I started with a vinyl wrapped stock dash set that looked like walnut burl. Then I tried and tried to veneer a dash set of my own but couldn't get a prototype to look right so had little to no hope that I'd be able to do a decent job on a real one. I just don't have the right tools to work with wood. I can cut a template but it takes a lot of effort to make it look right, ie. square the edges, straighten the lines, tweak the fit, drill the holes (in just the right spots and size) etc. So after a lot of effort it started looking easier to just save up and buy one.
Then late last year a guy popped up here on the forum so I paid him to make one for me... but that situation didn't go well at all. Buyer beware! Some people will take your money and never produce the product. They will also communicate with you right up until the PayPal claims limit of 30 days has passed and then "POOF" they disappear into thin air. If you do manage to make contact you will be told something along the lines of "my phone broke" or "yeah, sorry to be so absent, don't worry I'm in the finishing stages on your dash..." etc. But like I said, POOF gone.
My advice to all is always pay with a credit card, never a debit card. The credit card companies don't have a problem giving your money back to you the very same day you file a claim. Even if it has been 90 days since you paid for the goods that you never received. They contact the seller and give that person 60 days to make good, and if they don't make good it's no longer the buyer's problem and the credit card company handles it from there. POOF! no longer my problem.
Once I had my money back I found C & G Woodcraft online. Their website says vintage British cars but they have FIAT templates too. I couldn't be happier with their product. Fit and finish are top notch.
The below pictures are during the install process. Not pictured is the emergency brake handle, but it looks just as good as the rest of the set. Since these pictures were taken I've cleaned it up quite a bit but have not had the time to take nice photos. When I do I'll post them here.
The last picture is my version of the parcel bench storage shelf. Ideally I'll cover it with a stock back seat cover so the stitching and pattern match the rest, but for now this is good enough. If anyone has a maroon/burgandy rear seat cover they are willing to sell let me know. My interior is still a mix of vinyl and leather so I'm interested in either. I don't need the whole seat, and am really only interested in the covers.
I raised the parcel shelf up 6" and lined the new storage area with black carpet. The lid is held down by magnets, so it's a little harder than you might think it should be to open, but the idea is that to the casual thief it will feel locked. Still working on an actual locking solution, but may just end up securing a lock box inside the storage unit.. It's strong enough to jump on and large enough to hold a small cooler, extra pair of shoes, a blanket, two jackets and a couple rags. It can also be opened while seated in the car, meaning the seats do not need to be leaned forward. However, it's probably too high to be used as a back seat.
So far it's a crowd pleaser at my house. Every weekend I find less of the stuff I put in there and more of my wife's things stowed back there. It's safe to say that to date this is her favorite mod.
