Hornets Nest Regional, AACA hosts Charlotte, NC’s most famous and celebrated vintage auto show, the Charlotte AutoFair. Their event organizers know that upholstery is one of the finishing touches that auto enthusiasts make when completing a classic car. It’s an expensive endeavor, and any upholsterer that is skilled at his or her craft can have a waiting list of up to two years.

Once you find a local shop that you can trust, it’s time to make sure your vehicle is ready to go. This vintage auto show has shared five ways to make sure your classic car is ready for appointment day:

• Relocate the Battery: Many classic cars have the battery located below the floorboard. Avoid having an ugly trap door in the middle of your floor by relocating the battery elsewhere in the car.
• Remove the Running Boards: If your car is from the 1920s, 1930s, or 1940s, it’s most likely equipped with a running board. Most shops will ask that you remove this prior to arriving. The upholsterer will need to enter and exit your vehicle hundreds of times while your project is being completed, and this keeps the running board safe from accidental scratching.
• Take It for a Test Run: Before your car is upholstered, consider driving for a few hundred miles. Newly restored cars often have some kinks that need to be worked out, and many issues make themselves known within the first few hundred miles. It’s better to identify faulty gauges and solenoid problems at this point, as engine issues are easier to resolve before upholstery is in place.
• Be Patient: Good things in life take time, and that includes your car interior. As eager as you might be to have the upholstery done quickly, don’t push the shop you’re working with to meet close deadlines. A rushed job can produce shoddy work that you’ll be stuck with for as long as you own the car.
• Eliminate Fluid Leaks: Reduce the risk of leaks ruining the expensive materials used in upholstery shops. Make sure all heater hoses and AC lines are in place, working, and tested to prevent antifreeze from covering your new carpet.

The Charlotte AutoFair has brought car collectors and enthusiasts together for more than 30 years. Taking place every spring and fall, the vintage auto show attracts more than 10,000 avid car collectors, sellers, and buyers. Sprawling across 150 acres, the four-day automobile show is home to the greatest showcase of collector cars in the Southeast! Learn more about the event online or by calling (704) 841-1990.