By Patricia Schallert –
For generations of Ventura-area car enthusiasts, Mac’s Auto Upholstery has been more than a place to repair a worn seat or replace a tired interior. It has been a destination for craftsmanship – the kind of painstaking, hands-on work that has become increasingly rare.
At 89, Paul MacLaren is a true old-school craftsman, known for his meticulous work restoring and creating interiors for classic, antique and custom vehicles. His connection to the trade – and to Ventura – goes back more than a century.
Paul’s grandfather moved from Los Angeles to Ventura in 1912 and opened a canvas and auto shop, believed to have been near Santa Clara and California streets. In 1929, he moved the business to North Ventura Avenue, across from Avenue Hardware, where he continued working until his death in 1955.
In March 1946, Paul’s father brought his young son from the family farm in Tacoma, Washington, to Ventura, leaving him with his grandfather for a year while he returned to settle the farm. That year became an important chapter in Paul’s life.
Working alongside his grandfather, Paul learned the value of hard work and the hands-on skills that would eventually become his profession. In 1950, with money borrowed from local car-lot owner Marshall Barlo of Cadillac Corner, Paul’s father opened Mac’s Upholstery on the Avenue.
The family tradition continued.
Paul has lived in Ventura since he was eight and graduated from Ventura High School in 1956. He has owned his current shop for approximately 32 years, continuing a craft he learned through experience rather than a classroom.
His work encompasses everything from sewing and measuring to selecting materials, repairing seats and installing headliners and carpeting. He particularly enjoys the precision of trimming, the feel of upholstery and the challenge of restoring automotive interiors to their original character.
Classic and antique vehicles are among his favorite projects. Restoring a rare automobile can require matching original materials, colors, stitching and patterns, sometimes after extensive research by the owner. Custom interiors present a different challenge, requiring the upholsterer to turn a client’s vision into a finished design.
One of Paul’s most memorable projects was a 1941 Lincoln Continental. Working from the owner’s extensive research, Paul meticulously replicated the original interior details. After a year and a half of work, the restored car went on to win the Silver Cup at the Ford Show in Texas and first place at the Pebble Beach pre-war car show.
Today, Paul is tackling another demanding project: a 1939 Lincoln Continental.
Such restorations require patience, precise measurements, strong sewing skills and plenty of creative problem-solving. Paul also works on convertibles, work trucks, commercial vehicles, luxury custom cars and motorcycles. He knows his limitations, too, generally avoiding late-model German vehicles and high-end electric cars whose complex systems and limited repair information can make upholstery work more difficult.
For those interested in learning the trade, Paul recommends hands-on experience and on-the-job training. For vehicle owners considering new upholstery, he suggests deciding first whether the goal is an original restoration or a custom design. Materials should then be selected for durability, comfort, climate, maintenance and cost – not simply appearance.
He also recommends getting a written estimate and discussing the timeline, warranty and any underlying seat repairs before beginning a project.
After decades behind the sewing machine and workbench, Paul MacLaren continues to practice a craft rooted in patience, precision and pride. His work preserves more than vintage automobile interiors. It preserves a piece of Ventura’s history – and a family tradition built one stitch at a time. www.cal-leather.com.
