The Sonett was then sent straight to Bon-A-Rue's Upholstery shop for a complete makeover. You know the usual including a new headliner (mine was actually gone, not just fallen down), new carpet throughout, new floor mat, and a reupholstered dash. The Sonett returned to Bud's in late March of 2004.
The remaining six months were spent having all of the chrome parts re-chromed, the interior installed (dash, seats, seat belts, mirror, etc..), and the finishing touches put on the exterior including the original front and rear window installed. (I have been duly warned never to remove these windows again.) Other work included installing new seals in the doors and replacing a passenger side window that had been broken during its time off the road.
It was December of 2004 and my parents were coming for a visit and I desperately wanted to have the car complete. I remember going to Bud's shop with the parents hoping to take the car home for the first time. I did not pick the best time as it was a Friday afternoon in L.A. traffic. Definitely not a good time to test drive a car much less one that had been apart for so many years. To say the least the car made it home with only a few exceptions (the rebuilt plastic fan blade broke twice on the ride home. I have since replaced with a modern electric fan.)
I take the Sonett to car shows around the Orange county area most weekends and even meet a few other Sonett owners up at Angeles Crest Highway for a Sunday morning ride to Newman's Ranch. It is great to have the car back on the road again!!!
