Best place to buy leather to cover seats

[Maxhouse97]

I am ordering custom Recaros (PPs) and need to source my own high quality leather for them because the factory does not have the right color. Any ideas on where to get seat leather? What should I pay for it? Should I avoid Porsche specific places in order to dodge the Porsche tax?

[timmy2]

Why not get the seats in a light color leather and have them dyed?

[x98boardwell]

There is a place near me called Classic Interiors. The guys name is Stitch... I know its crazy. He does a lot of the restoration for the Central Valley of CA. and is located in Fresno. Just another option but let me be the referral because he is awesome. He has been doing it for a long time.

And yes, he may be able to supply the leather and is aware of all Porsche colors and textures.

Best of luck,
Bryan

[m110]

The current factory recaro leather is garbage

Check out:

Home Page

He's on pelican, search recaro restoration

[rusnak]

I had good luck with World Upholstery and Trim, but I was buying a kit to fit factory seats.

If you are talking about custom upholstery, then you might just let the upholstery guy buy the skins and match them himself.

[geshaghi]

Originally Posted by rusnak

if you are talking about custom upholstery, then you might just let the upholstery guy buy the skins and match them himself.

+1

[John1180]

Try Home Page located in Tacoma WA, he specializes in Recaros

[Maxhouse97]

Well the seats are brand new and I have to source leather to be sent directly to Recaro, so I just need someone to sell me the hides. I am waiting on one vendor to give me a quote. I wanted some options because I think the price will be high - hence the question.

On a side note get this - Recaro charges about $800 for a cloth PP. For black leather they charge around $1400. In order to get a different color leather, as their selection is weak, you have to pay an additional $300! So you are at $1700, with Recaro essentially providing the shell, and the labor to stich the leather you provide. Crazy!

[RSTarga]

buy the seat and send them to Tony at autobahn, but seriously what type or color are you asking for that they cannot source? Spinneybeck is where Singer gets their leather and it is very high quality. You just need to know exactly what is appropriate, thickness, type etc.

[MH911]

You could try Tandy Leather. I purchased a hide a few years back for a re-upholstery job I was doing on some furniture. They do have a pretty wide selection and stores all over.

[Quickstep192]

I haven't bought anything form this guy yet, but he's been incredibly responsive so far and has a big selection of hides.


Leather Hide Store | Home of Wholesale Leather Hides

[Maxhouse97]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm waiting on a supplier to provide me a quote. It is interesting to think that I could buy the cloth ones for 800 and send them to a leather speciality shop and get the covered in leather for cheaper than buying the leathe and having Recaro do it.

I wonder if the cushion/padding is different for the leather seat from the factory? Any other stories of using a third party to cover in leather a previously cloth Pole Position?

[Maxhouse97]

I am looking for a tan/champagne color that was stock for 87 Carreras.

[Lukesportsman]

Bespoke vs. mass produced assembly line production. You are essentially paying them for the inconvenience of doing something one off. The cloth ones are already inventoried and ready for shipment. They also have much less "risk" in using a stock material if something would possibly go wrong.

[Maxhouse97]

Well they are going to lose business if there are quality alternatives in the marketplace. I am looking into a vendor listed on this thread and buying the cloth seats to have them covered. Could end up saving me 700-800.

[RSTarga]

www.Autobahninteriors recovered my cloth Recaros in leather and did a great job. Call atony and have him send you samples and maybe they can send the seats straight to him.

[m110]

Originally Posted by Maxhouse97

Thanks for the ideas. I'm waiting on a supplier to provide me a quote. It is interesting to think that I could buy the cloth ones for 800 and send them to a leather speciality shop and get the covered in leather for cheaper than buying the leathe and having Recaro do it.

This is what I am doing with some recaros. Their custom work stinks in my opinion. Find a good custom guy. Recaro doesn't give a s... about the Pole Position crowd. They make their money selling seats to Airbus and outfitting fleets.

[Maxhouse97]

I started a new thread and canceled my order with Recaro. Let this be a lesson to future folks who are looking at custom leather seats! Thanks for all the replies.