Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking for auto-upholstery for your classic car, look no further than High Society Kustom Garage. Do you have any questions about motor trimming? We have answers! If you can’t find the answer that you’re looking for, feel free to ask us directly.
Us
What is motor trimming?
Motor trimming mainly refers to the covering of the seats, carpet and soft trim of a vehicle’s interior. People also call it auto upholstery, auto trimming, or, to some, coach trimming.
How Long Have You Been Trimming?
High Society Kustom Garage opened its doors in 2010. However, Noel started his apprenticeship in 1998.
What we do
What do you specialise in?
We specialise in classic cars, muscle cars, and hot rods. We can also happily work on more contemporary vehicles if we feel the project is right. This includes seat reshaping and recovering, suspended headlinings, tailored carpets, and door trims. We aim to leave your ride looking better and be more comfortable than you could have imagined. However, we don’t do general repairs.
What services do you offer?
Our services include, custom interiors, classic car restorations, and hot rod upholstery. We can retrim in leather, vinyl, alcantara, and cloth. On the fabrication side, we use metal, timber, composites and plastics depending on what is needed. We have on-site embroidery capabilities. We can also organise off-site CNC work, laser cutting and engraving, and even 3D printing for those 1-of-1 pieces.
Can I have a personalised design or logo on my seat or floor mats?
Absolutely! We have a 12-needle, single-head embroidery machine in our arsenal that can incorporate custom designs or logos into your interior. We also have a hot stamping machine that can accept up to a 130x100mm stamp, which we’ll also organise. Another great option we’ve used with success is having designs printed directly onto either leather, vinyl, or even alcantara.
What can be done to improve drivers’ and passengers' comfort?
We regularly reshape seats, adding more bolsters, shaping to add lumbar support, and adding a wedge below the thighs. Other options are inflatable lumbar, seat heating and cooling, or whole seat swaps. We advise adding thermal insulation and sound deadening. Often overlooked in occupants’ comfort are things like adding power windows and window tinting. We’d be happy to upgrade you to power windows if your vehicle doesn’t have them. We can also organise window tinting through one of our partners.
Getting together
Where are you located?
We are conveniently located almost exactly halfway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, less than 5 minutes off the Bruce Highway. The address is 247 Bigmor Drive, Elimbah.
Can I just drop in, or do I need to make an appointment first?
To ensure we can give each project our full attention, we work by appointment only. Before coming in, please contact us first.
What are your operating hours?
We are usually open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. We are closed on weekends and public holidays. But remember, we’re by appointment only.
Can I drop off or collect outside of business hours & on weekends?
Unfortunately, some have taken advantage of our flexibility, so out-of-hours visits are available only by prior arrangement. Please ask well in advance.
Do you collect or deliver?
Yes, we sometimes collect and deliver parts. However, this will incur an additional charge. If you require collection/delivery, then please advise us during your consultation. If your car needs towing to us, we’re happy to help you arrange it.
Do you offer mobile service?
For the most part, no. In our workshop, we have everything we need. We are equipped to deal with most issues your project could throw our way, as classic cars seem to do. We do, however, travel to inspect vehicles that are not on the road prior to giving an estimate. You can then organise for your vehicle to be towed for the work to be completed at our trim shop.
If I can’t come to you, can you give me a quote from some photos?
Without being able to see the job first-hand, only the most general of ballpark estimates will be given. We prefer to look at what we might be dealing with up close and in person.
The booking process
Will you provide a written quote?
We don’t offer hard and fast quotes, but our detailed estimates are usually close to the final price. If we uncover any surprises while we strip the vehicle or parts, we’ll call you to discuss options before continuing.
How long is my estimate valid for?
Your estimate is typically valid for 30 days. If your materials come from overseas, the estimate is valid for 14 days due to exchange rate and shipping cost fluctuations.
Does High Society Kustom Garage have a waiting list?
Good things take time, so it’s best to get in early! High Society Kustom Garage usually has no less than 4 months’ lead time. But recent demand has the wait closer to 9 months to receive our knowledge and craftsmanship. My best advice is to contact us well in advance to schedule your appointment.
What if I’d like the car ready for a specific event?
It is best not to push to meet an unrealistic deadline. By doing this, you force the shops working on your car to work faster under pressure. This can cause them to make mistakes or, worse, cut corners. This is where getting in contact early and keeping in contact with us during the build is important. More so if some of the work being done prior to the trim blows out time-wise. Projects turn out much better when time is taken to allow for proper design and craftsmanship of an interior.
