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.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

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.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

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

56 victoria

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?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

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.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

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.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

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?

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

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?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

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.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

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.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"