Sticky Backed Plastic

[muphy]

When I collected my Excel it was obvious that at some point in a previous incarnation, centre console panels and the two dash panels were covered with wood grain effect sticky backed plastic.

I'm planning an interior restore over the next winter but I just could not stand it, I had to see what was underneath the naff plastic.

Took out the centre console panel that has the gear lever through it and applied heat from SWMBO's hair dryer and low and behold, underneath is the original leather!!
It's a bit dirty and a small part of the finish is missing but nothing that the leather restoration kit will not be able to fix.

I can only speculate why perfectly good leather would be covered up with something so obviously not wood.

I'm hopeful that when I remove the plastic from the other panels, the original finishes are OK or at least salvageable!

Was this a trend at some time in the past?

Mark