How do I book in?
Once you accept our proposal, you’ll need to pay a deposit that covers the material costs to secure your spot on the waiting list. The materials then become your property when they arrive, and you’re welcome to collect them if the job doesn’t go ahead. Please note that accepting the offer alone does not put you on the waiting list.
The trimming process
How long does the motor trimming process take?
The length of a motor trimming project depends on many things. The type of vehicle, the scope of work, and specific restoration or customisation work will change labour times. It’s often best to complete some parts of the trim at one stage of the build and finish the rest later. For an accurate timeframe, we recommend discussing your needs with our team. However, the average job can take anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks. This is from the commencement of the job, not from the time you gave the go-ahead.
If we do some of the trim now, and some at a later date, will they match?
There is always the possibility of different dye lots or materials being discontinued. To ensure your trim matches perfectly, we recommend ordering all materials together.
Can I get the interior to match my paint perfectly?
Choose your materials ahead of time so you can get paint mixed to match. It’s easier to custom mix paint to match your chosen materials than to have materials produced to match your paint. Most custom material suppliers also require large minimum orders, so it’s often not economical.
At what point should I get my trim started?
Ideally, we complete any fabrication after panel gaps are set but before final bodywork and paint. The interior is traditionally the last part of the build, but early planning helps ensure a perfect fit later.
Before we arrive
What if my car isn’t drivable?
Please make sure your mechanical and electrical systems are working properly. Check that door handles and window cranks are mounted and working too. Removing freshly trimmed parts to fix issues later isn’t ideal. Although we don’t like to have to move vehicles once they arrive, sometimes it’s necessary. Pushing vehicles isn’t always an option.
What if we have some electrical issues?
It can be very frustrating to need to remove parts of your brand-new interior to make a repair or trace an electrical problem. Check that all gauges are working properly, as removing a dashboard can be difficult without worrying about scratching things.
We do have a basic knowledge of electrical systems, but we’re not auto electricians. We can do simple repairs or add new features, but we don’t diagnose electrical issues. If a diagnosis is required, though, we can organise a reliable sparky to visit while the car is here.
What if my car leaks fluids?
Some cars like to mark their territory; we get it. But we have carpet in our workspace to save our knees, and stained carpet isn’t cool. Besides, our insurance company doesn’t like them either. Oil leaks can create fire hazards, and spills on workshop floors increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries. If your vehicle is known to mark its spot, please let us know. Then we can place a drip tray in the appropriate spot below it.
Cleaning oil spills means we’re pulled away from our normal tasks, interrupting productivity. If the leak is significant, or we aren’t made aware of it, we may add a clean-up fee to your invoice.
How can we save some costs without compromising quality?
Like any project, the more of the unskilled labour you can do yourself, the more money you will save. But ask first! While you may think that stripping things down will save you money, it doesn’t always work out that way. If we’re unfamiliar with your vehicle, for instance, it may take us longer to try to piece it back together. Take plenty of photos as you tear down, and keep parts sorted correctly. Things like fastener location, wiring routes, and headlining bow order are some of the frequent hold-ups for us. Arm us with as much information as possible; send us that huge file of photographs because it will save you money.
If there’s items you want painted in the interior, you can save some money by doing it yourself. The steering column, pedal arms, light bezels, door handles, and air-con vents are things that are often painted or plated. If we don’t have to do it (or arrange it), that will keep our costs lower.
The High Society Kustom Garage difference
What distinguishes High Society Kustom Garage and other auto upholsterers?
While some people find our work expensive, they’re usually not the right clients for us. We love cars and our trade and never cut corners on quality. We’ll suggest more affordable materials or simpler designs only if they still meet our quality standards. We see a quality, comfortable, and usable car interior as an investment. Our clients are people who love their cars and love driving them. We don’t strive to be the cheapest and still believe we offer value for money.
Does your work have any warranty?
Any business can be AMAZING when things go smoothly. Add some bumps to the road, and that may soon change. At High Society Kustom Garage, we proudly stand by our work. On the rare occasions when a client has had an issue with something we’ve done, we’ve resolved it promptly.
Forms of payment
Payment methods
While we love pastry and beer, it won’t count as payment. Cash is still king in our eyes, but we also accept bank transfers. We’re also exploring options like Afterpay and will update everyone once it’s available. We issue invoices throughout the build, due within seven days of issue. Final payment is required before you collect your vehicle.
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