What happened to T.J. Upholstery jobs?

Thats funny how you brake it all down like that, but dont forget you will also need $40 of bribe money for the local cops, so that puts you at about $2,600... still a bargain!

 

I think it was garage magazine that did a story on tj upholstery about a year ago.they took the comedian Paul Rodriquez's 54 down there if I remember right.

 

If I took a gutted 29 roadster, could they build and foam seats/door panels and carpet? Around my area Northern IL, an interior like that costs 3-5 thousand. I agree-time for a road trip vacation.

 

The answer to the "what happened to" question is simple.
Since our guvment sold us out, the Tijuana labor has come here.
You no longer have to drive across the border, now its just a short drive to the mexican flea market, as there is always one close by.
My buddy had his interior done in a belvedere for 250.

 

The kid from The Bad News Bears was Jackie Earl Haley. Tom Cruise, John Stockwell(from Christine) and Shelly Long were also in it. I remember them saying the Mexicans would stuff your upholstery with bull shit, etc. John Valby had a funny bit as the piano player in the bar.

 

Friend of mine, in high school, took his 57' Chevy to TJ in 1968. He was actually a Mexican national going to school here. He dropped his car off and when he went back to get it, they said "What 57' Chevy?". Turns out, they had sold his car. It was never recovered.

 

I just heard about this the other day. An old hot rod friend of mine who used to travel to Cali often was telling me how they stuffed his seats with sand one time. Needless to say, that was his last TJ upholstery job!

I think Jordan's idea sounds fun. Strength in numbers boys

 

Yup, we tackled this in GARAGE #12, but it was George Lopez' Chevy coupe. We had a blast and the upholstery job turned out really well – and there's more to come in an upcoming issue.

There's some better info on this other HAMB thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52867

STONER

 

you might want some food alomg the way??

 

I had just re-read that thread Stoner posted...but I couldn't seem to find it again. Thanks.

 

True, but in reality, we eat at a restaurant every single day anyway. So the "cost of food" is already factored into my daily "existence" expense,,, and if I do this as a "vacation", it still comes out cheaper than Disney World, or New York.

Besides, when I told my GF about this last night, she got a big grin on her face, and said "TJ.... That's where they have those "Mexican Donkey Shows".... Right???" [Man!!! I LOVE that freaky girl!]

 

Good job, I was about to try and find that post to bring back to this one, as I remembered as myself being the one starting it.

 

Why does everyone complain about US jobs going overseas, yet have no problem taking their dollars south of the border while taking work away from a hard-working, highly skilled American? Put your money where your mouth is

 

They are talking Mexico, not China, but you do have a point. There are loads of good upholstery shops in the states, we should give them our business.

 

Hey I'm looking for an upholstery shop in LA area, I got factory seat covers for the buckets in my cuda, just need the buckets torn apart, new cushions, maybe a little attention to the metal work and the new covers stitched on. Anyone have a recommendation that won't break me?

 

I used a place to get some danish couches done at an awesome price. Guys name is Miguel and his shop is on Holt and Filmore in Pomona.

 

I remembered finding this one awhile back...goes to show the noobs that there's GREAT shit in the archives too.

Before I had my interior done locally, I looked into the TJ option. I just happened to get a SMOKIN' deal here in Roseville by a traditional upholstery guy named Paco. Otherwise, I'd have gone over the border and I'd still consider it an option for my next build.

Yeah, there are crazy stories from down in Mexico...always have been. I remember people telling me I was gonna get MUGGED and STABBED if I took the subway in NY at night...here I am with my wallet and not a pint short.....

Not saying it doesn't happen, but bad news travels very fast.

Bryan

 

China. India. Taiwan. Mexico. What's the difference? Taking your upholstery job to Mexico to save money is no different than a corporation sending all their jobs to India to save money.

 

I just might know a guy that has a 62 and just might be interested in looking at that. I could put you in touch with him too.

BB

 

Agree 100%

 

Yup, a good T&R (the real thing, not top stitch) job in the states is very pricey, but very well worth it. You can easily research a good shop, and know exactly what you are getting. Support a good local shop with a good reputation, so they can stay around for the future.

And besides, if you look at the history of all of the nicest and best known early hot rods and customs, you will find that those amazing interiors were done in the US. (i.e. Carson, Gaylord, Martinez etc.)

