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Car · Convertible top, interior and upholstery
Rosengart cabriolet
A small pre-war French cabriolet in cream with red wings: a new top developed from a calico test fit, cognac leather interior, rear compartment and carpets all rebuilt by hand.
- Model
- Rosengart cabriolet
- Era
- 1930s
- Maker
- Rosengart, Paris
- Colour
- Cream with red wings, black top
- Work
- Top, leather seats and panels, rear compartment, carpets
- Restoration
- Upholstery and top
The story
Lucien Rosengart built cars in Paris: from 1928 he produced, under licence, small cars derived from the Austin Seven, light and economical, which in the 1930s also came in open versions such as this cabriolet.
It arrived at the workshop with its top and interior needing a full rebuild. Every new part was made from a pattern taken directly on the car; the top was first test-fitted in white calico, then cut and stitched in the final black fabric.
The restoration step by step
From paper pattern to black top
- Step 1 of 6
The compartment to rebuild
The Rosengart arrives on the recovery truck, without a top. Behind the seats the rear compartment is down to its wooden frame: it is cleaned, checked and the floor prepared.
arriving at the workshop on the recovery truck 
the wooden frame of the rear compartment 
the rear compartment ready for trimming - Step 2 of 6
The patterns
Wheel arches, sides and back of the compartment are taken off the car in paper and card. The patterns are cut, tried and corrected until they fit.
the wheel arch pattern 
the pattern for the compartment sides 
the patterns on the cutting table - Step 3 of 6
Cognac leather
From the patterns, panels and covers are cut in cognac leather, matched to the seats.
the pieces in cognac leather 
the panels cut from the patterns - Step 4 of 6
Compartment and carpets
The rear compartment is trimmed: padded wheel arches, leather sides, anthracite grey carpet on the floor. The door panels are new as well.
the trimmed rear compartment 
the trimmed wheel arch and the carpet 
the carpet laid on the floor 
the new leather door panel - Step 5 of 6
The calico test fit
A white calico test cover goes on the top frame first. It is pinned, marked and corrected on the car until the shape is right.
the top frame, bare 
the calico test fit from behind 
the calico test fit from the side - Step 6 of 6
The black top
From the test pieces comes the top in black fabric. It is tensioned with clamps, the rear window is sewn in, edges and trims are fixed.
the finished top from the side 
the black fabric laid over the frame 
the rear window in progress 
the finished rear window
As it is today
Some photos have been digitally cleaned up (light, colour, grain), without changing their content.
Does your classic car need a new top?
Tops, seats, panels and carpets: Mimmo makes them to measure in the workshop, starting from a pattern taken on your car. Including for clients in Switzerland.
More restorations
This is only a small selection: over the years Mimmo has restored many more cars and trucks, and we'll keep adding them from the workshop's photo books.
