As we tackle the punch list on the ’75 Laguna and get closer to completion, it’s harder and harder to ignore the interior. I finally got the bulk of it done, thanks to Heath Elmer and Keith Kanak at Heath Elmer Restorations in Gilbert, AZ. We tackled the carpet (OPG), Procar seats (Scat), rear upholstery (OPG), weatherstrippping (Soffseal), and trim paint (Dupli-Color) in two days. When we were done, it was like a totally new car. Since then, I’ve added a billet steering wheel I found at a swap meet for $50, a Stewart Warner Performance tach, and a three gauge pack from Summit.
The only thing that’s still glaring is the dash and instrument panel. I found another dash in Ohio, thanks to Steve Yoder, our December 2009 cover car owner. I plan on having it refurbished at Just Dashes here in California. I may even have them do the gauges. Beyond that, there are some smaller things, like a missing glove box lid, a loose shifter knob, a broken ashtray handle, and a cracked shifter bezel. Some of the panels under the dash are broken at the screw holes, and I’ve already ‘glassed up some of those cracks good as new.
Look for the interior story in the February issue, and a follow on story a few months after that detailing the intricate and cool process Just Dashes uses to rejuvenate the dash pad.