Dyeing.......Possibly worse then death? | FerrariChat
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Dyeing.......Possibly worse then death?

Discussion in '348/355' started by gandalfthegray., Dec 15, 2007.

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  1. gandalfthegray.

    gandalfthegray. Formula Junior

    Jul 18, 2006
    692
    Pinewood, MN
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    Steve
    #1 gandalfthegray., Dec 15, 2007
    After I get the 348 through the major service, I have been thinking about possibly having the seat leather dyed.

    I had this done on a Porsche 911 a few years back and the results were great. I still have the car, and the seats still show well. However, last year I had the front seats dyed in my Lexus LX-450, and the results are terrible. The shop that did the Porsche seats is no longer in business, so I had to try a different shop. The dye on the Lexus appears way to thick and has started to crack. The seats now look worse than they did before.

    Does anyone have any recommendations for a reputable shop here in southern California that could handle the Ferrari seats?
     
  2. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
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    #2 Bullfighter, Dec 15, 2007
    I'm not a fan of re-dyeing the leather. In San Diego, I'd recommend Symbolic Motors - they did a restoration on my 328 interior.

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167130&highlight=328+interior+redone
     
  3. jetfixr

    jetfixr Formula 3

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    #3 jetfixr, Dec 15, 2007
    I suggest you contact Rick at Tri-state aviation. He does the re-dye on bizjets that we service. Believe me, they always turn out excellent as he has the "CORRECT" process.

    People with 250,000.00 leather upholstery in Gulfstreams do not tolerate a "bad" job....He is repairing my Spider interior as we speak and recently touched up my Berlinetta. EXCELLENT WORK....

    Rick's phone number 513-200-2200
     
  4. rivee

    rivee F1 Rookie

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    #4 rivee, Dec 15, 2007
    And the cost?
     
  5. gandalfthegray.

    gandalfthegray. Formula Junior

    Jul 18, 2006
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    #5 gandalfthegray., Dec 15, 2007
    Thanks guys.

    I called Rick and left a message, but as it's the weekend I don't expect to hear back till Monday. Just out of curiosity, where is Rick located?

    Jon (Bullfighter) I read the thread on your interior restoration, very impressive. I admit that the re dye can't equal the new leather. However in my case, I don't see money permitting the new leather. Possibly in years to come. For now, I need to explore the dye options. Am I to understand that Symbolic will handle the dye work as well, if thats what I choose to do?
     
  6. hank sound

    hank sound F1 Veteran

    Jan 31, 2004
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    Hank Garfield
    #6 hank sound, Dec 15, 2007
    Yes..........call Fernando @ PRESTIGE FERRARI UPHOLSTERY in No. Hollywood, (818) 953-9606. Tell them Hank advised you to call. BTW, he did the Steve McQueen Lusso, front to back, top to bottom---------and hundreds of other top notch cars.

    Good luck,

    Hank
     
  7. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 26, 2005
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    #7 Bullfighter, Dec 16, 2007
    If you talk to Bill Pierson at Symbolic (858.350.1393), he can refer you to a couple of upholsterers (one in house, one local that they also use). In each case you will be advised against the spray-on dyes like Leatherique. If you have a couple of worn spots, they can likely fix those without replacing all the leather.

    My reason for replacing the leather had more to do with the look of the re-dyeing than actual bolster wear.

    Symbolic has done several of Nic Cage's cars.
     
  8. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 darth550, Dec 16, 2007
    Yep!
     
  9. jetfixr

    jetfixr Formula 3

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    #9 jetfixr, Dec 17, 2007
    650.00 for the Berlinetta

    1000.00 for the spider
     
  10. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
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    #10 vvassallo, Dec 17, 2007
    Gary Bobileff in SD has a guy that did mine and it came out great - not concourse, but very nice for a driver. 858-622-1600. I remember that the price was pretty good too.
     
  11. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

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    #11 mwhitesell, Dec 17, 2007
    Just spend the $3500 and get new leather. Then you know you will be happy with it.
     
  12. gandalfthegray.

    gandalfthegray. Formula Junior

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    #12 gandalfthegray., Dec 17, 2007
    I think it would run quite a bit higher. Bullfighter never said the exact amount, but I'll bet it was more like $5,000 to $7,000.
     
  13. AHudson

    AHudson F1 Rookie
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    Jul 7, 2005
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    #13 AHudson, Dec 17, 2007
    The essential difference in 'dyeing' leather is related to the two types of surface dyes currently avaialble: Oil based, and water based. The oil is more like paint, requires less prep, looks shinier, tends to crack. More broadly used.

    The water based requires more stripping, opening the pores, allowing to dry, then application.

    The results with water based are FAR superior to oil based. Looks more natural, holds color deeper and longer. My favorite in the world (though all will have their preferences) is ColorPlus hand-mixed in Pennysylvania. You send them a swatch, they send you a color and in my experience they've been incredible. Matched a 1955 MB 300b interior in burgundy, a "linen" leather in a 930 and more recently the black in my old 328.

    They send FULL instructions if you're so inclined, plus the softeners, conditioners, crack filler (if needed). http://www.colorplus.com/

    Hope this helps.
     
  14. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

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    #14 mwhitesell, Dec 18, 2007
    I did my 355 seats last year from one of the best leather guys in the country and the total was just a little less than 3500. That was for everything and new foam underneath. He turned them around in about two weeks. I have pictures posted in previous posts, they turned out perfect. The same guy has done several 348's for FOA.

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142621
     
  15. rivee

    rivee F1 Rookie

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    #15 rivee, Dec 19, 2007
    That's not a bad price.
     
  16. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 Bullfighter, Dec 19, 2007
    Price was ~ $5K. That included the doors, center console, e-brake assembler, seat belt retractors, seats (new foam underneath) and headrests - basically every piece of beige leather. It took about 3 weeks from start to finish, because they cut everything by hand and didn't use a seat cover kit.

    It's not trivial money, but given the option of spending a couple grand for a mis-matched job (because the doors won't match the new seat covers) or $5K for the ultimate, I decided to go all out because I show the car as much as I drive it. If I had been planning to sell the car, I would have just re-re-dyed the scuffed parts because most buyers don't really know.

    But, you can pretty much sit in my car and get high off the leather scent. And it's all legal! :)
     

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