Seat upholstery opinions.

rapidtrans

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2016
Messages
4,066
Reaction score
5,401
Location
MI
I’m getting the seats recovered for my Monaco.
I want the exact pattern copied but......
The stitcher asked me if I wanted all the seat welting also to match original. Initial response was “of course” but now I’m thinking of leaving it out.
This seat pattern has a lot of welting or piping in it and I’m not wild about the looks of it.
In previous cars this welting has cracked and broken long before the cloth or vinyl showed any wear.
FF2AD741-3405-4713-B330-37C9379EC2C9.jpeg

This is the pattern with all the welting.^^^^^

Cost being the same either way.
I like the looks of the seams on my daily driver better. Shown below.
6ABC7E62-DD4D-4EE9-B993-7C97D7943BE6.jpeg

I seriously doubt anyone would even notice if I didn’t point it out.
So, all thoughts or opinions welcome.
 
I’d stick to the original.
 
I would stay original. I've seen modern style upholstery in 50 year old cars, something just seems off. But your car and $ so do what you want. You will never satisfy everyone.
 
These cars lead a pampered life, I’d stick with the piping.
 
When you look at cars that have the stitching like on your daily driver, you can tell right away - replacement. The piping/welting is what makes it look correct.
 
I have the exact same seats. You need to keep the welting for it to look right! Please keep us posted on your experience with the upholsterer . . . I'm thinking with the little individual strips of foam, this is a tough one for them to do right. Can't tell you how many butchered Monaco interiors I've seen . . .
 
So I'm guessing that Legendary interiors makes covers for your ride? Keep it original. Good Luck
 
Legendary makes bucket seat sets for 65 Fury, Coronet, Satellite, and even the Polara 500 package. I have talked to them on-and-off for 20 years about fabricating a set for 65 Monaco. I've even offered to supply an old set to use for pattern. They don't even bother to get back to me . . . :mob:
 
Legendary makes bucket seat sets for 65 Fury, Coronet, Satellite, and even the Polara 500 package. I have talked to them on-and-off for 20 years about fabricating a set for 65 Monaco. I've even offered to supply an old set to use for pattern. They don't even bother to get back to me . . . :mob:
I've been through that BS with them too, hard to give money to someone who literally turned their back on me, but try have the skins for two of my projects. Local guy is going to get my money for the C bodies.
 
Legendary makes bucket seat sets for 65 Fury, Coronet, Satellite, and even the Polara 500 package. I have talked to them on-and-off for 20 years about fabricating a set for 65 Monaco. I've even offered to supply an old set to use for pattern. They don't even bother to get back to me . . . :mob:
They also don't do the back seat on a 65 Polara 500 convertible.
 
Nobody offers the Monaco seats.
Legendary guys at Carlisle showed no interest in making them period.
SMS has the material and did offer to make the covers for many $$$s plus I’d have to provide my seat covers as a pattern. No word on turn-around time.
We have a number of custom car upholstery shops in the area. This guy does custom interiors for street rods and big 3 show cars. His price complete is about what SMS wants for the bulk material. Turn-around time is no more than a month right now. And he’s 4 miles from the house.
 
Last edited:
I have the exact same seats. You need to keep the welting for it to look right! Please keep us posted on your experience with the upholsterer . . . I'm thinking with the little individual strips of foam, this is a tough one for them to do right. Can't tell you how many butchered Monaco interiors I've seen . . .

I was surprised myself.
The seat foam I purchased from Classic Ind. looks spot on for the Monaco buckets complete with side bolsters and that front raised section molded in. He already has a plan for the pleats in that center section. The rear bench will take some work to recreate the bolsters.
 
I’ll post pics once the new seats are installed.
What will he do?
Stay tuned!

p.s. Good time to repair the power bucket mechanism. Neither seat wants to move the tracks are so jammed with yellow seat foam dust.
 
From looking thru the Legendary catalogs over the years, I believe most (if not all) of the bucket foam was the same throughout the various car lines. Only the upholstery skins were changed.

In the rear, I've often wondered if you could use a pair of the front seat foams, and add a smaller strip of flat foam between them?
 
From looking thru the Legendary catalogs over the years, I believe most (if not all) of the bucket foam was the same throughout the various car lines. Only the upholstery skins were changed.

In the rear, I've often wondered if you could use a pair of the front seat foams, and add a smaller strip of flat foam between them?

I’ve caught a few u-tube videos by Legendary showing install of their covers.
They make it looks sooo easy!
The replacement foam comes with all the bolsters for the Monaco buckets. These need to be carved away for many other applications.
 
Back
Top