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The 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham wasn’t just a luxury model car; it was a “hand-built in low numbers” luxury model car. So when one rolled in to Mortimer Upholstery & Marine Covers in Nelson, New Zealand, for an interior upholstery redo, staff at the shop there could only describe it as “a once in a lifetime” job.
It took 200 hours to transform the interior from white and black to white and metallic-blue leather and blue carpet, including trimming the doors in the leather instead of painting them. “Le Mans Auto Fabrics was able to air freight the required amount of seven large hides from Europe,” notes the entry into the International Achievement Awards. The project won the company’s craftspeople an Award of Excellence in the Automotive & Aerospace category.
The trunk had black fabric rather than carpet, which Mortimer Upholstery was able to match using an upholstery fabric from Warwick Fabrics.
When new, these vehicles also included a whiskey decanter set in the glovebox — with magnetic shot glasses to prevent spills — a cigarette case and even an atomizer with an ounce of perfume.
The car is being used in a promotional campaign, pretending to be a full-size Matchbox® toy. The entry notes, “We have undertaken many cars for this client, but this one by far was the best.”
Project Name: Cadillac Don’t Look Back
Location: Nelson, New Zealand
Company: Mortimer Upholstery and Marine Covers
Fabric: Reno Leather, GM white leather, GM white matching vinyl, loop pile carpet in Corvette Bright Blue 506, Le Mans Auto Fabrics; trunk lining fabric in Sylvester Coal, Warwick Fabrics
Images: Mortimer Upholstery & Marine Covers/Ian Mortimer
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ATA Member Benefit
If you are an Advanced Textiles Association member, you can have your best projects considered for an International Achievement Award (IAA). In 2026, the awards are open until Aug. 28.
ATA New Zealand members who enter its Awards for Excellence automatically have their projects entered in the IAAs.