Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video shows how I created a custom headliner and trunk liner from scratch for my 1971 Cutlass S restomod. The factory stock headliner would be made from fabric that is held up by metal bows that run across the roof and has an outdated look to it. Instead, I created a smooth headliner more like what you would see in a modern car. I don’t believe this model car would ever have any significant finishing inside of the trunk, but this is just something I wanted to do to update the look of the car. The side panels in the trunk also protect the quarter panels from damage from moving objects inside the trunk. Lastly, I installed a single speaker 10 inch subwoofer box that I can swap out for the large box that contains two 12's, to free up more trunk space for long road trips such as the upcoming Hot Rod Power Tour.
Here are some related helpful videos:
"1971 Cutlass Ep 15 Dash, Bucket Seats, Console & Guages!"
youtu.be/vb5qFRuQXew
“Classic car headliner from scratch - Auto Upholstry”:
youtu.be/RD4SD69r8II?si=0t4iHU7b-kPtWiCu
“Simple and custom headliner from scratch - Upholstry Tips”
youtu.be/n7NzXu2GMIU?si=POcgPILIlWiHYhcg
0:15 The reason I wanted to finish the trunk and install a smaller single subwoofer
1:18 Why I did a smooth padded fabric headliner rather than the stock metal bow and fabric headliner
2:25 What the car's interior looked like before, and what I've done to it so far
3:43 1st approach: I got a headliner board from a truck at a local Pull-A-Part auto recycling yard
5:09 2nd approach: using styrofoam board to make a buck to mold a fiberglass headliner board
9:12 3rd and final approach: using 1/8" foam board from Hobby Lobby
12:56 Showing the foam board attachment
15:01 Showing the completed foam board backing
15:20 1st attempt at installing the headliner
16:13 The headliner glued in and why the 1st attempt failed. The first one was not centered and wound up being too short in the back and left bare spots.
18:01 Removing the old dirty & moldy coverings from the factory sunvisors
20:59 Using the old sunvisor covering as a template for the new covering
22:10 Gluing on the headliner material to the sunvisors
23:58 Picking the old stitches out of the original vinyl trim
24:20 Attempt #1 at sewing the vinyl trim onto the newly covered sunvisor
25:16 Attempt #2: Masking and gluing the trim on first, then sewing it on
26:15 Reinstalling the metal aglets
26:28 The finished sunvisors!
27:08 Installing the factory trim surrounding the headliner
27:54 The finished headliner!
28:15 Starting to cut material to finish off the trunk
28:32 Cutting black foam board to make a backing to finish the trunk floor and sides
29:34 Fitting the foam board backing to the floor
29:52 Fitting and covering the foam board backing to the sides. They were covered with black vinyl sheet from Hobby Lobby
30:24 Fitting the side pieces for the first time
31:40 The finished trunk surround!
33:19 Installing the "travel" single 10" Rockford Fosgate Punch subwoofer and box
33:54 Wiring the P2D2 2 ohm dual voice coil subwoofer in a bridged configuration to give 4 ohm resistance for my 2 channel Kenwood KAC-7205 amplifier
35:35 The grille I purchased from Amazon doesn't fit
36:19 How to connect the wires in a bridged configuration
38:03 Changing the speaker box's terminal connector because it doesn't fit my banana jacks
38:54 The trunk finished!
40:42 A sneak peak of some things I've posted recently and to come & outro
FIY the small speaker box is 16" wide x 13" tall x 13" deep
Here is the correct contact information for Century 2000 Car Audio:
779 E. Tallmadge Ave
Akron, OH 44310
(330) 630-3595
century-2000.com
The total cost for all of the materals used was around $175
The black foam backed headliner material, and the vinyl sheet were purchased from Hobby Lobby
The glue I used was primarily 3M Headliner spray adhesive, but I also used some Gorilla Spray Adhesive
Music Credit (used with permission): Composed, performed, & produced by: Aq Xico YouTube: @Gobah 1971 Cutlass Ep 24 Headliner & Trunk FULL2
This video shows how I created a custom headliner and trunk liner from scratch for my 1971 Cutlass S restomod. The factory stock headliner would be made from fabric that is held up by metal bows that run across the roof and has an outdated look to it. Instead, I created a smooth headliner more like what you would see in a modern car. I don’t believe this model car would ever have any significant finishing inside of the trunk, but this is just something I wanted to do to update the look of the car. The side panels in the trunk also protect the quarter panels from damage from moving objects inside the trunk. Lastly, I installed a single speaker 10 inch subwoofer box that I can swap out for the large box that contains two 12's, to free up more trunk space for long road trips such as the upcoming Hot Rod Power Tour.
