Source for vintage upholstery

Imperial dude

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I have a 64 imperial in desperate need of having the seats done, as far as I know, nobody makes pre sewn upholstery for it, so i need to find the material and take it to an upholstery shop
Is there a good source for vintage material?
It has the pearl white leather, and yes I know it won't be cheap, but it's a 56k all original car so i really want to restore it back to original, eventually
 
How trashed is the upholstery now, is it serviceable or all dry rotted and ripped? If it can be repaired, give one of these a call and see what they can do? Otherwise, you're going to have to talk with local upholstery shops.
Fibrenew Leather Repair, Plastic, Vinyl, Fabric Restoration
Locations Archive - Dr. Vinyl & Associates, Ltd
Leather Franchise Services
You could also call Legendary and see what they might be able to do to help? At least you might be able to get some material from them? Good Luck
Custom Design Center | Custom Car Interiors | Legendary Auto Interiors
 
How trashed is the upholstery now, is it serviceable or all dry rotted and ripped? If it can be repaired, give one of these a call and see what they can do? Otherwise, you're going to have to talk with local upholstery shops.
Fibrenew Leather Repair, Plastic, Vinyl, Fabric Restoration
Locations Archive - Dr. Vinyl & Associates, Ltd
Leather Franchise Services
You could also call Legendary and see what they might be able to do to help? At least you might be able to get some material from them? Good Luck
Custom Design Center | Custom Car Interiors | Legendary Auto Interiors

its trashed, the Arizona sun did a number to it
And didn't think of legendary, if I remember right, a dart or one of those had a pearl white interior, probably vinyl not leather, but I'm not that picky, its not going to be a concourse restoration
The good news , the door panels are perfect
 
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Pearl white should have been in all Chrysler corporation vehicles. Leather or vinyl. The Imperial might have had a unique finish on their leathers/vinyls than other vehicles, though (as in "pattern" rather than color). Chrysler 300 or New Yorker might be an alternative leather or vinyl?

CBODY67
 
The samples arrived today from SMS (a lot faster than I expected, also a lot cheaper)
now its time to start saving, and trying to find a reputable upholstery shop worthy of using original material to reproduce the original style seat covers
Any idea of a reasonable ball park price to re upholster front and back seats if I furnish the material?
 
Any idea of a reasonable ball park price to re upholster front and back seats if I furnish the material?

Hope for the best, expect the worst! They'll probably pinch you because you supplied the material. I'll say easily expect a Grand to 1500, if not more. Which I'm sure it probably will? Good Luck
 
I’d say that $1500 would be the low end from my experience just last summer. It’s a very labor intensive job not so much material costs.
 
Don't forget about any "rebuild" of the seat springs, foam, and burlap underlayment, PLUS putting the nice, new sewn upholstery on top of all of that.

What you might do is to find a shop that has the old "Detroit" and/or "DeLeo" automotive vehicle upholstery fabric "swatch books". Then you can take YOUR swatches with them and possibly match them up with the old catalog items. Not unlike matching paint chips with a paint supplier.

You might also inquire with SMS as to the age of the fabric on the bolts (of fabric) they have in stock. "Freshness" counts in fabrics just as it can with "tire age" and food items.

Reason I say that is that back in the '80s, a friend had bought a '66 Cadillac for his wife to drive (with their two kids). He took pains to get the orig fabric and then had a shop sew it together in factory pattern (looked pretty nice). I asked him, a few years later, how the interior had held up. He got a glum look on his face and said it apparently was dry-rotten, although NOS. End result was that in about two years, it was done for (from daily use as a "normal car", just not reasonably new). But, it was good while it lasted.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
 
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These are the seats along with the rear bench I had done last year. SMS wanted me to remove my covers and send to them to use as patterns. They have no 65 Monaco seat patterns.
Instead I hit a recommended local shop. After all I do live in the heart of car central. This place is in the shadow of the CTC and does some custom interiors for FCA. We found a near perfect color and grain match from their swatches and available locally. Most custom shops just make their own piping out of the same material rather than solid vinyl piping like the factory that never really matched the tan seats. I bought the bucket foam buns and they provided all the rest, cleaned and painted the frames and springs, for completely finished seats. For less than it would cost to have the SMS material installed. Whenever it arrived knowing SMS is very busy.
As far as I’m concerned this stuff looks just like the original vinyl but superior as it feels butter soft like Chrysler's famous top grain leathers.
 
i avoid SMS if possible... they quoted me like 6 yards for 650? for my 60 imperial center parts. it was like 1200$ just for the vinyl and center sections?

I was like what? I know it was custom but yikes.. You can get nice fabric from fabric.com if you dont want original.

I am putting 2004 caddy seats in my 57 Dodge :) Im getting heated, wish i would have gotten cooled seats also. Talk about comfortable, i could move in...

Im making my own door cars and i have marine grade vinyl. Here is what i will use with my center section for patterned inserts.

and here is the 2004 caddy Deville seats(it looks like a bench seat when console is down).

But of course im a custom 1957/8 Dodge Regal Lancer

Upgrading seats in a classic car and speakers! - YouTube

upol.jpg


2004_cadillac_deville_dhs-pic-3580490355482327699.jpeg
 
If your looking for vinal than go to any well established trim shop and ask to look at their suppliers sample books. Take a good example of your original. I saved $700.00 over SMS and found a exact match for my pearl white 61 Plymouth vinal in both color and texture. I needed 8 yards but they gave me a price break for ordering 10 yards. Your likely stuck with SMS if you need exact OEM fabric.

A reputable trim shop will usually charge $100.00 per hour for labor.
 
yeah you can find the normal color stuff for a fraction of what SMS charges. I guess they got you on the inserts they will try to get you on the plain stuff also. Figure your rich, youll just order it along with the inserts for a super inflated price... whats 700-800$?
 
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