The
Trimshop
Cracked leather, a sagging headlining or a hood that lets in the rain, restored or retrimmed by hand in Malton.
5
in-house departments
100+
marques handled
16
years established
1
site. One team
New for 2027 – Register your interest for the trim training academy!
bespoke & restoring
Crafted for the character of each car
With deep respect for original design and craftsmanship, we meticulously restore interiors and offer fully bespoke leather solutions tailored to each vehicle’s individual character. From hand-stitched leather seats and door cards to headliners, carpets, and weather equipment, every detail is crafted using the finest materials — combining traditional and modern techniques in equal measure.
Whether preserving factory originality or reimagining an interior with custom colours, hides, and finishes, our skilled team works with absolute precision and care. The result is an interior that enhances the value, comfort, and driving experience of your vehicle.
01
Leather Seats & Door Cards
Full leather seat and door card restoration or retrim using the finest hides. Period-correct patterns, pipings, and stitching replicated to factory specification or developed to your brief.
02
Headliners & Carpets
Headlinings replaced or restored using appropriate period materials — wool, vinyl, or Alcantara — with all fittings and trims reinstated. Carpets cut and bound to original templates.
03
Weather Equipment
Hood repairs and replacements for convertibles, including hoods, tonneau covers, and side screens. Fabric selected to match original specifications.
04
Bespoke Commissions
For owners with a clear vision, we execute custom interior commissions — bespoke colour combinations, contrast stitching, embossed details, and non-standard hides. Samples are provided before work commences.
the trim process
An interior is considered apart of the car itself
The interior of a classic car is as much a part of its character as its bodywork or mechanicals. An ill-fitting trim, mismatched hide, or incorrect stitching pattern will undermine even the finest exterior restoration.
Our trim team work exclusively on classic, vintage, and prestige vehicles. That specialism means every decision — from hide thickness to stitch spacing — is made with the vehicle’s era and character in mind.
01 / Assess
Condition Assessment
Every project begins with a thorough inspection of existing materials, stitching, foam, and framework — photographed and documented before any work begins.
02 / Strip
Strip & Template
Interior components are carefully stripped, and original panels are used as templates. Where originals are absent, patterns are developed from reference material and marque knowledge.
03 / materials
Material Selection
Hides, cloths, and trims are selected in consultation with the owner. Samples provided. For concours projects, period-correct materials are sourced from specialist suppliers.
04 / fitting
Cut & Stitch
All panels are cut by hand and stitched to the original or agreed pattern. Piping, pleating, and detailing completed at this stage with absolute precision.
05 / commission
Fit & Finish
Completed panels are fitted to the vehicle, all ancillary trims reinstated, and the interior inspected in full before handover. Final conditioning applied to all leather surfaces.
connolising
Restoring leather without losing its soul
01
Factory-matched or sympathetically blended
Connolising is as much about colour as it is about condition. Each hide is hand-finished to match the original factory tone, accounting for the subtle shifts that decades of light, wear and care have introduced.
02
Original leather retained in full
The strength of Connolising lies in what it saves, not what it replaces. Where retrimming removes the leather that a car left the factory with. Original stitching, panel shapes and the natural patina built up over decades all remain intact.
03
Preferred method for judged restorations
At the highest level of judging, originality is everything. Concours panels reward cars that retain their factory components, finishes and materials — and an original interior, properly preserved, carries far greater weight than one that has been retrimmed. This is why Connolising remains the preferred method for concours-level restoration.
04
Sympathetic and significantly more efficient
A full retrim is a significant undertaking. It calls for entirely new hides, fresh stitching and the careful fitting of every panel — a process that, while sometimes the only option, asks a great deal in materials and labour. Connolising works with the leather already in the car, restoring rather than replacing.
seat repairs
Seamless repairs that respect originality
Our seat repair service restores comfort, appearance, and structural integrity to worn or damaged seats while preserving the originality of your vehicle’s interior. From minor cosmetic issues to more extensive repairs, we apply specialist techniques to achieve seamless, long-lasting results.
Where originality is critical, repairs are carried out sympathetically to avoid unnecessary retrimming — helping preserve both authenticity and vehicle value. High-quality materials and flexible repair compounds ensure repairs blend naturally with the surrounding upholstery, retaining the original grain and finish.
Split, cracked and worn leather or upholstery. Damaged stitching and bolster wear. Burns, scuffs, and colour loss. Foam padding reshaped or replaced to restore proper support and seating comfort.
