body and interior Refurbishing Seats

[2002#3]

Friends,

 

Car:  1974 tii

 

Please see the attached photos of seats which are the subject of this post and which do not have sufficient padding to support my sorry butt. 

 

For the last 3 months I have read many of the FAQ posts re: refurbishing seats:   upholstery, pads, techniques, options, etc.  However, I cannot quite determine a good route (among many) for refurbishing the seats in the fotos, especially b/c I just found out I probably do not have > '74 seats.  My seats have 17" headrest posts and 7 pleats (17/7) and seem to be from an < '73.  NOTES:  (i) I realize use of original will require addressing the large rips, and WU is an extremely nice way to go if $$$ is available.  (ii) Springs are rusty but appear to be fine.  (iii) Not worried about back seats.  I can restuff them with foam or the like.

 

I did a Google image search and found most > '74 cars to be 6/6 and a few to be 17/10 or 17/7.  So, I probably have < '73 seats.  Agree?  I thought virtually all < '73 seats had ~10 pleats, but whatever.

 

So, my questions re: these seats:

1.  7-Pleats:  I have not seen many seats with 7-pleat upholstery.  Anyone know anything about them?  Used in what years?

2.  Stuffing Front Bottoms:  Do you think the expensive ~$250 brown coconut (horsehair) pads will work?  How about the less spendy ~$75 grey pads available from many suppliers?

3.  Stuffing Front Backrests:   Any suggestions re: what might work?  Any particular commercially available pads?

 

Several iterations of this subject have been presented in FAQ previously so please feel free to ignore this one.  However, I will appreciate your wisdom and advice.  All responses and suggestions will be welcomed, appreciated, and respected.

 

Larry

 

[esty]

fwiw...i'm pretty sure that your seats are 1974

 

if you have the bucks and want to spend it on original seat pads, for sure it'll be easier but i've padded two sets with firm foam from the fabric store 

 

here are my 76 seats i padded with foam...

[Conserv]

Esty is, of course, correct. You absolutely have '74 model year seats! Only '74 seats have 7 pleats on the front seats, widespread headrest supports, and -- most distinctively -- the smooth panels on the backrests ABOVE the pleated section.

 

Note, of course, that U.S. model years generally run from September through July (the production lines are closed in August for holiday and re-tooling). So if your car was manufactured after July '74, it is generally a '75 model year. The exception to this rule is '74 model year tii's, which continued to be CALLED '74 cars until the end of their production in December '74 (because to call them '75 models or manufacture them after December 31, 1974 meant that the higher '75 model year emissions standards applied, and even the tii could not meet those without costly modifications and re-certification). It does appear that some of these "late" '74 tii's may have come from the factory with '75-'76 seats (since all non-tii's manufactured after July '74 had already switched to the '75-'76 style seat).

 

FWIW: Pre-'74 seats have 12 pleats on the front seats unless the original seat covers have been replaced by aftermarket seat covers, which mostly have 10 pleats -- World Upholstery et al. Post-'74 (i.e., '75-'76) seats, of course, have the narrow headrest supports and 6 pleats unless the original seats have been swapped for early e21 seats, which have 4 pleats -- but are otherwise identical to '75-'76 '02 seats.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

Edited June 29, 2016 by Conserv

[2002#3]

Thanks, Steve and Esty.  As near as I can tell with VIN 2782059, the mfg date was June, 1974.  The PO had the car for 41 years, and I do not have any indication the seats were changed.  Larry

[Conserv]

Thanks, Steve and Esty. As near as I can tell with VIN 2782059, the mfg date was June, 1974. The PO had the car for 41 years, and I do not have any indication the seats were changed. Larry

Larry,

Those are almost certainly the original seats. If they are black seats (as opposed to Navy Blue -- sometimes hard to distinguish in photos or in my basement), my conclusion assumes your tii was a factory Golf, Inka, Verona, Taiga-metallic, Rivera, Atlantic, Schwarz, Baikal-metallic, Turkis-metallic, or Granatrot-metallic car! (The last 6 exterior colors listed would have likely had gray interiors if they were non-U.S. models, but Hoffman Motors appears to have generally ordered black and tan interiors in lieu of the factory-recommended gray interiors -- just another mystery.)

Below, the factory exterior-interior concordance from the September 1973 (a.k.a., 1974), global, all vehicles color and upholstery brochure. Left-most column shows cloth and vinyl interior color codes for the exterior color's at far right. Second photo shows 2002 interior color choices in cloth and vinyl. Choices are tan, navy blue, gray, and black, respectively, from left to right.

