How To Multi-Piece Headliner Installation Classic VW Beetle BuG in FULL 2hrs Archive Video 

This is a re-upload of a series I did back like 5 years ago on multi-piece headliner installation. This time all the chapters are here in one video, you don't have to go searching for the others.

Thanks Chris! This is a great video. I had a problem on my oval with the front plastic tab flipping and pulling back immediately after I was done tucking it in. I was watching along and the tip Chris gave to put the extra padding along the front header to keep the plastic from flipping saved me big time. I added a strip of padding and presto it snapped in and is holding tight.

This is funny...I just followed your videos last week while installing a headliner in my 57' Oval. Your tips are EXTREMELY helpful! Few things I noticed, the pre-cut headliner padding kit is JUNK! Don't waste your time, use the padding as Chris shows in the video. I had to order my padding online because I couldn't visit a store. Not all padding is the same. Try to purchase 1/4" underlayment padding, the stuff I used was 3mm, and when separating the plastic backing it pulled the padding to pieces. This video is awesome Chris...thanks for putting it all together in one place for future use!

Nobody is better at this than you. All the secrets just given away. You're THE BEST!

WOW! Lots of work, but the end results are fabulous. Thanks for sharing

This is a great video. You even show how to fix the glitches that arrive during the process. Great resource.

That was one of the most informative videos that I have watched on RU-vid. Thank you so much.Awesome job!!

I just finished my 73 Type 3 with TMI vinyl, looks good now but, it took 5 days with the heat to get the wrinkles all out. The pillar covers are the most difficult part of the that job. I could do a perfect job next time but, this job still looks super. I did break the front window trying to reinstall but , the new window is a lot nicer so, maybe it was for the best. I watched all your videos, thanks for posting!

I just did a headliner and I truly did not enjoy the job! Great video Chris!

Nice demo Chris. Where the grippers are gone due to rust, grippers are available in a strip that can be pop riveted in place or you could use a cardboard tack strip. There are tack strips available now that are made from black hard rubber that will hold tacks. The wind-lace in my 1951 Studebaker was held to the body with a cardboard tack strip that fit into the steel channel that surrounded the door opening. The tack strip was nailed to the body with hardened steel drill nails (look like twisted concrete nails). The tack strip was a very hard solid cardboard. The plastic screws that were used in the body in the rear quarter panels were for seat belts where required in the country the car was exported to. Seat belts where first available in some American cars as early as 1957 but most did not have seat belts as an accessory until 1961. In the US seat belts became mandatory in 1967. Some European countries required seat belts in the 1960s and I think Japan required them in VWs in the late 1960s. I have a 1972 Euro spec Super and it has these plastic screws and washers in the rear quarter behind the rear seat back but no seat belts in the back but only retracting seat belts in the front. I am not sure yet because I haven't taken the headliner out where it isn't torn, but my car may have a one piece headliner. The interesting thing is that only three center roof panels of the headliner are perforated while the remainder is printed to look like perforations. Every place where glue held the headliner or headliner fabric, the perforations are printed. I think this was done to prevent glue contamination on the front surface of the material, a problem with the reproduction headliners.

Thanks Chris! You are a real gentleman to put this video together for everyones benefit ! I wish you all the best in life, cheers from Australia!

The later models especially the Supers had the material around the rear quarter windows conforming to the body more closely than you show here, I prefer the look like you are doing. When I replace my headliner I will probably use non-perforated material and I like the look where the material isn't tight to the body; it looks more plush. The padding around my rear quarter windows and the area between them and the rear window is much thicker than what you are using. Without measuring, it looks like it varies in thickness between 1/2 to 1/8 inch in thickness. There are two layers around the upper part of the rear quarter windows. The carpet that is in the rear luggage area and over the heater channels is a needle punched carpet. I bought a large amount because it came 80 inches wide and it is sold by the running yard. I plan on using some of it between the seat springs and the seat padding. You may be interested to know that Morgan UK uses a seat cushion material that is thicker but resembles 3M scrubbing pads. In the picture I saw the padding material was about three inches thick. Have you tried lightly spraying distilled water on the wrinkles and letting it dry or use a hair dryer? That is what I did to remove all the wrinkles.

