Dashboard material-leather or vinyl?

I have a 92 C2 with the "full leather interior" option. I can't tell whether the dashboard is leather or vinyl. It's got stiched seams around the edges and wrinkles where the material was bent around curves, which makes me think it's leather. Common sense makes me think that it's vinyl because it's a more durable dash material. I'm trying to figure out whether I need to use leather conditioner on it or vinyl protector.

Any ideas? Is there an easy way to tell whether something is real leather or not? Thanks.

Good luck. I posted this same topic a few months ago and still haven't got an answer. This spring I plan to take the car to an upholsterer and get an experts opinion.

It sounds like you have a leather dash, this option was available on the 930 also. The stitching is the giveaway. I went to replace my 930’s upper dash and they asked if I wanted leather or vinyl. Mine is currently full leather but the price difference is huge! Basically, take good care of your leather because if you have to replace it you might have a heart attack.

Drew,

If you have stitching and wrinkles on your dash, I would think it's leather. I have seen 911's with leather dashs, but I'm not an expert on 911 interiors.

One suggestion, you could apply some Lexol Leather Conditioner to a small section of your dash. Leather will absorb the conditioner after a couple of hours (depending on how dry it is); if it's vinyl the conditioner will not be absorbed.

Bruce

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to try using a little leather conditioner and see if it absorbs. Is so, I'll just assume it's leather and treat it accordingly. My guess is that it won't harm vinyl to treat it with leather conditioner, but it might harm leather to treat it with Vinylex.

I have a 91 C2 with what is clearly a vinyl dash. There is no stitching or wrinkles and there would be no confusing it with leather, for what that is worth.

To tell if it's leather or vinyl: Get a very small needle and hold it in a pair or pliers. Hold your bic lighter to it until it glows red; touch the tip of the needle to an inconspicuous place. If it's vinyl, it'll melt a very small pin-sized hole in the material & enter it very easily. If it's leather, it'll scorch it with no melting evident. If you do it correctly & in the right place, you shouldn't leave any marks whatsoever. Useful also to tell if an item is glass or acrylic plastic.
regards,
jlex.

Actually It's quite easy to tell leather from vinyl just by digging your fingernails into it. Vinyl gives more that leather and has a slight stretch to it. Leather has a harder surface feel. I ahve a sofa with leather tops to the cushions and vinyl around the sides. It looks identical- has stitches and all, but the "feel" with the fingernails is different. Does that help any?

no,no. I like the idea of burning a hole in it better...hehehehe

If it's stiched it's leather. At one time Porsche was paying approx. half of the coast to replace the leather ones with vinyl becauce the leather was cracking etc. in the sun. If you take care of it i.e. use lexol and keep it cover if you are going to leave it in the sun all day it will be fine; especially north of the mason dixon line.

Take a hole punch and punch a hole in the dash so you can get a good sample of the material. Take it to the local shoemaker, he'll be able to tell the difference.If the hole bothers you later you can cover it with a V-Tec sticker available from your local Honda dealer, not cheap but really cool.

[kingshawn1234]

I have a 1986 930 Turbo Black on Black with a vinyl dash. Do you know where I can find the exact look alike vinyl that was used to cover the dash originally?