Sourcing Leather to reupholster front seats- 1988 911

[biagiosarich]

Looking to source leather/kits to reupholster my two front seats. I got a quote from a local shop in Seattle for $1,6950 for the kit alone from GAHH. I have no reference point so any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!
Biagio

[jjeffries]

Hi Biagio, maybe what I'm about to say, you already know:
There are different grades of leather;read up on Full Grain vs Top Grain.
Karl, aka Discseven on Pelican, wrote a great thread about his efforts to find 911 replacement seat upholstery in the best leather, and not finding it, he goes about making covers himself. I'm not suggesting you make your own, but his thread is a good way to learn what goes in to worthy replacements.
As always, the best stuff costs more! Best of luck, John in CT.

[Alex599]

Have a look at Lakewell.com I’ve ordered full leather perforated seat covers for $1600 CAD shipped. OEM exceptional quality and great service.

Alex

[76FJ55]

Rob Bud at Classic 9 Leather Shop does excellent work and has a great reputation. I've see his work in several 928s and was very impressed.

[biagiosarich]

Thanks guys! I’ll check lakewell out as well. At this rate I should just find a pair if decent sport seats!

[PorscheGAL]

GAHH makes beautiful seat covers. My husband and I bought the seat covers and reupholstered ourselves. Not a bad project to do yourself.

[Roswell]

+1 for Rob Bud at Classic 9 Leather Shop. Send your seats to Bud. let him do the install. They will come back looking brand new.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The previous owner had my leather completely replaced at Beck's European in Scottsdale. The quality of the leather and workmanship is absolutely superb.

[mrm930]

+1 for Rob at Classic Leather. Excellent work!!!

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by jjeffries

Hi Biagio, maybe what I'm about to say, you already know:
There are different grades of leather;read up on Full Grain vs Top Grain.
Karl, aka Discseven on Pelican, wrote a great thread about his efforts to find 911 replacement seat upholstery in the best leather, and not finding it, he goes about making covers himself. I'm not suggesting you make your own, but his thread is a good way to learn what goes in to worthy replacements.
As always, the best stuff costs more! Best of luck, John in CT.

Thanks for compliment John. I did indeed look all over for full grain leather* covers and my conclusion: not made any more except by custom order---and price is hefty. Since I have plenty of time to mess with "projects," it made more sense---and was more gratifying---to figure out how to make covers and dive into it myself. Not to pat self on back but leather cover making is not for the faint of heart or the impatient.

* Full grain refers to 100% leather with only a color dye applied. What is marketed as "leather covers" now days is leather that has a top coat of something---not sure what it is---applied to the leather. This allows manufacturers to shave one hide into multiple hides and create a uniform outer surface throughout their product. The commercial benefits are obvious. I'm not knocking coated leather... it's just not for me---I like the feel as well as the patina true leather gains in time and so my insistence on using full grain.

[Harpo]

+1 for Rob at Classic Leather. Excellent work!!!