1968 Elephant Hide door panels : production project

[andrea70]

Hallo To everybody.

We all know that this damned door panels are impossibile to find in Nos condition, especially in black colour.

So, i found here in Italy a friend that have one of the biggest italian firm in leather and leatherette production.

I asked him if he are able to reproduce the panel that has 2 type of material.
He said something like this: at the correct price and minimum quantity, i take an artisan that works for me and i can make a custom production.

We are talking about a PERFECT reporduction, with a perfect material (LEATHER, NOT LEATHERETTE) with a world class italian craftsmenship.

So, i want to understand how many pieces are needed in the 1968-addicted universe.

Let me know
Thank you.

Best
Andrea

[Barwaut]

Hmmm, very curious...

First: were 911 '68 panels made in leather?

Second: For the 912 community I had '68 panels remade by a company in the states.
The reproductions are very, very, very good, but also a bit expensive.
Around $900US, but hey, like they say: better for sale than not even around...
As far as I know they still take orders. They stock any kind of vinyl you ever heard of...

Andrea, how local is your 'leather' friend?

Best,
Barwaut (Monza, Italy)

[peekaboo]

I am definately no expert in this , as I have never even examined the underside of any 'elephant hide' material . BUT , as per this 1968 MY 911/912 interior chart. The factory term for this material seems to have been " 'ST' grained leatherette" / "Kunstleder mit 'ST' prägung" (in italian : "finta pelle con impressione 'ST' ").

So since leatherette / Kunstleder is imitation leather . And "finta pelle" means same (faux leather) .There's your answer. But Andrea is possibly going for an upgrade ? And they can make the leather come out the same ?

[VintageExcellen]

No early door panels were originally leather, just vinyl. The reproduction 68 door panels that were recently offered for sale were a very good reproduction and available in either basket weave or elephant hide. At $900 there was very little profit margin and sadly there may not be any more made due to low demand. I tried to sell a few sets for the manufacturer but had poor sales numbers. $900pr for correct reproduction 68 door panels is much less than reproduction 69-73 door panels with correct pockets at around double the cost.

[andrea70]

Mark. WHO is the producer of elephant hide reproduction panels???? I know only about simpler basket weave type...

About Leather- leatherette: OF COURSE it was leatherette !!!! BUT NOWADAYS it's impossibile to find elephant skin leatherette, only real leather ( it is used in fashion industry)

[JT912]

Seems as thought the cars in the links are pre-'68. It is difficult to imagine some of the '68 detailing being done in leather, but I'd bet it was possible.

[Soterik]

I've got 3 of the factory fabric binders, and they all 3 have the vinyl version, but no leather version of the "elephant" fabric.

Eric

[southbay356]

can someone post a photo of the elephant hide material and some measurement next to it , how many dots per inch or ???

I have bought this in grey for the trunk of a non 911 car in the last few months and the shop may have black too....

SB

ohh this is leathette not real leather....