Ghia - uncarpeted space around rear seat

[Monkster7]

Got the car 95% ready for paint with exception of one patch panel. On to the interior. I got my carpet kit and dry fit it in place. Have also recovered seats and realize that there are gaps around the rear seat bottom that will not be covered by carpet or seat. Looking at my dad's Ghia, the areas are covered with some variety of plastic covering. I was thinking of using marine grade vinyl (it has a different texture) to cover those areas. Doesn't seem like they should just be painted, as the area directly behind the seat is recessed and it just doesn't seem like paint is the right approach. Thoughts?

73 Ghia - Primer Grey but headed to Candy Apple Red

[kiwighia68]

[DogGeorge]

I used marine vinyl also - it's got more stretch. I had to go back and cover the front corners where the two bits of carpeting didn't meet. I think some carpet sets do this joint with a single piece so there isn't a gap. This is a TMI carpet set in my 66 coupe. I found the seat bottom fit a little too tightly, even though I didn't add sound mat down the sides of the seat. I try not to take the seat in and out too often because it scrubs the vinyl pretty hard.

[c21darrel]

[gregson1]

I had a mid-'62 with original carpeting that had the seams at the corners of the emergency seat supports. I do not know when the change to the carpeting in this area was made, but the spare parts list shows a change in parts numbers at the beginning of the '63 model year.

The rear bottom jump seat area was covered in a thin vinyl, the sides covered first, then the rear section, as pictured in the post above. It would have been covered using the same color material used in the package tray and around the outer edge of the seats.

[Andy Wellie]

When I bought my interior kit from JBugs I also bought an extra piece of the vinyl the same colour as my seats and door cards and am planning on covering those panels and the rear parcel shelf so it all matches. Nothing like a bit of forward thinking!!!