Here on The Hog Ring, we’ve written a lot about the fusion of auto upholstery with fashion, but it’s certainly not a new concept.
In 1973, the AMC Gremlin was offered with an optional Levi’s interior. Real jeans weren’t used though. Because fire-safety regulations prohibited the use of denim, the automaker spun nylon to look like the genuine article.
The cabin featured removable map pockets, copper denim rivets, traditional yellow stitching and even red Levi’s logo tabs.
Looking back at it now, it’s an ugly creation. But believe it or not, it was one of AMC’s best selling models. Go figure!
What do you think? A cool concept – or a period in car interiors you’re glad is over and done with? Tell us in the comments section below.
reminds me of the “jean machine” dodge trucks from the late 70’s, my neighbor had one when i was growing up, looking at it now its kind of neat how dodge put graphics on the truck to look like stitching.
I worked on one of these interiors when i was at wyotech
A friend of mine in high school won one of these cars from WDGY radio. It was a promotional contest and all he had to do is call the show to win a free car.
Volkswagen had the Jeans Bug, also around the same year. They did use genuine jeans.
I recently made a ‘new style’ jeans interior for a beetle. The guy who bought it gave me his original Jeans Bug interior. Cool to see the actual thing. Completely shot of course as jeans is not that tough as it seems…
I had forgotten about this trim package. We certainly aren’t missing out by not having denim to choose from in new cars. But for capturing the era, it’s pretty cool. Makes me want to throw on some elephant bells and crank up the 8 track player to Cool and the Gang.
Awesome. I had a lime green 76 gremlin when I was 16. What I would give to have it back.
Irony (or maybe not) is that 1973 marked the 100th anniversary of Levi Strauss’ invention of riveted denim.