Classic 9 Leather Shop of Detroit.

[cmarkin]

Well, It took me long enough, but I made the choice to drive to Detroit this morning to drop off my two front sport seats at Robert "Bob" Budd of Classic 9 Leather Shop. I'll be curious to hear from everyone as to what their idea of a spent, shot or otherwise worn out set of seats look like. This is what happens when you leave your 930 out in the cooking hot sun of summer with the windows up (for a decade...).

Bob likes 928's. He has a beautiful GTS sitting under a cover along with a few others in the background. Nice guy, and in four or five weeks - i'll post pictures of the seats post Bob. I've been told that I'll be on cloud nine. Yep, one of his guys actually said that...

[mrm930]

Just built a crate for the interior of my 78 930 hotrod project. Have a few custom pieces also going with the standard interior. I had him do a few pieces first to see if I liked it - and these pieces were excellent. So very stoked to get this out to him this week. Only been about 14 months since I first contacted Bob to get an idea on cost for my project. - So - I am alittle behind here

Can't wait - total make-over of the interior - it will be a different car once he is completed

[Mike80911]

Bob did the dash and steering wheel for my 930 both in leather they came out beautiful. He stands behind his work and I would recommend him to anyone. You will be very pleased.

[cmarkin]

I am really excited. He had many different sets in various stages of tear down along with a completed set ready to ship. He just received a set of crates of GT3 seats to be redone. Holy Crap! when you see those out of the car they look as if there is no padding - just a huge hemorrhoid maker! I bet they are great on the track, but oh man... I would not like to experience a long drive with my butt in them. A really nice guy from the Bronx who is really good at what he does, and good night - this guy is a huge fan of 928's. He had something funny and telling to say about us "rear engine" guys: "Most of you come to me saying that you just dropped $25k into my engine - you got to give me a deal!" That was too funny (and to an extent - true). I'm glad I went in personally to drop them off and check out his operation; what started off as 8 weeks went down to 4-5 weeks. My only concern is that I only did the fronts - the back seats seemed great.

I only have one thing left that is really bugging me...

The dash, while not cracked or otherwise warped by the years of sitting out in the sun baking is torn up by fingernail damage around the top of the steering wheel. I am really really nervous about pulling the dash. To make matters worse, there is not a doubt in my mind that the front (hell, all of them) windshield seals need to be redone...

I am terrified at what I am going to find when it is finally pulled. There is a dark feeling in me that when I pull the front windshield out that there is going to be major rust in the drivers side lower corner.

Well, the winter in Kalamazoo, MI. isn't over yet, and the car is in a trusted friends barn having the paint resurrected after years of neglect. To which, I have to tell you all - I am always amazed at what magic can be performed on what some deem a "lost cause" of original paint... This guy is a genius rehabbing paint. He spent the better part of his life on the hot rod circuit detailing cars. It shows. I have already seen what he calls 1/2 way done, and it is miles above what you see on a new car lot! The best part is he keeps telling me that it's going to get so much better by the time he's done...

I'll post pic's when I dive back into the war zone known as outer Detroit/Romulus to retrieve the seats.

[patina]

So he is making custom seat covers?