Weekend Workshop

Restore your dashboard crash pad to new condition for £25

How to restore you’re classic’s vinyl dash top.

The dashboard sits immediately in front of you as you drive your classic and is the first thing that greets you when you get it. As a consequence, scruffy dashboard trim can stand out like a sore thumb and really spoil the driving experience of a car that’s in otherwise tiptop condition. Like many classics from the Sixties and Seventies, the Triumph Spitfire/ Herald family, GT6 and TR sports cars have a basic energy-absorbing ‘crash pad’ fitted above their instrument panels. These were made in tens of thousands by moulding a polyurethane foam contour over a steel backplate, which was then covered with heat-formed vinyl. Half a century of heat

and sunlight can make the vinyl brittle and cause the foam to crumble if disturbed. This fragility means that everyday knocks will cause unsightly splits and holes.

New GT6 crash pads aren’t available, for the obvious reason that the complex original manufacturing process can’t be reproduced economically for small volume production. Decent secondhand items are very rare. Fortunately, ingenious suppliers have come to the rescue. One option is a hard plastic cover that slips over the old crash pad. It’s relatively straightforward to fit, though at around £60 it’s not the cheapest answer. The hard plastic changes the appearance of the dash, too. The other approach is to remove the crash pad and recover it in flexible vinyl that closely matches the original surface and grain. It’s cheaper at around £25 including adhesive. The process takes longer, but we reckon the excellent near-original finish justifies the effort.

We’re using a kit from Park Lane Classics (parklaneclassics.co.uk) that includes vinyl pre-cut to the appropriate shape and size. The retrimming process is straightforward and satisfying, though removing and replacing the nuts under the dash is tricky and may require multiple cups of tea. Follow our guide and find yourself a free weekend, and you’ll easily be able to retrim your crash pad to a professional standard.

While you’re there… While they are out of the car, now’s an ideal time to repaint the demister vents and ashtray. Selection of ⅜in or 10mm spanners and sockets, white spirit, abrasive paper, sharp craft knife, scissors. We recommend Bostik All Purpose Clear Adhesive. It’s long-lasting and dries slowly enough to allow repositioning of the vinyl. Don’t use contact adhesives. You will need Correct adhesive