Original-style vinyl headliners can be a pain to replace or install. Proper replacement requires the removal of the windshield and rear glass so the vinyl can be tucked underneath the rubber molding. For most vintage Mustang owners, replacing a headliner means a trip to an upholstery shop.
That’s about to change. With Mustangs to Fear’s new one-piece headliner, ’67-’68 fastback owners can replace their original vinyl headliner with a modern ABS version without pulling the windshield. Better yet, the headliner is available with an upper console with map lights, which was a factory option for ’67-’68 Mustang fastbacks and hardtops. Made from textured ABS for an upholstered look, the one-piece headliner also gains 2 inches of head room, an especially attractive feature for taller drivers.
The Mustangs to Fear one-piece...
The Mustangs to Fear one-piece headliner is made from textured ABS for an upholstered look. Two versions are available: with and without the factory-style roof console. ABS A-pillar trim is also included.
Ideally, the Mustangs to Fear one-piece headliner can be installed during a car’s restoration or buildup, prior to the installation of the interior trim and window glass. That way, the headliner can be in place when the windshield molding is installed. However, as we learned at Classic Creations of Central Florida, the ABS headliner is easily installed in a car with the molding in place as long as the rubber is relatively new and supple. As Classic Creation’s Merv Rego pointed out during the installation into customer Alan Colding’s ’68 fastback, it would be difficult to slip the headliner underneath an aged, brittle molding without potentially damaging the rubber. On the ’67-’68 fastback, the rear of the headliner is retained by a panel, either the original two-piece metal panel or Mustangs to Fear’s one-piece ABS version, available separately.
The standard headliner is priced at $349.95; the console version is $699.95. Currently, the Mustangs to Fear one-piece headliner is available for ’67-’68 fastbacks, with a hardtop version in the works. Watch for a one-piece headliner, with a console option, for ’65-’66 Mustangs in the near future.
With the console version of...
With the console version of the headliner, the map lights and switches are already installed. Short wiring is also supplied. You’ll need to fabricate the wiring to connect power to the lights.
If you’re installing the one-piece...
If you’re installing the one-piece headliner in a car that is already equipped with a vinyl headliner, it will need to be removed. Start by removing the sun visors and rearview mirror clip above the windshield, along with the coat hooks at the rear C-pillars.
Pop off the factory A-pillar...
Pop off the factory A-pillar trim on each side. They are retained by wire clips.
From the back seat, remove...
From the back seat, remove the pair of metal rear headliner panels. They are retained by screws at the center and each end.
The interior C-pillar vent...
The interior C-pillar vent panels and trim must also be removed.
Remove the windlace that runs...
Remove the windlace that runs along the window opening. If it’s in good condition, it can be reused with the one-piece headliner.
Point of no return. Use a...
Point of no return. Use a sharp utility knife to cut the headliner at the windshield molding, then peel back along the sides, removing the bows as you go until the entire headliner is out.
Before installing the one-piece...
Before installing the one-piece headliner, fabricate the wiring for the map lights and switches. Make sure you have enough wire to run along the A-pillar on the driver side to reach ground and a full-time power source at the underdash wiring harness.
Mustangs to Fear supplies...
Mustangs to Fear supplies a clear-coated, brushed aluminum panel for the console exterior. Install it by inserting the tabs into the corresponding holes in the headliner, then bend the tabs on the backside of the headliner to secure.
You’ll need an extra pair...
You’ll need an extra pair of hands to maneuver and hold the one-piece headliner in position while you push it underneath the windshield molding. Be sure to pull the wiring out at the left front corner so it can be run behind the A-pillar molding.
Merv Rego used a glass installation...
Merv Rego used a glass installation tool to slip the windshield molding over the front edge of the one-piece headliner.
At the rear quarter area,...
At the rear quarter area, the one-piece headliner is designed to slip behind the fastback’s inner vent panel. However, instead of removing the panel, Merv chose to trim the ABS so it fits around it in an area that will be hidden when the outer vent panel is reinstalled.
Reinstall the original windlace,...
Reinstall the original windlace, which secures the headliner along the sides of the roof. Because the ABS headliner adds thickness, you’ll need to use more force to push the windlace into place. In some areas, Marv needed a rubber mallet to pop it on.
After running the map light...
After running the map light wiring on the driver side, install the ABS A-pillar trim that’s supplied with the one-piece headliner. It is not retained with the factory-style clips. Instead, the windshield molding must be popped over the leading edge while the other side is retained by the windlace.
Reinstall the sun visors after...
Reinstall the sun visors after using the dimples at the front corners of the Mustangs to Fear headliner to locate the center opening and trio of screw holes. The center opening must be large enough to accommodate the sun visor spring.
Reassemble the inner rear...
Reassemble the inner rear quarter-panel trim and vent panels.
Install the rear headliner...
Install the rear headliner panel using the original screws and screw locations. This is the one-piece ABS panel available from Mustangs to Fear.
C-pillar speaker pods are...
C-pillar speaker pods are also available from Mustangs to Fear to match the other panels. However, since our ’68 fastback was already equipped with rear speakers, we didn’t use them for this application.