Leather

Paxton · 17-08-2008, 09:45 PM

It is the little things that make the car. Power Windows, Climate Control and Leather seats. My Falcon has a number of these, however the one thing I really miss from my Territory is Leather Seats. They are really something else to sit on, especially compared to the cloth in my XR6. After driving the X5 for a number of days this week, I have come to the conculision that the one thing I really want in my Falcon is Leather Seats.

Before you start to ask why I didn't just get a Fairmont Ghia, I didn't want one, and am very happy with my XR6 - it just needs improving. This leads me to ask; has anybody gone out and had their EF Seats re-covered? I did an eBay search before starting this thread, partly looking for AU Howe Leather, when I came across This, and it interests me. I know it is only a cover (and isn't Leather), however for the price, I'm strangely intrigued. Does anybody have any experience with this?

What I really want to know, is what do people do when they want Leather Seats? The Wreckers that I know of in my area are terrible, and Darren at FTG'd be too expensive (for freight), so it is a re-upholstery job by the sounds of it. Does anybody know of a good upholsterers in Southern Sydney (Sutherland Shire)?

Thanks for your help.

Andrew.

Dezza · 17-08-2008, 09:54 PM

I've heard of some of them are actually quite a good fit. It'll obviously never be as good as proper leather seats though. E-series leather seats in good condition are very rare as e-series leather is pretty poor quality. I like my velour though (and my manual for that matter).

trick_xd · 17-08-2008, 10:46 PM

They look very good from them pics

If you get a set then post it up ... I am keen to know what there like ... I might get some as well to make the car that bit nicer

ILLaViTaR · 18-08-2008, 12:14 AM

I've always seen people sell cracked leather seats for $400 and can't believe people actually buy them. EF ghia seem to be the worst from what I've seen (and many as I've been looking myself).

The ones I do see that are always in good nic are from the NL fairlanes but they have different mounts than the SWB models. If you're up for some bracket modding then I'd say they're your best bet.

SICAZZ · 18-08-2008, 09:19 AM

Go to CVO (Concept Vechile Operations) in settlement road, thomastown and have all your seats retrimmed in leather with a double stich. Oh yeah!!

1FLYRYD · 18-08-2008, 10:45 AM

this is the com pany i am using cheaper then the ones you were looking at paxton
http://myworld.ebay.com.au/smyrna.import.export

Magna · 18-08-2008, 10:58 AM

i got blackmans to do my 380, www.blackmanandsons.com.au they use 100% leather i got mine done cheaper but the list price is 1250 for the kit. fitted it myself. its black with perforated inserts and red double stitching. i wanna get my EF done as well but i cant decide on the color!

i know it looks a bit baggy, but if i take it back they can heat it slightly and the wrinkles will disappear.

**Sorted** · 18-08-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

I've always seen people sell cracked leather seats for $400 and can't believe people actually buy them. EF ghia seem to be the worst from what I've seen (and many as I've been looking myself)..

I got my Full leather Interior out of an EL GHIA that travelled 77,000klms for $400 (seats and door trims) BUT i was lucky -

:

I wanted Real Leather as the Fake Stuff will burn your off in summer.......lol Some of the kits you can buy these days look the goods but at the end of the day you pay for what you get

Paxton · 18-08-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magna

i got blackmans to do my 380, www.blackmanandsons.com.au they use 100% leather i got mine done cheaper but the list price is 1250 for the kit. fitted it myself. its black with perforated inserts and red double stitching. i wanna get my EF done as well but i cant decide on the color!

i know it looks a bit baggy, but if i take it back they can heat it slightly and the wrinkles will disappear.

They look the goods (and have a branch in my Suburb in Sydney). I'll have to check these guys out.

Thanks for the tip.

Allen · 18-08-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

The ones I do see that are always in good nic are from the NL fairlanes but they have different mounts than the SWB models. If you're up for some bracket modding then I'd say they're your best bet.

Since when did they have different mounts?

The LWB front seats are identical, as are the rear seats. The only item that is different is the side bolsters on the rear seats. You must be thinking of wagons, as the whole rear seat is compleatly different.

If you are up for it, the best way to go for factory leather (which is cheap an nasty anyway) is to buy a smashed NL Concord and steal the interior, and part out the rest.

Otherwise aftermarket trimming is the way to go.

Dezza · 18-08-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

The ones I do see that are always in good nic are from the NL fairlanes

The one's in my mate's NL are some of the worst I've seen.

ILLaViTaR · 18-08-2008, 07:54 PM

Fairlanes:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1996-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1997-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem (not good pics)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1997-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem

I've seen way more good than poor however things like garaging and treating need to be taken into account.

Here's a poor example of an NL:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1998-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem

Fairmonts:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1994-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem (worn)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1994-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem (hardened and baggy crack prone)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1996-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem (baggy doesn't look to far from cracking)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1997-Ford-Fai...QQcmdZViewItem
(Excellent condition fairmont leather, backrest of the seat looks nice and tight still, however the bottom has started to loosen like the others I've linked. It's hard to find it in this condition and above.

As for the brackets silly me the tutorial was on an NL interior > EA.

Dezza · 18-08-2008, 08:29 PM

One thing I've noticed is that Cappa usually seems to hold up better than the Grey.

**Sorted** · 18-08-2008, 08:31 PM

That first link illavator the interior is mint

Got to laugh at this pic.............lol

DEVL-XR · 18-08-2008, 08:36 PM

Hell yeah, thats the rear seat I need to find for my car and match it up with ED Ghia front seats!

On a side note I hate in photos when all the air vents are everywhere, professional magazines do it all the time too and it s..ts me!

Dezza · 18-08-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEVL-XR

On a side note I hate in photos when all the air vents are everywhere, professional magazines do it all the time too and it s..ts me!

lol That makes me feel better that I always have to put the air vents straight! I'm not the only one! What really annoys me is when people post photos up and they have rubbish in the footwells or poorly fitting seatcovers. I never have a lot of rubbish in the car, but any that is there is removed before any photos are taken.

Paxton · 18-08-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

They look the goods (and have a branch in my Suburb in Sydney). I'll have to check these guys out.

Thanks for the tip.

Quoting myself now.

I've had an email back from Blackman and sons, and they're just over $2,000, or 1/3rd the price of the car. How did you get them to quote you at about a grand? PM me if you're more comfortable.

It looks like the leather covers are the way to go.