Old 308 GTS Seat Skins

I have a 1978 308GTS with Tan Vinyl seats. The previous owner had them redone in a very nice vinyl, however I want to restore the seats back to original leather (nothing can come close to real connelly hides). Unforunately, when the seats were redone, they did not use the original pattern, and the seats are missing the black strip inserts. Every upholstery shop I have been to has told me that they will need a set of old skins that they can use as a template, otherwise they cannot ensure the seats will come out proper.

I was wondering if anyone here has an old skin sitting around that they don't need anymore. I would greatly appreciate any help. Once my upholstery shop has the pattern, they could also replicate additional sets for other FerrariChat members.

 

connolly is no more......sadly......mad cow wiped them out......

check with TRutlands and see if they have an old one from a wreck.....

My '77s are torn on the driver's side but I have not stripped it out yet...did you price the repros from Reoriginals? They'd mount right on your old frames, IIRC......

 

I will be able to get them custom made along with other parts and pieces redone for much cheaper than just buying 2 seat skins from ReOriginals. I am hoping I don't have to go down that road, but if I have no luck finding the pattern, I guess I have no choice.

 

I can help you, if no one else chimes in...are you ready right now???

Study the original carefully, the accent strips actually are vinyl...lots of the 308 is done that way..

Door panels are leather...door pockets/arm rests are vinyl....

 

I only mention Reoriginals as they are supposed to be exact OEM Italian quality.....you were the one that said 'Connelly'! LOL!

We just say 'dead cows' down here!

I was actually offered some vintage leather but my trim shop advised against it as undermining the whole point....use fresh material.

I was gonna use a Longhorn orange/white and go 'fur on'.....

 

If the pattern is the same as a '77 and the price is decent, I would be interested in getting in on a group buy for this to help get the price down. I think a lot of thers would too.

Unfortunately, I do not have the originals in my car either, so I'm no help in getting the patterns. Maybe we get a group together and BUY an old seat from Rutlands for cheap to make the patterns, then we'll sell the seat later on eBay!

Birdman

 

Once I have the original pattern, I can then get a quote to reproduce them.

Birdman, you are right, the more we have interested, the better leverage I have in negotiating.

If anyone has their old skins kicking around, please let us know.

 

I've got these seats which came with my '78 GTS but they don't seem to be like the ones you are talking about with contrasting piping. My door panels are of the same leather. Maybe a special order? Anybody seen seats like this in a '78 308?
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someone has sprayed or dyed those seats and the inserts that color. its not correct or original, not that i am a originality freak or anything. you may be able to remove that color. i bet they were a saddle leather with dark accents.

edit ( the pattern is correct though )

 

I have a set of tan leather seats with the black strips. The seats would probably be decent but it appears someone may have set a drop light or done something to make the passenger seat bottom shrink and shrivel in one area that split the leather. Because I have another black set, I put those in this car, but would much prefer the tan, as they are what originally came in the car and I do prefer that color.

I could possibly be persuaded to use one as a pattern if it would benifit us in getting a reasonable price from someone. The drivers seat is pretty nice, no cuts, tears, or splits. I guess all I really need is a decent seat bottom to put them back in the car. Even a decent used one would work for me, I'm just gonna drive it.
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That pattern is NOT correct. what a mess

 

Artvonne,

If you can take the covers off the seats, I will pay for the shipping of the skins, and then get a price for everyone.

 

Paul's are correct ...center strip going all the way to the top..

 

Sweet!! Get a price for the kits, and we'll see how mant takers there are. Re-originals wants a LOT of money for these. I think we could save a bundle.

I have no idea what is involved in time and money to do this, but leather is not THAT expensive and it kinda seems ridiculous that places get over $2K for a set of new seat skins. I would think that $500 a seat is much more reasonable. With an order for 10 pairs, I would think that they could even beat that price, unless every pair was a different color!

Birdman

 

i got my seat covers from gaah 6 years ago - i think they are still $1100 for the set.
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I am shopping right now for seat reupholstery. So far the cheapest bid was $750 per seat from a furniture shop that said, "yeah, I could probably do something for you." Not very encouraging. Other auto upholstery shops are right around $1000 per seat. I am seriously considering just getting some Corbeau seats for now and putting my Ferrari ones away.
I would definitely be interested in what you guys find out. My '80 seat pattern is different than the pre-80 ones, but since my car is not original anyway, I wouldn't mind changing. Need black though. -m

 

I looked at GAHH a while back and immediately ruled them out because when I went to 1977 308 on their site, the pic they showed clearly had the wrong pattern:

http://www.gahh.com/308-1977-seatcoverkits-27_38_3407_124_933.html

But yours cavallo look right. BTW, they are $1400 a set now.

Birdman

 

Beautiful interior, Giovanni!!

 

duh, i never noticed the center strip..... now i need to look at my 77 GTB and see what it has....

 

If we're doing new seat covers why not do Daytona covers? One of the vendors does a Daytona seat for the 308 but I think it was close to $2k .
just my .02
Bill

 

Another thing to consider is that many of the seat kits are 4 piece, two seat bottoms, 2 backs. So you're still on your own for the headrests if they are looking old (like mine). Nicks Forza have the 6 piece kit for about $1750 that looks like it would be good. That's still not installed, so add labor and it'll be over the $2k mark, too. -m

 

In a couple weeks I can check with the guy doing my interior. I'm only spending a little north of $2K for the whole interior (seats, dash, console, trim etc.) I'm sure he could do seats for less than $2K a set.

 

I still say that I see no reason why the sets should be more than $500 a seat. At that price, I'm in. As for Daytona, I like the look, but would prefer the original design for my car.

Birdman