Gracias a ti me he atrevido a poner el techo del mi escarabajo y me ha quedado genial. Muchas gracias

Thanks for producing and sharing all these great videos over the years. It’s a terrific resource for the VW community.

Wow what a great video and quality work. Truly amazing!!

Looks good Chris! Given how involved the process is makes it even more amazing that VW could pump out a few thousand of these a day...the folks they had doing the headliners in the factory must have been unbelievably skilled!

F A N T A S T I C ! ! ! 💯👍😀

Great job man 👍👍👍

Watched for the first time. Looks good.

NICE JOB !!!!

You sure make it look easy!

LOVE IT! Heard "finagle" a few times... haven't heard that word (unless I use it) here in the south much at all...

Awsome video Thank you

Juste un superbe tutoriel. Merci pour nous faire partager et découvrir ton expérience. En merci à toi Chris, et bravo. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Hey Chris my 71 SB still not happy . Checked out timing an advanced it ran ok 4a few days then dead spots when you pressed the gas pedal. I put an ad in the local area for a old school VW mechanic. Got a response and lined him up for this Saturday. I will keep u posted. Choke out of adjustment, jets need cleaning? Thank you Chris.

This is a great video Chris, actually all your videos are very informative! The VW community is fortunate to have such a knowledgeable person. I bought the interior for my '61 Bug sedan from Sewfine and Logan mentioned to watch your installation videos. I bought the tweed interior, identical to your '61 vert. I installed the rear window headliner padding per your video. My question is do I install the trapazoidal shaped vinyl, that goes below the rear window, directly over the tweed? Any help appreciated. Cheers, Frank

You can't work on a vintage volkswagen without a little tweed. Ya dig.

Thank you just happened on your video very good

Awesome job👍 you've been around the block on these for sure

Awesome video!!! Thanks for posting this up for us

I have a guy who restores bugs and he’s been doing it for 40 years now and I want to go with a full restoration! But I don’t have anywhere to put it,it’s just gonna be sitting there in my driveway! So I can’t make up my mind? I want the bug bug I just can’t justify paying that much money and then let it sit outside year round in the weather! But I want it bad!☹️

Thank you Chris. Amazing vid.

Have you ever attempted to put an early 60’s multi piece mohair headliner in a later beetle? A friend gave me a brand new headliner for a 61 sunroof bug and I’m hoping to make it work in my 66 with an inalfa ragtop sunroof (dimensions are within 1/2” of stock ragtop).

Looks good Chris thanks for sharing ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

Do you have any videos like this on a single piece headliner

Regarding the mohair material, it is not mohair but some type of synthetic. It is very pricey for a fake mohair. Take a small piece and a flame. If it was actually mohair it would smell like burning hair. None of the mohair fabrics in any reproduction headliner are actually made from mohair.

Grat reference job!

Chris, thanks! Any tips on a saggy headliner where it seems the bows aren’t holding, without having to tear down. 👍🏻

chris after you do pee and seal, do you add carpet padding before putting the carpet down in the back? Also do you put carpet padding around the front firewall and peel and seal or just one, or none? It would be awesome if you showed how to put the carpet with the rubber mats in!

Hallo chris, i soon have to install a headliner in my bug. i'm sure this video will be a lot of help. i know this is an old video, do you still recommend using the 3M 90 spray adhesive?

Hi Uncle Chris, would you consider using a brush and vertical contact adhesive ?

AMAZING|| thank you

Hey Chris, for the top headliner padding. i know you use either the carpet padding split in 2, or 1/2 inch jute material, but do you think just gluing together 2 pieces of the 1/4 padding that you use for around the back window would also be just fine?

Hey Chris, question I have a early 68 sunroof bug with the metal dash.Can I stop the headliner short and tuck it like the 67 and earlier bugs at the windshield.Thanks

This guy for mayor, please.

Thanks for the video, Im going to attempt doing my own interior. Do you have a how to carpet install video ? Not sure if the carpet is glued against the body up front at the foot well

Multi-piece looks much more attractive. Single piece looks lazy to me😁

Why not blast and atleast prime those areas

😎⚡️🤙

omg, looks poor