 

I got the interior to my last car done there. 8 panels and two bucket seats for $250. left at 5 a.m., got home after midnight. I had to watch them the whole time. if you don't, never mind the drugs, nothing will be straight or lineup.
It was a great experience. it wasn't about being cheap and saving money, it was about having an interior or not having an interior. That's all the money I had, with no prospects of getting any more. Sometimes you just have to be resourceful. I didn't bring my car over, but instead brought all the seats and panels to them. you get a better deal that way. It looks good, but not perfect. I did still win a best interior trophy at a show once for it though...

 

It's time for me to chime in with my TJ story; actually two come to think of it!

Story No.1 begins with my friend Jerry who was in the Navy stationed in San Diego back in about 1959 or 1960. He had a '47 Ford four door sedan that he took down to TJ for a quickie tuck and roll. He had everything done, from the headliner to the trunk. It was black and gold with the gold being flames that were sewn into the seating portions of the seats, Just beautiful stuff. And all for $200 if memory serves me right. The car made it all the way back to Rochester, NY where we lived and then was driven around for several years before Jerry sold it to buy a '56 Chev 150 sedan. The last I saw of the interior was several years later in Zerniak's, a local junk yard, where it had been transferred to an entirely different car. The interior was still in amazingly good condition! I thought about buying it just to have and because we had had so much fun in that car, but I passed on it and have regretted that decision ever since.

Story No, 2 is when my wife and I were in San Diego a number of years ago and decided to drive down to TJ to see if we could find some leather hides to use to upholster our '33Buick Victoria we were bringing back to life. We wandered around until we found a shop that did, indeed, sell hides. The owner, Reuben Gold, had just what we wanted. We started negotiating the price and it was literally half what we could by it for in the States. So we bought it, he wrapped it up and we started out the door, but before we could get out to the street, Mr. Gold stopped us and asked why we were buying from him and so we told him that we were, frankly, shopping for price as we were sinking enough money in the car and we wanted to save wherever we could. He understood that. He then asked where we were from and we told him New York. He began to laugh and told us that we would be taking the leather back home. We were trying to understand what he had just told us when he finished after some more laughter. He said that the leather we were taking to NY had been tanned and dyed in Gloversville, NY! How strange is that? We buy leather in Mexico, which was made in NY, so that we could take it back to NY! And, we saved substantial money doing that. It's a weird world we live in.

 

I think a lot of you might be missing the point. It isn't about the money or the quality and the world won't be changed one way or the other if a few rats go to our friends south of the border to get seat covers. It's the adventure! And what adventure is without it's risks. It's the way us low buck guys used to do it. It's about getting it done in one day. Instant gratification. It's about dickering the price, and I guarantee whatever price you get it for the owner will go home and talk about the stupid gringo he took today. They are better at it than us,whatever you might think.

 

I had my 78 Ranchero done here a couple yrs ago. Orange Ulp., only the boss
spoke English anyway. I'm having my 57 Ranchero done up the street at
Bon-A-Rue's. A little pricey. I used to go to TJ in my younger days. Not bad
for the money. It's the same people doing it here now, for much more money.

 

the drug thing isn't urban legend it's truth, i'd still take a car down there but like everyone else has already said make sure to keep an eye on them through the job. i've also heard you are much better off bringing your own material down there as well.

with all the recent drug shootings around the town i wouldn't make it a family trip, but i do like the idea of a big group of car guys going down there together to get several cars done at once. hell if someone decides to arrange a trip i might go along and get the 34 done if it's ready by then.

 

In 1962 I was in high school in Artesia, Ca. and my friend Gene had a '55 Ford and 4 of us when down to TJ to get his car upholstered. 2 of us would stay and watch them while the other 2 went screwing around then they came back and the next 2 would take off. Gene did bring some thread for them to use on his seats and they looked super and lasted for as long as he owned that '55.
By the way Gene and I are still good friends, we lost Charley a couple years ago one of the other guys (that's 50+ years of friendship!).
My guess the dogs at the border put a stop to that drug thing! But you can still get the sh!!, paper, trash, etc: stuffing if you don't watch them.

 

Plenty of Mexicans doing nice work for cheap in SoCal;had this seat done in Escondido for $25 ,and it is leather.

 

Tiujana.........not the safest place any more...

shootings daily....druglords VS police............

i used to go all the time, had many upholstery jobs done there.....

wouldnt go today for the simple reason i dont care to put my life in jeporday over a couple of bucks.....

also i believe you now need a PASSPORT

 

was just in mexico a few weeks ago. no passport needed yet. coming soon though.