Cracked leather dash - replace with plastic or leather?

[Jason Cullen]

I specialize in Porsche 911 interior restoration.

I sell restored "Black Leather" Dashes for $600 and take your dash in exchange if it can be "restored".

If you are taking the efforts to replace your dash, go leather.

We cover them in “Brand New” German leather to OEM Specifications with correct stitching lines. We use classic methods of heating and adhesives to apply the leather, with light padding underneath for longevity. We never use staples!

We can also match any leather color and blend new leather color to match any original interior.

Black Leather is the most popular.

Please feel free to call any time for dash suggestions or any interior questions!

Thank you,
Jason


use

[randywebb]

How long do they last in the sun? Is there a warranty?

[Jason Cullen]

I have the "Correct" 86 thru 98 "Large Vent" dash for your 86.

The good news, you do not have to pull the windshield for install.

Give me a call if I can assist.

Thank you,
Jason

[Jason Cullen]

Randy,

7 days a week direct "Las Vegas" "Sun" in summer? Or normal use parked in a garage in Seattle?

Is the owner going to periodically rejuvenate the leather with lexol or not?

Is the owner going to use “Leather Drying” chemicals such as “Armor All”?

That is all "Subjective".

Plastic Cracks – Leather dries, that simple. If the leather is properly maintain, you will get excellent yield with the dash.

Depends on how the owner takes care of his interior sincerely dictates the life.

You can go 10 – 15 - 20 years plus with proper car.

My typical customer is pre 87 and is adamant for leather.

I sell restored dashes for a very fair price, typically less than upholstery and material costs. Am very happy with our quality and happy to provide a 911 owner with a beautiful dash!

Thank you,
Jason

[randywebb]

They look nice in the pic, but it sounds like there is no warranty

[Jason Cullen]

Randy,

Not sure where you are taking this?

I’ll offer any warranty that my competitors offer.

Kindly Randy, I am posting for Emissions. I appreciate your input.

Happy Holidays,
Jason

[Emission]

Jason,

I take care of my leather (Lexol religiously and the car is garaged and covered 25 days a month), and I don't expect any warranty except on craftsmanship/fitting.

I will give you a call next week.

Oh, "German" leather = German cows? :-)

- Mike

[dd74]

My '74 dash has cracks. My car isn't a concourse car, and I don't intend on it being such. The dash is vinyl, but I do like leather. The dash also has a speaker inside it and defrost vents, but I have no stereo in the car, and haven't once used the defrost, so the dash can be very simple.

One question: if I go leather, is it heavier than vinyl?

Jason and/or Harrold: what do you guys suggest?

BTW: I'm not too concerned about a warranty. I'm loaded with blind trust.

[aircooledsonly]

someone has three dashes for sale on pelican parts site Blems $250 to $350. new vinyl are $1000. wrong year for my car, anybody have a nice dash , not perfect, for a 72 911 jay

[Jason Cullen]

DD,

Yes - It adds a few lbs.

All Porsche 911 dashes are “Stock Vinyl” dashes that are wraped in “Leather”.

Happy Holidays!

Jason

[RSBob]

Jason, I don't understand your use of quotes here

All Porsche 911 dashes are “Stock Vinyl” dashes that are wraped in “Leather”

Are you saying Porsche dashes are leather or vinyl or a simulated leather made of vinyl.

My oringinal 1973, which I was so proud of, cracked 2 months ago for the first tme. Now that is longevity considering the car spent time in Texas to the point where the paint cracked (window paned). It has a very nice removable speaker grill, with no cracks.

What is truly original, (I would assume leather since 90% of my car came with the leather option) and how would you recover it. Do you have a standard warranty, and for how long, or do you just match the best warranty I can find and then you put it in writing?

Final question, why are yours so affordable and the others about double? Are they gougers, or you are trying to corner the market by undercutting the competition?

Thanks, Rick

[Evans, Marv]

I feel sorry for Jason. It seems like he is trying to offer a good product for a good price. As a result, it looks like he's getting nit-picked to death.
If people want a dash that will last forever and be waranteed as long as you own the car, go for a vinyl rebuilt dash from Just Dashes. I think most people can realize a leather covered dash maybe won't last as long. One person might take really good care of it, and another might not take care of it at all. That along with the variables of time in the sun, moisture, general climate, etc. make for different life spans. How long it will last depends a lot on the owner no matter how great the materials or workmanship are. I can understand why he can't tell us it's going to last for 10 years or it gets replaced free of charge. If you like leather, his look great to me. Leather is good!

[dd74]

Yes, what Marv said. Jason, thanks for the response. We'll talk once my Visa recovers from Xmas.

[scottb]

I guess no good deed goes unpunished, even in Pelican-land.

Hang in there, Jason.

[Jason Cullen]

RSBob,

What Porsche did was take their existing vinyl/plastic dashes and covered them in leather.

The vinyl on Porsche 911 dashes is very thin, it’s a vacuum process that coverers them. It’s more a plastic versus vinyl.

If you want OEM Vinyl, Yes go for “Just Dashes” they are the absolute best! If you want leather then call me.

Marv, DD, Scott! Thank you!

Jason

[Jason Cullen]

Rick,

If you want period correct for your 73, go vinyl.

The challenge is finding a clean early dash.

Most 73’s have had their dashes replaced.

Panels, rear seats, pockets, knees, door tops etc. in a 73 is vinyl. Leather was a rare option on leather seats, however your 73 could be a special order. I still have not seen a full leather early car factory.

Leather option started with 930 and 911 SC’s. They scaled back on full leather interiors in the late 80’s due to the overwhelming amount of 911’s that hit the So Cal region. The dry climate, armor all and poor design of some of the 911 interior kept the dealerships busy replacing interior.

We have done the early dashes in leather and blend the speaker grill texture/color to match. Looks incredible.

I don’t have high overhead and buy leather in bulk to keep costs down. This is how I am able to provide a restored leather dash at a fair price.

Thank you,
Jason

[hoosierdaddy]

Guys I'm in the same business as Jason but I'm in the midwest . The prcoess he described for recovering the dash is spot on . It seems some of you aren't happy with someone offering a quality job for a reasonable price . I would imagine if you twisted his arm enough he'd double the price if it made you feel better . Some of you ask about warranty , what do you want ? Most reputable shops will warrant craftsmanship and material , beyond that it becomes a judgement call for the shop owner . You would be amazed at the things people will tell you to get something done for free . If you want to save some more money ask Jason about using domestic leather but be warned , domestic leather won't match all German colors without being surfaced dyed .

[Emission]

Can you two (Jason and hoosierdaddy) elaborate on the different types of leather, and how to care for leather dashboards - the information would be very useful!

Is there a thick vs. thin leather? Which holds up best to UV and heat? Is the trick to leather longevity moisture, or keeping it from UV?

[Seeeu911]

great thread ! I have a not too severely cracked vinyl dash, caramel leather color on my 87 coupe. I would love to have it re done in color matching leather. I was considering the patch kit/crack filler from leatherique and then redeying the surface. the prices discussed here make that fix seem too cheesy.

[techweenie]

There's an option nobody seems to have mentioned, and that is to stitch on vinyl material as if it were leather: french stitching around the gauge opening; vinyl bonded to the old dash. Typically, its done with three pieces of vinyl. This is about a $200 - 250 process and can produce decent results if your upholstery guy "works" the cracks on the original dash so that the edges don't rise and spoil the contour.

Vinyl fabric has much greater longeivity in the sun and quality vinyl can be indistinguishable, except for the lack of "leather smell."