Parcel Shelf & Backing Questions

[fizh]

Alrighty, well, my parcel shelf and seat backing are shot and my car ('81 911SC Coupe) is getting paint currently, so figured it would be a good time to redo the upholstery on those items (and the dash too... and then the seats.... and then the carpet...).

I was wondering if anyone has made stock DIY parcel shelf...
Any suggestions on materials to use for the upper parcel shelf? It has some curve and seems to be fairly flexible where it meets the seat backing. Heat resistant obviously would be nice.


The backing seems to just be some masonite board like martial and I am sure I can source that or something better with no problem. Mine is super warped, but not obvious from the photos.

Any suggestions on materials for both would be greatly appreciated.

some photos:

[Evans, Marv]

Actually I make mine out of thin, plywood, door skin and put a long hinge (like a piano hinge) where the package shelf bends down for the part behind the seats. Used the old one as a pattern. I pop rivited the clip that holds the seat backing portion on. You wouldn't need a continuous hinge like I did. I put sound proofing under mine - mass loaded vinyl & closed cell foam.

[Evans, Marv]

Here's a pic of it during install.

[salayc]

The top part is just a thick black paper, Appbiz uses the same (or very similar) material for their door panels. You can probably source it at an auto upholstery supplier. On my '87 it has been painted with an aluminum paint on the top (for heat?) There are three kerf cuts on the back where it bends. The complicated part is, where it meets the lower portion it is slightly recessed, although I'm not sure that matters much for re-upholstery.