Up and Down Refinement

Late last year, our Project Sequoia was nearing completion and final modifications were being made to get the vehicle ready to appear in the Audiovox booth at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Sequoia had already undergone numerous improvements and refinements, including a custom paintjob, upgraded wheels and tires, a 3-inch suspension lift, custom leather seating, a variety of upgraded body pieces, an air intake kit, and much more. However, just prior to installing Audiovox's line of audio/video products, the Sequoia was in dire need of some interior style.

Our Project Sequoia is an '01 model, and when we acquired it from Toyota for a long-term loan, the vehicle had 15,000 miles on the clock, and its interior was looking a little worse for wear. We had already performed a major interior upgrade with the addition of some leather seating from Katzkin, but much of the interior, especially the carpets and headliner, was dirty and worn, and definitely in need of an upgrade. Our plans called for a suede headliner and several suede trim pieces to adorn the Sequoia's interior, as well as some custom carpets to brighten and provide a plush floor for the Toyota.

For the suede material, we turned to our friends at Katzkin, in Montebello, California, who provided us with enough beautiful Sandstone suede to get the job done. For installation, we brought the material and the Sequoia to 714 Motorsports, in Huntington Beach, California, a company that is famous for providing luxurious interiors to custom SUVs, trucks, and cars. The folks at 714 took great pains to get the suede installed right, and the end result was worth the effort.

The suede provided by Katzkin was not quite wide enough to cover the headliner in one piece, so 714 needed to cut the material and stitch it down the center. The stitching is so exact that it takes a fine eye to see the seam, and the straightness of that seam is flawless. With our headliner in place, attention turned to the inside of the back hatch, which in used stock form was slightly torn, had several black marks from use and abuse, and was basically an eyesore when the hatch was popped open. The expert installers at 714 Motorsports carefully fitted the sandstone suede around the back hatch piece, and the end result was a perfect fit. In addition, the three trim pieces on the inside of the hatch were also covered in the fine suede, creating an elegant overall effect.

After the suede was fitted and looking good, our attention turned to the floor of the Sequoia, and to acquiring a set of custom carpets that would brighten up the interior and provide a plush look and feel. We had heard about the fine work of Keith Collins from several others in the aftermarket industry, and we decided to pay Keith a visit at his company Artexture, in Los Angeles. While at Artexture, Keith took painstaking measurements of our stock floor mats and the floor area we wanted filled with upgraded carpeting. The plan called for a new set of front carpet mats, a single piece mat for the second row of seats, and a large single piece behind the second row (we had permanently removed the third row) which would bear the Truckin's SUV logo.

Keith Collins and his Artexture studio performs some awesome work, and his custom carpet work can be found in several museums, as well as in many celebrities' homes, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Jackson. Each mat is handcrafted from the finest woven yarns and are sculpted and beveled to enhance the 3-D effect. In addition, non-slip mounting prevents tangles and gives better foot support. Most of Keith's work is custom work, and many patterns and styles are specifically developed for each vehicle he works on.

When we received the finished carpets, we couldn't believe the quality and creativity that went into the pieces. Keith used many of the colors from outside and inside our Sequoia to tie the entire project together, and the large rear piece behind the second row of seats is proudly emblazoned with the Truckin's SUV logo. Although you get a good idea of the quality of these carpets from the photos on these pages, these pieces must truly be seen to be believed.

Since finishing the Toyota's interior, we've received many accolades from admiring viewers on both the suede headliner and trim pieces, and definitely on the custom carpets. Although a small part of the overall Project Sequoia package, these quality pieces do a lot to set the tone for the entire project.