I did a few searches and read the material on the subject that I could find. I read several articles and saw some impressive photos on repairing/re-dyeing worn tan seat leather to the same tan colour. I saw some comments that changing from a light leather colour to a dark leather colour was possible but the reverse - dark to light was problematic. I would like to find a 1998.5 Testarossa with a black exterior with tan or black interior but (of course) I have recently seen a nice black exterior/red interior car. I have a simple shop and no previous experience with upholstery work. My Questions A. How difficult is it to change Testarossa red leather seats and door panel interior to the standard tan colour by re-dying? Are the leather components tricky to remove? B. Is this a job one could patiently putter away at during the winter with our Sponsors products or is this a job best left to the professional upholstery people? C. Costs are always difficult to determine but can anyone hazard a guess to the price for a professional upholstery shop tackling this kind of job? Thank you in advance.
Since the colour is not vat dyed(it is only on the surface of the leather), I would strip the the original colour and redo in any colour you like. If you do the labour yourself, the cost is minimal. There are a number of companies that can supply the colouring.
Going to a darker color is no problem. Think about it: once the color is in the leather it is permanent. Bleach w/ destroy the hide. I went from red to black in my Datsun 240Z even w/ some vinyl spray paint. Leather is easy.
I have been planning on redying my tan interior on my 308 have looked into two different brands any one have done the redying and have preference of one brand over another brand. I have information on Leatherique and Swissol are their any other brands. I have have read and talked to some one who did it in past and gave me following process. 1. Must remove seats from car. 2. Remove top coat with benzine or lighter fluid or one of manufactures cleaners. 3. Redye with color. 4. Let dry real good. 5. Respray with top coat either gloss or mat finish.
Thanks to all. It seems that the original seat/panel colour doesn't have much bearing (if anything) on the final colour. Excellent news.
Not so with some cars. Ferrari, RR, Bentley, MB and others do not dye the hides; the colour is sprayed on like paint, and is just on the surface of the leather. The 'paint' is removable without damaging the leather. Most American cars with leather interiors, have the hides vat dyed. In that process, the colour penetrates the leather.
