Fix the seats or leave it original?
 

After nine years I am thinking about selling my '81 SC Targa. It's been a lot of fun, but other projects beckon. It is mostly stock and has surprisingly good original factory paint in a paint to order color (Gulf orange). I've kept the numbers matching status, added limited, reversible enhancements (exhaust, wider wheels) and it shows and drives well.
But the sport seats have a few issues. The drivers side has been recovered in not-quite-stock perforated leather. The outer piping is broken, but the seam is tight. The passenger side has tears in the seat area leather and limited cracking in the bolsters.
So, my options for marketing are: 1) do nothing, sell it as a survivor with patina 2) repair the piping and torn seat area or 3) invest in new leather for both.
Would I get my money back for the interior repair? And it's a slippery slope (new carpet, etc.)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513044578.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513044601.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513044618.jpg

I'd leave it to the new owner to decide what they want to do and sell as is.
YMMV.

Show the rest of the car. Hard to answer without visual context, no offense to your description.

No offense taken! I haven't taken any pics for selling it yet, but here are a few shots. (Yes, the rear spoiler is oem.)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513054494.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513054516.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513054716.jpg

Good looking car.

I doubt you'll increase the value enough to make fixing the seats worth the trouble.

_

Thanks Norm. I think you and Alan are right about the return on investment and it would be a real challenge to find the right shop.

Nice car. $25K? :) Sorry I had to ask.

Maybe in 2014. I'm probably going to start a little higher, gg.

I would fix, the cars exterior looks great and the seats are a let down. Im pretty sure you would get your money out of of the repair IF you get them done for a reasonable cost or find used replacements in great shape.

If there are issues like that with the car, a buyer is going to pass because they dont want to deal with it, or they will hammer you on the price. My guess is many buyers of these cars are not DIY guys like on Pelican and they wont be able to look past that mess.

Fix em and put the car on BAT... I bet it would do really well due to the unique color.

Never seen a Gulf Orange SC. Nice. Let the next owner deal with the seats. Probably won’t get a return on investment.

Fix it.

Why let someone nitpick you on that? I *know* potential buyers will say, "well if he can let his seats be in that disrepair, then what else is too?"

I think you need to get a price on fixing them before deciding
1500-2000 I'd probably do. 4500 - 5000 probably not

Agree with Dan.

Nice looking car.

Leave it. Obviously there are other things needing attention as well. Are you going to fix those? I don't think so. Leave it, or my advice to to find a set of period seats that are much better than yours, put them in, and include the old ones in the sale. Much easier than repair - probably.

Really? Those seats look like they could be reasonably repaired without a full recover.

repair the seats - don't recover - then you would have nice original "Sport" seats. I needed to recover mine in an '84 and bought new covers from Classic9 - did the work myself for an all in of around $1800. They look new - not original - I would of preferred original but they were too far gone. An upholstery shop should be able to stitch these up...

Great original looking car I personally would want it as is.

I was thinking the same thing as Sal. That's what I did with my SC Targa.
My decision was easier in that my seats were in far worse shape.
You can always resell the seats you purchased as they aren't making any more and guys are always looking for them.

Black matching Dye, look at it and then decide on fixing the piping but keep it original...