How to determine OEM leather color #? (re: Leatherique)

Did you call them to see if they have the color formula? The other options are to cut a swatch of leather from somewhere on the car that will not be missed, and that is the original color and send it to Leatherique. They will match the color.

Or, plan on redyeing all the leather in you car using one of their "stock" colors.

I just redid my leather with Leatherique and the outcome exceeded my expectations.

 

Could you send pics of the Leatherique work? I'm still trying to make the choice between that and a redo.

Lester

 

Redying is not a good answer although it is economical. A re-dye will always look dyed. If you can come up with the bucks to do it and you go to a place that does it right you will first look at swatches from different dye lots. There's dozens of different hides that claim, for example, to be tan. Grains vary a lot also. Your upholsterer will then cut the pieces from original hides using the old ones as patterns. This is completely new upholstery, not seat skins or kits. Its great to have concours paint, etc. but the cockpit is what you see when driving. This is the way to do it right and good craftsmen are hard to find. And, as I said, it's not cheap! Figure on $4K to $7K. Here's the thread I posted when mine was completed

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/sho...light=interior

 

The Crema color is actually Connolly #3997 Magnolia. Not sure if this helps.

 

Don't take the cheap way out here. You just purchased an amazing car. I bet you did not go with the cheapest one you could find.

I just went through the same thing with my 328. The exterior is immaculate but the interior was warn. I thought about repair and dye but opted for a complete redo. New leather and carpet. It really makes the car stand out. It was expensive but worth it. If you are thinking about the investment, I will get you the leather number which is the current OEM leather color. Enjoy your new car this summer and prepare for a winter project.

Good luck!

 

A re-dye done correctly will NOT look like it has been done.

It does take a lot of patience and prep work.

 

I agree its all in the prep work. To make sure it looks great - you should re dye all the leather...

 

Well.. now that you mention it.... ;-)

.. ok, so just to be sure, seats are leather, console cover is leather as well? How about door cards, leather or vinyl?

I have only seen one car in person that had been re-colored. It was uniform in color and it had a *flat* appearance to it. It just didn't look right. So I'm partial to getting the leather redone.

Lester

Lester

 

The original leather was treated, embossed and sprayed with dye anyway by the manufacturers. So if done properly its pretty much replicating the original processes.
One downside though is if the stitching is dyed as well thats a bit naff.

The exception is if the leather is cracked. I used to live around the corner from the original Connolly works in SW London and I took a car I owned to them once to have a look at. It had badly cracked leather. The guy said absolutely nothing could be done to cure this other than replacement.

 

Pull a seat and look underneath.

The original color will very likely be revielled.

 

Having the leather redone rocks. Even though some of the restoration/dye jobs I've seen on this board and in person look really good, there is nothing like brand new leather. Even after 5 years, the work Bullfighter had done on this car still looks, feels, and smells new.

It's expensive but it is sooooo worth it.

 

My interior was natty. I thought about a respray on the seats & even bought the dye from leatherique.

But it became apparent that the tan wasn't consistent in the car. The seats were different from the door panels were different from the console, etc. All due to age & sun.
Dye one thing, dye them all.

My driver seat had a nasty split in the center. That twisted my arm to get an new interior from Bradan. It looks incredible!.

Every one of the shops I visited for the seats warned me against dying, saying it'll start flaking in 3-5 years - guarenteed.

Just an FYI.

 

I had new leather put on the seats and center console. The leather on the doors was still good so I did have them dyed. I agree, if done right and the base material is good it can be done to look good. The item that stands out the most and you will get the most benefit is from the seats. Nothing like the feel and smell of new soft leather.

 

the bottom part of the seat on my car, blue interior, was ripped. i cut a swatch, about 2 inch square, from under the seat and sent it to leatherique.
bought a tan colored hide off ebay and took it to the upholsterer who cut portion he wanted to use.
did the re dye spray myself that was six years ago and it still is perfect.
whole job dye, leather, work came in under $500

 

It's hard to believe it's been five years! I think that's the last time I used the word "incused."

 

Remove one of the door panel (or any other panel that you want to keep original), send it in for a color match, it is their job to match it with a guaranty.

Twice now they did not match my samples and I have to redo all the leather in the slightly off new color

 

Of course, a new leather interior will look better than a redye. However, for the cost of the new interior, you can redye your existing interior AND install a turbo or supercharger. It all depends on your priorities. (Or take your wife on a nice vacation.) Anyway, I elected to redye - here are some before and after pixs. Your choice....
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

PAD,

Did you refinish the door panels too? Any pictures of the refinished central console and door panels. Did you use a standard Leatherique off the rack color or a custom one? How long did it take you.

The seats look fantastic by the way.

Thanks.
(also an '83 owner)

 

Yes, I redyed the door panels. I recovered the console because it was in bad condition, and then redyed that too so everything would match. I used one of Leatherique's stock colors. I have no idea on the number of hours - there's more wait time than actual "work". And we used an air gun to apply the color. I had a local interior shop make new carpets (about $500), and then Steve (Fasterisbetter) and I spent about a day putting everything back into the car. Very happy with the results. I'm sure the concours folks will find flaws, but frankly Scarlette, I don't give a .........

 

To dye my seats and central console I've used the Leatherique colour code 3218, the beige one. The Crema is lighter. The beige is darker and more yellowed, the same colour that you can see in my picture of the link. These are my seats and my central console redyed with Leatherique 3218 -also an 83' owner, GTS-.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_oZxtOED3UE/T8JuL48cewI/AAAAAAAAAR8/DJ0QOOI6yOg/s1024/IMG_4864.JPG

 

These are mine finished with the same #3218 dye. First picture is under florescent lighting in the garage and the second pic is a Droid X phone with flash. Both don't do justice.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Wow!

 

I did a set of seats also about 2 years ago in a GTB that I had. Leather was in fairly nice cond. to start with but TOTALLY faded. Take your time and follow the Leathique instructions and they will turn out VERY nice. I'm pretty picky and I was astonished how nice they turned out. The leather even softened up (quite a bit). It was amazing how the before and after looked so different. Big time faded leather. You may have to do the door panels and center console because the colors will be so mismatched. I have a video that I took of the car on Youtube (selling it) that shows the seats up nice and close if you're interested to see. Maybe shows a little better than photos. You do have to sit through a semi-long video to see shots of the seats though (nice close-ups). hehe