Hi all, Did a search for "affordable AND seat AND cover" and only hit one thread from 2006 http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98851&highlight=seat+cover+affordable GAHH internet price is now up to $2018 per pair http://www.gahh.com/store.php?cPath=38_3407_124_941&products_family_id=2 Kind of annoying that for under a grand this place will recover tired Pantera seats in leather (maybe it's $900 each?): http://www.pim.net/spage.html I stopped by a local upholsterer a few months ago, and he wouldn't tackle new skins for under $2k. My 308 QV's aren't THAT bad, but fresh leather would be sweet. The complete replacement buckets in vinyl on that same Pantera site for under $500 actually look pretty decent. Anybody in the Chicago area have their redone, or any other leads on reasonably priced options? cheers Kurt Milwaukee
I dare say more than half the owners around here have sucessfully used Leatherique and are pleased with the results. Guess I've spent under $200 in their direction.
I would either re dye the seats myself or find a place that will re dye them for you. Most likely a good upholstery shop can repair tears and make the seats look like new for around $500 for the pair. Look around and get some names of places in your area.
I can say that $2K with GAHH is well spent, their seat covers are top notch, and my upholstery guy agrees after looking at them. They come with foam and are ready for your trimmer to install. I spent $1800 for leather seat covers for my '61 Corvette (leather wasn't original), so I don't think $2K is out of line. At one time, and I probably still am, thrifty, frugal, cheap,whatever you call it, but I have realized that sometimes, it isn't a bad thing to spend money, as long as it isn't wasted. I have had my car 26 years, i will probably have it for another 26 years, so new leather isn't wasted. Dough
Ask around the hot rod community and see who does the best custom work. That's what I did and kept coming up with one name. He did my whole interior for not much more than it would cost to buy new seat covers. Personal bias aside...like I can actually do that....it came out looking great.
I had two BMW seats completely redone in leather for my 1991 BMW 318is for $650 from Gibbs Auto Interiors in Indianapolis (http://www.gibbs-auto-interiors.net/). I have not asked about Ferrari seats, but I can't imagine that they would be much more. It's probably worth a phone call. He does great work at reasonable prices.
I love the patina on 25+ cars and would miss something on an old car with new leather. In most cases based on a bad photo I could tell if the seats were upholstered or not. Far better to mainain your seats regularly with leathercare and use the money on something that really needs the attention (e.g. suspension bushings or fuel lines) gf
Thanks for all the replies and links. Patina is one thing, mine however are just over the line into "tatty". Older dye job, 6" open seam on the driver's seat, headrests splitting slightly, etc. I'd give the leatherique a go but at the moment don't have a garage to do this likely stinky job. Or is it not that noxious, so can be done inside a home? Just had the suspension and major coolant/fuel lines rebuilt and right now the front end is being resprayed (windshield out), and the interior can easily wait until next winter. $2k + installation for covers just seems high, especially when then the door panels, center console, and carpets will all look that much worse lol Will try to find more local places to get quotes - unfortunately Milwaukee is more about Harley's than hot rods.
Leatherique is not stinky and you can use it indoors easily. Milwaukee is more about Harleys than hot rods? Boy oh boy... you need to get out more! There are quite a few shops in the Milwaukee area that do great custom work. One of the better-known custom upholstery shops around Milwaukee is Kasper Auto Trim in Watertown. They do tons of hot rods. There are also many shops that do full-on resto work. Bennett Coachworks has done at least one Pebble Beach winning car. If you're serious about finding a good local shop, I can make some calls for you to get some other shop names. I know dozens of guys that have hot rods and/or custom cars. And arguably one of the best (or at least well known) Ferrari restoration shops is right in Wisconsin, in Neenah - Motion Produts.
Did my BMW seats with Leatherique in my house...no fumes or smell at all...took me a very long time though because I removed all the old dye completely using fine grain sandpaper and their included "dye removal" chemicals (which also does not stink). Redying can be sprayed or brushed on (I used a brush) The supplied "crack filler" doesn't seem to be very durable...some of the areas on my seats that were filled are cracking again. John Image Unavailable, Please Login
LOL touche! True I haven't made inroads yet into the auto 'scene' around here. Thanks for the leads I'll give Kasper and Bennett a call. Best would be a place that's done 308s before, and can put together a reasonable offer (something like $3k for the seats, carpet and door panels. Maybe that's not reasonable, and I'll just do the carpets and rear shelf trim myself next winter). thanks Johnny - sounds like the sanding and general messiness right now isn't feasible. Thought I read here that sometime turpentine or thinner is used to strip the old dye.
These guys just sent me a sample for my camel/beige/tan seats. Not even close. And it's vinyl. Maybe black would be better. A local shop was going to order GAHH - he swears by them. But color is not guaranteed and probably wouldn't match the rest of my interior. $3K for GAHH & installation. I'd dye my seats myself, but the welt is shot on one side and the center strip is cracked. I haven't found leather welting as of yet.
also read that somewhere around here....... The stuff that comes with Leatherique works very well and doesn't stink like the turpentine