Here are some related helpful videos:
"1971 Cutlass Ep 15 Dash, Bucket Seats, Console & Guages!"
youtu.be/vb5qFRuQXew
“Classic car headliner from scratch - Auto Upholstry”:
youtu.be/RD4SD69r8II?si=0t4iHU7b-kPtWiCu
“Simple and custom headliner from scratch - Upholstry Tips”
youtu.be/n7NzXu2GMIU?si=POcgPILIlWiHYhcg
0:15 The reason I wanted to finish the trunk and install a smaller single subwoofer
1:18 Why I did a smooth padded fabric headliner rather than the stock metal bow and fabric headliner
2:25 What the car's interior looked like before, and what I've done to it so far
3:43 1st approach: I got a headliner board from a truck at a local Pull-A-Part auto recycling yard
5:09 2nd approach: using styrofoam board to make a buck to mold a fiberglass headliner board
9:12 3rd and final approach: using 1/8" foam board from Hobby Lobby
12:56 Showing the foam board attachment
15:01 Showing the completed foam board backing
15:20 1st attempt at installing the headliner
16:13 The headliner glued in and why the 1st attempt failed. The first one was not centered and wound up being too short in the back and left bare spots.
18:01 Removing the old dirty & moldy coverings from the factory sunvisors
20:59 Using the old sunvisor covering as a template for the new covering
22:10 Gluing on the headliner material to the sunvisors
23:58 Picking the old stitches out of the original vinyl trim
24:20 Attempt #1 at sewing the vinyl trim onto the newly covered sunvisor
25:16 Attempt #2: Masking and gluing the trim on first, then sewing it on
26:15 Reinstalling the metal aglets
26:28 The finished sunvisors!
27:08 Installing the factory trim surrounding the headliner
27:54 The finished headliner!
28:15 Starting to cut material to finish off the trunk
28:32 Cutting black foam board to make a backing to finish the trunk floor and sides
29:34 Fitting the foam board backing to the floor
29:52 Fitting and covering the foam board backing to the sides. They were covered with black vinyl sheet from Hobby Lobby
30:24 Fitting the side pieces for the first time
31:40 The finished trunk surround!
33:19 Installing the "travel" single 10" Rockford Fosgate Punch subwoofer and box
33:54 Wiring the P2D2 2 ohm dual voice coil subwoofer in a bridged configuration to give 4 ohm resistance for my 2 channel Kenwood KAC-7205 amplifier
35:35 The grille I purchased from Amazon doesn't fit
36:19 How to connect the wires in a bridged configuration
38:03 Changing the speaker box's terminal connector because it doesn't fit my banana jacks
38:54 The trunk finished!
40:42 A sneak peak of some things I've posted recently and to come & outro
FIY the small speaker box is 16" wide x 13" tall x 13" deep
Here is the correct contact information for Century 2000 Car Audio:
779 E. Tallmadge Ave
Akron, OH 44310
(330) 630-3595
century-2000.com
The total cost for all of the materals used was around $175
The black foam backed headliner material, and the vinyl sheet were purchased from Hobby Lobby
The glue I used was primarily 3M Headliner spray adhesive, but I also used some Gorilla Spray Adhesive
Music Credit (used with permission): Composed, performed, & produced by: Aq Xico YouTube: @Gobah 1971 Cutlass Ep 24 Headliner & Trunk FULL2
