Rebuilding Seats

[daepp]

I know there is a lot of wisdom on this board about originality and collectibility - so here goes.

Well, they're not Sport Seats and the car's a "T" - now that that's out of the way - anyone still here? Thanks...

The car is a very clean survivor, #'s matching and newly rebuilt S Spec engine by Supertec. Original paint is in very good condition. Original seats in good condition, but the spring is gone.

I have several questions:

1) A local upholsterer who has seen the car says he can restuff the seats with foam. Is this what others do since the springs are NLA.

2) The upholsterer can remove the original vinyl covers and reinstall them. There is nothing wrong with them, but they are not leather. The car has < 60K miles on it so there's not a lot of wear. Should I simply reinstall the original covers or replace with leather? I think the leather could really make the original interior look sharp - but it would no longer be original. How would this effect resale and collectibility.

Thank you.

[NiceT]

Same dilemma for me when I bought my "T" two years ago. My original brown houndstooth was saggy and stretched out so the pleats did not look like pleats. I sent the seat to Autobahn and Tony removed the covers, restitched new foam (?) into the pleats and re-horsehaired the seat cushions. He even used some doner russett material from a set of seats that were too far gone to repair a loose seam and damaged bead at the bolster seam. Seats look and more importantly sit like new. Thay do not have that dreaded "puffy overstuffed" look that jumps out as WRONG to me.
As for your originality question I think two points jump out. If you like original keep it original but since it's your car, do what YOU like. Any change you make can likely be unmade at a later date. I even have a set of sport seats and a meter and a half of the brown houndstooth to restore for my car but I can't bring myself to spend the money it would cost to do tham since there is a risk that the vinyl material (or leather) would not be a close enough match to please my ARP critical eye. Daron

[daepp]

Darren: Those seats are beautiful!!!

Did Tony reuse and fix the original covers, or are those all new?

[NiceT]

The material is the original vinyl and houndstooth to this car just rebuilt internals like you are thinking of doing. Tony is a magician! Replacement russett colored material not available unless you find another pair for doners. While Tony had the seats I replated the sliders and allen head bolts and powder coated the mounts.

Daron

[Milou]

I agree of course in "it's your car and you do what YOU like" first and always. There is always someone who'll tell you you've done the wrong choice etc...

My 2 cents is keep the original material even if it's vinyl you will never regret it.

What you'll miss from the fancier material, you'll gain in patina!

Good luck!

[daepp]

Thanks again Daron. Those seats are just awesome. I wish I had the houndstooth seats, but mine are just black vinyl.

I think y'all are right - I'll just restuff the seats and save my money - I do need to replace/fix the traditional cracked dash. Wait - maybe that's patina too