Midget (2 or was it 3 years ago? first one anyway)I approve of this message! wished I could have actually went, my co-conspirator went with out me, and I know I missed a adventure of a lifetime.

My dogs aren't allowed in the garage...too much potential for poisoning/injury, that picture was in the sunroom....told ya my wife was outta town. ;)

It is indeed an olds 88...1969 to be exact....convertible even....honestly purchased for a BABE price and the lack of floors, interior, and top had a bit to do with that.

I remember Mickey well, I didnt know you were the missing half of the team. Your cohort was an excellent participant and is missed greatly. You both should consider joining us again sometime.

Mickey was worked on almost exclusively in my garage for a winter ;)

My first car that I was proud of was a 70/88 first , uh em,, well you know.. married her too ;) 29 years later, she was my first and only. Lotsa cars since then though ;) (1 woman, reason I can buy cars.. lol)

JThw8 wrote:

willy19592 wrote: My boxer is scared of the garage looks great! having helped prepare Mickey, the babe ralley Midget (2 or was it 3 years ago? first one anyway)I approve of this message! wished I could have actually went, my co-conspirator went with out me, and I know I missed a adventure of a lifetime.

My dogs aren't allowed in the garage...too much potential for poisoning/injury, that picture was in the sunroom....told ya my wife was outta town. ;) It is indeed an olds 88...1969 to be exact....convertible even....honestly purchased for a BABE price and the lack of floors, interior, and top had a bit to do with that. I remember Mickey well, I didnt know you were the missing half of the team. Your cohort was an excellent participant and is missed greatly. You both should consider joining us again sometime.

Dave and I, and his wife got together for lunch today after I picked up the FORKED car in Chi. Dave and his wife helped Blake and I with the MG sales last weekend as well. He is a good friend, a character, and one of a kind!

willy19592 wrote: Mickey was worked on almost exclusively in my garage for a winter ;) My first car that I was proud of was a 70/88 first , uh em,, well you know.. married her too ;) 29 years later, she was my first and only. Lotsa cars since then though ;) (1 woman, reason I can buy cars.. lol)

106(ish) cars...if I went through women at that rate...Id be broke. Stick with a good woman :)

This one aint much to be proud of (yet) but its a BABE car. Its getting done in a very stereotypical rat style, satin black, mexi blankets, etc. I will hand pinstripe the whole car to take it a bit over the top, this is my 4th BABE and this car is the culmination of what I've done, wanted to do, and learned along the way.

Its crap...it really is. But unlike other years Im not letting my team talk me out of "fixing it up" its kinda an art project for me. Last year was our first drop top and if possible that is the way to go for sure. American cars are easy to get parts for in the south. This one started out crappier than pretty much anything else we've taken before (and we were 2nd place for crappiest car in 07) But its too cool of a ride to just let it be a heap, gotta have some fun with it.

If you ever decide you wanna join the adventure we can get you a seat in someones car Im sure :) Or build up another MG and come along. There's an informal battle between GRM folk and TCL (The car lounge) folk. Those 2 sites seem to account for most of the participants and we need more GRMers to make sure we stay on top.

Tell Dave I said HI. I miss him on the rally, he had a great sense of adventure. He is constantly remembered for driving through the pouring rain with no top and just some rain gear. Anytime a newb complains or worries about the weather Dave is referenced for having the gumption to do it the right way.

passed the note along to sandals

I'm contemplating finally doing the BABE this year. Currently searching Richmond CL and drumming up team members.

Xceler8x wrote: I'm contemplating finally doing the BABE this year. Currently searching Richmond CL and drumming up team members.

I assure you it will be worth it!

As you search keep in mind the budget is $500 this year, that fact seems to be missed by alot of folks. $500 is almost no challenge for a good GRMr ;)

If you are the adventurous type just post up on the boards (here or BABE) that you are forming a team and meet some new people :) That's how we formed our original team in 06 3 of us from here on the GRM board and another from the local SCCA. All strangers who just gelled on a 4 day roadtrip.

Somehow I knew this was going to involve Mexican Blankets.

"Yo Dawg--I heard you needed a cheap-ass interior for yo BABE Rally car, so we upholstered yo seats with Mexican Blankets so you won't knock yo budget the berkeley out".

I also like how your dog is like "WTF?!" in that second pic.

gamby wrote: I also like how your dog is like "WTF?!" in that second pic.

The dogs have a buncha mexi blankets the sleep on (they are so versitile) so she's probably wondering what Im doing to her bed.

so is that an old boxer?

willy19592 wrote: so is that an old boxer?

The dog? No she's a Shar-pei.