Warning: The below images may be gross, but rest assured that the carpets were replaced, and every square inch of the car was steam-cleaned, bleached, and sterilized to make sure that it was as clean as when it left Belfast as a new car.
As I continued my search for mouse nests, I hit the jackpot. Removal of the grill in the front of the car revealed this giant one.
Another mousenest was locked away behind the driver's seat.
Look at the heap of interior parts in the garage! Its amazing that the car ever went back together.
Another problem was the fact that the mice had been all over the leather seats for the past 10+ years. I heard that a product called Leatherique might be worth a try to get the seats back to like-new condition. At $50 for the product, I was hoping it would be good. I never expected the results I got.
First I covered the seats with something called "Rejuvinator Oil" and really oiled them up. I let them sit for 24 hours and wrapped them in plastic wrap and kept periodically heating with a hairdryer to open the pores and let the cleaner into the leather.
Once this was done and the seats had sat overnight, I applied the "Prestine Clean" product and massaged it with a clean terry cloth towel.
Before wiping the cleaner off:
After wiping the cleaner off driver seat (that's all dirt!):
I was amazed how much dirt and dust (and who knows what else) were actually forced out of the leather. It left the seats feeling and smelling like brand new. Look how soft and supple it left them:
The original "ripples" came back, and the seats were so soft to the touch.
After pressure washing the inside of the fiberglass tub, bleaching it, and scrubbing it with industrial cleaning chemicals, it looked as clean as it did when it left Belfast. The odor was gone, and I was left with the aroma of rich leather.
Another "in-progress" picture. The car is looking good, but is by no means done yet in this shot:
