308 seat recovering cost

I had Gary Bobileff recover mine when I purchased my 308QV from him, and if I recall it was around 2K or so...absolutely top notch job done by the way.

MB

 

That is an accurate estimate based on material and labor.

 

Not out of line.

If you do the labor yourself you can save a few hundred bucks.

 

that's about what I just paid. totally worth it.
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A bovine hyde leather will cost between $350 and $700 depending on doing just seats, +console, +door, +package shelf. A used hd fabric sewing machine is about $1500. Learn a new skill. IMHO a good job under $3k is reasonable. OTOH, how bad are your seats that Leatherique can't bring them back to the same shape we all have.

Working in leather is gratifying and I enjoyed doing my headliner and package shelf. But I wound't consider the seats without apprenticing for a year of two.

Or perhaps your sticker shock was you thought it would cost much more. ??
Consider what we did in the 1950's - take the car to Tijuana for cheap work. Hows about a rolled and pleated Ferrari.

 

Find the shop that all the hot rod guys use. Ask around, chances are you will start getting the same name after awhile. That's what I did and ended up getting my whole interior for about what you were quoted for just the seats. Of course it was a few years ago but prices shouldn't be that far off.

 

That's about the same cost as I was quoted from 2 local upholstery shops.
Which is why my '85 GTS is now wearing sheepskins bought for $75 off Ebay earlier this year. They were custom cut for 308 seats, made in the 90's and still in great shape.

I bought another set a few years ago for a BMW 528 from this place (price was closer to $200 I seem to remember), very happy with the fit and quality:
http://rmsheepskin.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/cars/ferthreo.htm?L+scstore+fsnr4349ff63dd63

Maybe someday I'll spring for new leather (the original leather is split, worn, dyed, and too far gone ever for leatherique), but for the foreseeable future the covers will do fine while I just drive the hell out of her.

 

You are getting a (R E A L) GOOD DEAL from my experience.


I used Mercedes Benz leather and MAN WAS THAT EXPENSIVE !!!!!!

 

Have you thought of restoring them Charles, I'm not sure on the condition of your covers. I wanted to try and keep as much originality in the restoration of my car. I was surprised with the results of having my seat covers restored. Here's a couple of before and after pics.
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A buddy of mine just went to a hot rod shop to get his wife's Acura buckets redone. They are much larger then the 308 seats and also had heaters in them. They were recovered in leather that was custom cut. Not ordered seat covers so they were done from scratch to the original pattern. They came out great and were a match to the orign seats color. The whole thing cost $650. Great job and if I need to get mine done I'm going to see this guy. I paid $400 to get mine redyed but if I would have know about this guy I might have just had them re-covered.

 

$2500 is market correct. You can check out my thread "another new interior to enjoy" (I can't figure out how to attach it to this message). Don't forget to have the horsie embossed on the headrests. This is done by GAHH.

 

The cost is about right, just having each seat reupholstered for my Fiat Spider was $800 each so I opted to redo them myself in Italian full grain leather... I reupholstered the entire vehicle using 4 hides (each hide was $250)... I have a sail making machine (from former boating days) and used it to sew the leather... it needs to be a heavy duty industrial quality machine with special needles and thread...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267402

I know its not a 308/328 but the results are the same... all new foam underneath the leather, etc. and the satisfaction that I did the work myself.

Nick

 

Great job!
I think I saw you post this before, but didn't recall the before pics that look exactly like mine. Encouraging! Leatherique? Or do I recall you used something Aussie...?

 

Charles, Jim had his redone and they look good. Here is a link to one of the threads.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241192&highlight=seats

 

"I would not have been too shocked for 2k for everything "

Might have been a lot cheaper had you told him the seats were from a Fiat.

 

There a plenty of things you can do on the car to save money and then there are things that really are best farmed out to professionals. I am not saying you can't do it yourself but the seats can really make the look of the whole interior. I say spend the money if you have it and enjoy. ViperDrivers seats always looked goo in his thread. Best of luck.

 

WOW! Beautiful!

 

Might also want to get a quote from World Upolstery;

http://www.worlduph.com/ferrari.htm

They were significantly less expensive than GAHH, when I replaced the seat skins on my 911 and the quality was outstanding. They can also provide matching door and console skins for the complete experience!

 

My driver seat needs some serious TLC. The piping is worn through, the upright bolster is has the protective coating caking & cracking and the upright center strip finally developed a large 1/2" crack for about 6". Time for new seats.
Just went to a local car interior shop that's been in business for 40+ years.

The man had every conceivable swatch available & nothing matched my '83 308. I thought the interior was Camel, but the closest was Ferrari/Jag Tan.
If I had the seats redone, the doors & console would absolutely not match.
To get the console, doors, & seats done - upwards of $5K. The upwards is due to the cost of leather piping. And the shop wont dye. He told me if you re-dye from the original color, the color will crack & start wearing off after 2-3 years.

 

He's correct on that.

There's more than one Ferrari tan, three or four IIRC..it's four digit number....I know they have been recapped in a post.

I'm in the same boat as you I have two driver's seats shot but the rest looks good......I have to match as you are doing, but thankfully "blacK'

Maybe check with GAHH and reOriginals and just order the driver's side "kit"......

Rifledriver probably kows the codes...

 

Clyde,

Did you consider trying Classic? I plan on taking mine out there for a discussion and estimate, but won't have the time to get to them for another few weeks. Am considering the seats for a winter project.

Phil

 

I'd agree there are probably some great local shops up to the task....I have thought about having mine "repaired" but Valeria does upholstery (leather too) and it's really slow reusing any of the pieces.

You have to hit to old preforations perfectly.

And then you have the issue of any visual disparity between die lots and such....I'll try thru my contacts here and report back how it goes...