Regards,

Steve

Edited October 21, 2015 by Conserv

[2002#3]

Steve,

Thank you for the interesting and useful history of the early/late intersection of seat design.  The car is Inka and, ideed, was imported by Hoffman. 

Now, what to do with those suckers?  I have 3 upholstery guys to consult here in Cincinnati, hometown of Roy Rogers and Charles Manson.

Larry

[Conserv]

Larry,

I'm a huge fan of the (expensive) horsehair replacement pads, because they provide precisely the original shape and feel to the seats. '74 seats, like those before '74, were very flat and firm. Foam gives both an overly-filled, rounded shape and a cushy feel to the seats -- although I note that Esty did not go overboard as most do with the foam -- I generally refer to foam-filled seats as "Bibendum seats."

But...I'm quite a nut about stock appearances, and 99% of all the people who see an '02 will NOT notice the difference between a horsehair seat and a foam seat. So you do it for yourself!

I don't know about alternative non-foam pads. People talk about the possibility of VW, etc., but I never hear anything conclusive.

The covers are another problem. Are you a nut? If so, you will search around for '74 seat covers -- any color as they can easily be dyed black. And, of course, the covers you find must be in better condition than your driver's seat; and you will have a shop transplant a good -- un-torn and supple -- perforated vinyl central panel from the other used covers into your driver's seat. Oh, I forgot to mention, your upholsterer will reject some examples of other '74 seat covers, saying something like, "This cover is rubbish. It's not supple enough. It will look good today but you'll be back in three months with a tear in the same location." This is clearly the route to the most original appearance, but especially given that you're looking for one-year-only covers, it will take some diligence and work on your part, as your upholsterer is unlikely to be plugged-into sources of good '74 used seat covers!

I don't recall off-hand, if World Upholstery, Jaymic, or Walloth und Nesch sell '74-style covers. They probably do.

Those are my thoughts!

Good luck and regards,

Steve

Edited October 20, 2015 by Conserv

[RyanEsca]

I have a '74 June build with tan interior, seems '74 seats are hard to come by. I've been looking at World Upholstery since I haven't found any other options yet.

[JohnP_02]

I was at one of the very reputable upholstery shops (did the work on COOPs tii many years ago apparently) here in CT and they recommended using GAHH automotive for covers http://www.gahh.com/store.php?cPath=28_88_523&products_family_id=2 It looks like they are a bit more than the WU, but not by much, but they have covers for al the years.

 

Just a heads up, if you are looking to do the seats right with OEM pads, new covers and install be prepared to pay $$$ - its one thing I have decided its ok to go all in on - but I am stubborn, and Reccaros just don't do it for me. 

 

2002#2 I am from Cincinnati originally, I will have to give you a shout next time I am in town - id love to see your 02!

[2002#3]

Nowhere,

 

Belgian beer in the fridge and lunch in my garage is on me when you visit!  Spend the day.  I'll see if your hand fits a 13 mm wrench... In other bays in my garage compound, other guys are restoring BMWs, making custom motorcycles, and building Cobras from kits.  Good group.

 

Photos attached.  Don't worry, the cord was well insulated!

 

Larry

 

[Greg R aka Big_Lebowski]

Got my 02 back from the upholstery shop 2 weeks ago.  They did a really good job with the seats, cards/panels and carpet.  Really happy with the seats as they didn't over pad them.  What a world of difference!!!  (camera lighting is poor in these pics.  looks better in person) 

Edited October 22, 2015 by Big_Lebowski

[jmr_1602]

Looks great!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mike Self]

I was at one of the very reputable upholstery shops (did the work on COOPs tii many years ago apparently) here in CT and they recommended using GAHH automotive for covers http://www.gahh.com/...cts_family_id=2 It looks like they are a bit more than the WU, but not by much, but they have covers for al the years.

 

I took a look at the GAHH web site, and while some of the colors are the same as those used on roundies, the material pattern is not--it's the style used on squarelights.  I'm not aware of anyone who offers either kits or just the raw material in the colors and embossing as used on the '68-73 cars.  I've been searching for this for some years--even for some velour or corduroy that would go with the tobacco or caramel upholstery that was used on the 68-73 cars so I can re-do a pair of E21 Recaros to match the rest of my interior...Anyone know of a source? 

 

cheers

mike

[shoeless]

Making good progress Larry!