MIDNIGHT UPHOLSTERY

PH: 07 849 7203 WEB: facebook.com/midnightupholsteryltd ADDRESS: 431 Te Rapa Road, Hamilton

NZPC: Hi Greg, how long have you been in the upholstery game and where did you learn your trade?

Greg: I’ve been in the trade coming up nine years now and it started with me needing a job so I could leave school. I learnt my trade with my previous employer who I worked for a couple of times over the nine years. I had also worked and learnt more from another employer just out of Hamilton.

NZPC: How old were you when you first got into working on cars and does this passion drive your work ethic?

Greg: It all started growing up around motorbikes and it grew into cars as I got older. It helped to have an older brother doing a ground-up rebuild of his 1964 Valiant AP5 and it grew from there into my own cars. The passion for cars goes through into my work by making sure the finer details are complete and done to a high standard.

NZPC: Do you upholster both automotive and marine interiors?

Greg: Yup, I specialize in automotive as well as marine upholstery. I’ve also been known to do the odd household furniture upholstery for family and friends. Even sewing up zips on my mates’ overalls, race suits and fixing the odd handbag.

NZPC: What has been the coolest and most challenging project you have worked on so far?

Greg: The most challenging project would have been covering handrails for several staircases that curved their way down a huge launch. The coolest jobs roll in daily, so I couldn’t quite point out the coolest one, but several hot rods come to mind and even just the smallest things like working on Mad Max’s 26B FD3S RX-7. It’s the detail in a job and seeing the finished product that makes every job cool in its own way.

NZPC: How do you like to get involved with the New Zealand automotive car scene?

Greg: Right now, I am sponsoring Joel Patterson and his Toyota AE86 which is drifting in D1NZ ProAm; it was featured on the cover of last month’s NZPC issue. I try my best to attend every car show and event in my 1964 Valiant AP5 — I even do the odd drag day in it.

NZPC: Thank you so much for your time Greg, good luck with your new business!