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By DANIEL TINDER - 15 Years Ago
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While not strictly a Y-Block issue, I will need to replace my seat upholstery soon (stitching has pulled/broken out of vinyl on drivers' side seat bottom where two colors meet), and wonder if leather might be more durable/comfortable enough to justify the added expense? Has anyone out there had experience with using leather in a convertible?
I understand modern vinyl "double stretched" material may suffer more from sun exposure than the stuff used back in the 50s (?). Since I leave the top off the Bird all summer long, and am no "lightweight", 70K miles was all the wear I could get from my 12 year old replacement seat cover. I have also had problems with permanent dye staining of the white vinyl due to "sweat-through", when wearing dark colored imported clothes in hot weather. Would leather resist staining or clean-up better? If properly treated/maintained, would leather resist cracking/stitch break-out better than cheap vinyl? How about sun fading? Would leather be more resistant to puncture damage?
I assume leather may breathe better, thereby possibly avoiding much of the sweat-staining problem? I would gladly pay extra for any improved comfort/durability, especially if extended reupholstering intervals (and resulting reduced labor costs) were an added benefit that might help to offset the high initial expense.
As everyone seems to have a different opinion on this subject, I would really welcome all recommendations based on actual experience.
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By pcmenten - 15 Years Ago
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My convertible Mustang has cloth seats. I think the issue with vinyl and leather is that they can get hot in the sun. Perhaps you can find seat covers with cloth inserts and leather around that. Seems like I've seen that somewhere.
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By MoonShadow - 15 Years Ago
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I have the usual naugahyde with cloth inserts. Best of both worlds I think. Stays cool and wears good. Chuck in NH
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By bird55 - 15 Years Ago
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I don't have an answer for you, but I'm glad you brought it up, I am also interested in any info.
I have seen the tbird Leather set for sale at "Larry's" and have been hoping to win the lottery so I can buy it for my bird. about 900$ just for the seat covering materials.
All I know is it must smell better than Naugahyde 
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago
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What I've been wondering, since vinyl products come from oil, and as many hamburgers this country devours, why is leather so much more expensive? Every cow we eat comes in a leather container.
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By 46yblock - 15 Years Ago
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10 years ago a fellow came by and wanted to be supplied with 10 tanned ostrich hides to upholster his high end street rod. Finding a tanner is difficult, but finally located one who gave a price of $130 per hide as I recall. Then add the price of the raw hide and it was expensive. Only point is that tanning costs.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 15 Years Ago
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bird55 (2/10/2009)
I don't have an answer for you, but I'm glad you brought it up, I am also interested in any info. I have seen the tbird Leather set for sale at "Larry's" and have been hoping to win the lottery so I can buy it for my bird. about 900$ just for the seat covering materials. All I know is it must smell better than Naugahyde
Bird55,
One reason I am actually contemplating leather (pre-made kit in authentic style/colors only comes from Larry's) is because the president of my local T-Bird club gets a wholesale dealer price. He makes a buck, you get a discount, and it's shipped straight to your address from Larry's warehouse.
P.S. Another mystery concerns the construction of seat foam. Most everyone sells the type made with knife-cut sections glued together. Only one source sells the more expensive, molded-in-one-piece kind. Anyone know which is best, or why?
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By bird55 - 15 Years Ago
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Here's just a guess, it might last longer. I have had the foam replaced before when I have done other birds, and it did make for a nice job, seemingly. Sometimes the old foam just gets to point and breaks down. Like I said just a guess. But of course you would have to strip off the current upholstory to find out the current condition? I've only used the knife-cut style.
I like the sound of the discount?
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By crenwelge - 15 Years Ago
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I have driven Mercedes for many years. They have a material called MB Tex that looks like leather but is vinyl and has holes for breathing. It is almost like cloth seats while driving with the roof open. It lasts a couple of hundred thousand miles. I have been seriously thinking of trying to get some and having covers made for one of my Fords.
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By miker - 15 Years Ago
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I've had the Larry's leather seat cover on my car since 2004. The finish process makes it feel "dense" and it doesn't breath like modern leather in hot weather. Better than vinyl, but not as good as I expected. Mine's white, and it mark's easy, but cleans up ok. The foam seems to be holding up well.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 15 Years Ago
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miker,
While 5 years may not be enough to demonstrate increased durability (not even sure how long Larry's have offered the leather option), I get the impression you may (grudgingly?) feel the extra $ was not wasted?
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By sundance241 - 15 Years Ago
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Daniel , I have had seats covered both ways , with the preformed foam and foam cut and glued together , to me i would pay more for the preformed foam , the cover fits better and looks better, w3ell worth a little extra,,,. where did you find the preformed foam , and is this just for birds? or our 55 56 pass. cars also...? Sam West central Florida
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By DANIEL TINDER - 15 Years Ago
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NPD (National Parts Depot) was the only place I found that sells the molded foam (F185) for T-Birds. Don't know if they also have a catalog for pass. cars. It costs 30% more, by the way.
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By miker - 15 Years Ago
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Daniel, The leather was quite a bit better than the old cheap vinyl I took off the car. I was trying to compare it to the material in modern cars. I'm partial to good fabric in daily drivers.
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