Leather, vinyl, cloth, and Alcantara interiors. Suitable for daily drivers, collector cars, and concours-level restorations alike.
All repairs are colour-matched to the existing upholstery using specialist dyes and pigments. Where original colours are no longer available, we blend to achieve the closest possible result.
common questions
FAQs
Where can I get classic car seat repairs in North Yorkshire?
Our Trim Shop in Malton, North Yorkshire repairs seats on classic, vintage and prestige cars in leather, vinyl, cloth and Alcantara. We repair split, cracked and worn upholstery, damaged stitching, bolster wear, burns, scuffs and colour loss, and reshape or replace collapsed foam. Where a repair will do, we avoid retrimming.
Can you repair a worn seat bolster without retrimming the whole seat?
Usually, yes. The outer bolster takes the most wear from getting in and out of the car, and the damage is often confined to that one area. We repair the leather, reshape or replace the foam beneath and match the colour to the rest of the seat. Where the leather can’t be saved, the bolster panel alone can be replaced and stitched to match.
Do you offer SMART leather repairs in North Yorkshire?
Yes. SMART stands for small to medium area repair technique: rather than replacing a whole panel, only the damaged area is repaired and recoloured to blend with the leather around it. It suits scuffs, light cracking and colour loss on seat bolsters, steering wheels and door cards, and is carried out in our Trim Shop in Malton.
Can you repair a worn leather steering wheel?
Yes. A leather rim wears where the hands rest, losing colour and turning shiny or rough. A SMART repair cleans, repairs and recolours the worn areas so they blend with the rest of the wheel, without removing the leather. Wheels worn through are retrimmed in new leather and hand stitched
Where can I get a car headlining repaired in North Yorkshire?
Our Trim Shop in Malton restores and replaces headlinings in period correct wool, vinyl or Alcantara, and reinstates the fittings and trims around them. Sagging, staining and tears are common on older cars, so we inspect the lining and its framework first, then restore or replace it to suit the car.
Can you replace the carpets in a classic car?
Yes. Carpets are cut and bound to original templates, so they fit the floor and follow the factory layout.
Can I bring in seats or a steering wheel without the car?
Yes. Bringing in your removed seats/ steering wheel or door cards is fine, but having the vehicle on site helps ensure pieces fit correctly and colour and pattern matches
Can you repair or replace a convertible hood?
Yes. We repair and replace hoods, tonneau covers and side screens, in fabric matched to the original specification. We work with premium suppliers to ensure hoods are made to exact standards; if frames need repairing, we can also do this in-house.
Should I repair, Connolise or retrim my leather?
It depends on how much of the original leather can be saved. A repair suits damage in one area, such as a worn bolster or a burn. Connolising restores the whole interior while keeping the original hides. A retrim is the answer when the leather is beyond saving, or when you want a different specification. We inspect and photograph the interior first, then talk the options through with you.
What is Connolising?
Connolising restores the leather a car left the factory with rather than replacing it. The original hides, stitching, panel shapes and patina are kept, and each hide is hand finished to its original tone, taking account of the colour shift that comes with age, light and wear. It is our preferred method for concours restorations, where originality is judged, and it avoids the new hides, stitching and panel fitting a full retrim requires.
Can you match the colour of my original leather?
Yes. We colour match with specialist dyes and pigments. Where the original colour is no longer available, we blend the closest match so the repaired area sits naturally beside leather that has aged.
Can you retrim my seats to the original pattern?
Yes. We strip each seat and use the original panels as templates, so pleats, piping and stitching follow the factory pattern. Where originals are missing, we develop patterns from reference material. Every panel is cut by hand and stitched in house, and concours projects use period-correct materials from specialist suppliers.
Can I have a bespoke interior made?
Yes. A bespoke commission can include your own colour combinations, contrast stitching, embossed details and non standard hides. We provide samples of hides, cloths and trims before any work starts, so you choose with the material in hand.
Can I learn to trim an interior myself?
Our Training Academy runs hands-on automotive interior courses for enthusiasts, classic car owners and hobbyists.
How do I book my car in with the Trim Shop?
Call 01653 692090 and choose option three, or email joe@maltoncoachworks.com with photographs of the interior and a note of what you would like done. We are in Malton, on the A64 between York and Scarborough, and open Monday to Thursday, 8.15am to 5pm, and Friday, 8.15am to 4pm. If getting the car to us is difficult, our transport service can collect it.
Ready to discuss your vehicle?
Tell us about your project — no obligation. Our team is happy to advise on any make, era, or scope of work.