Seat reupholstery

[AZ1977911]

Hi All,

I'm getting ready to buy new seatcovers and reupholster my seats. I am down to three choices for purchasing them:

1.) Our host PP
2.) Inland Imports
3.) GAH Inc.

Our host sells them with "Basket Weave" inserts. If that is what I think it is, I'd make that my last resort.

Inland Imports come with perforated inserts.

All comments and suggestions welcome.

TIA

[surflvr911sc]

I just had my seats recovered in leather and the shop was able to source the Porsche colored leather (brown), recover them to look factory (perforations and double stitching where it should be), built up the bottom bolsters, and it cost about $700 for both.

If I had to buy the recover kit ($$$) I would have just replaced the seats w/ Recaros. Finding a good shop to recover them for you might be a good cost effective alternative, it was for me.

[scottb]

Have you looked at World Upholstery or Autos International? I've been doing the usual "dance" with Original Fit, and I wouldn't reccommend them.

[AZ1977911]

surflvr911sc - I have been considering that option; however I'm also intersted in DIY. We'll see which side of the fence I fall on ;-)

scottb - I forgot to mention Wold Upholstery, I'll go look at Autos International.

Thanks for the responses guys!

[scottb]

Autos International has a good reputation. They're in the San Diego area, I think, so shipping to you should be quick and relatively inexpensive. In fact, it probably wouldn't cost much to send your seats to them, and have them do the work (if they do actual recovering, as opposed to just supplying materials).

[surflvr911sc]

Originally posted by AZ1977911
surflvr911sc - I have been considering that option; however I'm also intersted in DIY. We'll see which side of the fence I fall on ;-)

I can understand that.

My criteria for diy is if I can do it better, cheaper, or just have more fun. Seat recovering didn’t fall into any of those categories for me. Good Luck!

[larry47us]

Originally posted by surflvr911sc
I just had my seats recovered in leather and the shop was able to source the Porsche colored leather (brown), recover them to look factory (perforations and double stitching where it should be), built up the bottom bolsters, and it cost about $700 for both.

Surf:
That price is a really good price!!!! Autos International is the source for early Porsche interior stuff, and they do seats as one of their main stays. I have asked them to quote me on redoing a set of early Sport Seats. Their price is $1100 for reupholstering both seats, with an additional $100 if I want to do cloth inserts (which I do). Sounds like a lot compared to your $700 for leather, but there was a shop I talked to in South Carolina that would do front and rear seats in Leather for $600, but I was a bit leary. A fellow Pelican said that they did his seats and he was pretty happy, but they needed to fix one thing for him. Not bad, but not the greatest.

What happens if I send them my seats and they ship them back and I don't like them? I'm out $600 and freight costs. With Autos Int'l, you are guaranteed excellent work just from the experience that they have, and the references I have read on this and other BBS.

I believe that they also sell kits.
http://www.autosintl.com/


larry

[rfuerst911sc]

I do not want to take business from our host but I recovered my 83SC seats with the Inland Imports kit and everyone that sees my seats say they look great,and at less than $300.00 it was a no brainer for me.I doubt the concours crowd would be happy but for us "lunch pale" guys they are a good match.I purchased the black,they have perforated inserts and almost feel like leather,I had never recovered seat before and it was fairly easy,I did have the help of my wife and mother-in-law,I recommend one extra set of hands.They fit good,I didn't have to modify anything and after more than 6 months of use they are as snug a fit as the day I installed.Hope this helped.

[jester911]

I am looking at redoing my seats as well. I have the porsche text fabric inserts in vinyl. They aren't torn but they look old and faded.

I want to either recover in leather or buy some other seats already in leather. Trying to do it and stay inside a 500 dollar budget is looking tough so far.

I will just have to keep looking

[AZ1977911]

rfuerst911sc - Your previous posts lead me to consider Inland. I'll review those posts soon.

jester911 - I've been warned not to do leather by some Pcar guys that leather isnt worth the cost and has some drawbacks. Mine are vinyl and I like the feel, so I will probably stick with that.

[jester911]

AZ1977911, I posted a question here about the preference of leather. It seemed most all the replys were in favor of leather.

I think the key is how well you take care of them.

[AZ1977911]

jester911 - I seem to recall reading some of those posts. I will review them also. Oh well, more dithering ;-}

[jester911]

AZ1977911, keep us posted on what you end up with. I haven't decided which route I am going yet and it looks like you have the same problem.

Post some pics when your done

[Zeke]

Originally posted by surflvr911sc
I just had my seats recovered in leather and the shop was able to source the Porsche colored leather (brown), recover them to look factory (perforations and double stitching where it should be), built up the bottom bolsters, and it cost about $700 for both.

If I had to buy the recover kit ($$$) I would have just replaced the seats w/ Recaros. Finding a good shop to recover them for you might be a good cost effective alternative, it was for me.

So, Ryan, who was the shop?

[curlesw]

I have used Autos International and they do excellent work, a little pricey but I have had numerous P-car owners comment on their work, nice tight seats all the way around. I opted for original leather and stitching. I worked with Tony, great guy, knows his stuff.

V/r
Wayne C.
83 SC

[Bruce Huling]

SOooo! What did you end up with? I am leaning towards ordering the recover kits from our host and having an upholstory shop do the work... What did you do? Pictures??

[AZ1977911]

Hi All,

I ended up getting my covers from Inland Motors. I received the covers and they appear to be of very high quality! I will be installing them in the not to distant future... I'll keep you posted.

Bruce,

Sorry I could'nt make the run weekend before last. My brother came into town that weekend . When I get ready to do the install I'll let you know. Maybe you can come over and lend moral/supervisory support ;-)

Greg

[sammyg2]

The PO of my SC recovered the stock seats with the tan vinyl covers from Tweeks. The fit good and look good, but the color isn't quite right. I can't say I recommend them.

I bought my brown headliner from Autos intl and it is a quality piece. I still haven't got around to installing it, but it looks great in the box. One of these days.........................

[SandyI]

Had my seats and headrests reupholstered in German Leatherette with basketweave centers but the key to comfort was getting the seat bottoms and backs refilled. My seats look great and feel even better. I now understand why all the new car reviews of the early 911's gave the standard seats such high marks for comfort.

[fred cook]

Since PP only carries black seat upholstery and I wanted tan, I finally decided to go with the Inland vinyl perforated kits. They were relatively easy to install (first time job for me) and look very nice. At $300 for both seats, I feel that If I decide to go back to leather in the future, I will not have wasted too large an investment. Each seat took about 2 hrs to recover including the removal and replacement time. The only thing I would warn others about is that you need two people to install the seat back upholstery. One to squeeze the bolsters and the other to slide the upholstery on. Alternatively, you can take a piece of old t-shirt and tie a band around the bolsters in order to get the new covers in place.

Good Luck!

Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

PS If you are going to use black upholstery, PP should be your first choice for a vendor.