Hi guys, I've been surveying the local scrappies with a view to finding some already leather upholstered seats to mangle for my car. I was going to use a pair of Bedford Mi9di van seats and reupholster them but I think the sewing may be beyond my abilities! I have located a pair in a 16v Renault 19 which can be narrowed and have an aluminium back cover made to cover up the horrendous leather work which will no doubt result. My question is, the leather has a few cracks where it has dried and, whilst I don't mind this as they kind of add an 'aged' patina to the seat it might be nice to set to and give 'em some t.l.c. SO, will attacking them with saddle soap or hide food sort them or are they destined to stay cracked?

That should sort them, but if you look in the classic car mags there are always ads for companies selling leather renovation kits which would sort out the colour too.

Browser
Covering the seats is not such a hard task. I tried it for the first time with reasonable results, the seat below is from a bedford midi and it is re-covered in cream leather.
Once you have taken the seat cover to bits you have an accurate pattern for the replacement panels and working with leather is far easier than plastic, I used an old 1950s style machine, which was powered by a hand turned wheel!
If you want to go down that route I can give you a list of the problem areas and ways to get round them.
The cost for both seats was £15 for 2 seats and £34 for a 3/4 hide.
Nick

[Edited on 11/9/03 by Nick Davison]
Rescued attachment Mvc-001s.jpg

where did you buy hide from that cheap?

atb

steve

Steve

It was at Newark show, a 3/4 hide so I got it at a reduced price.

Nick

thanks.

the only stuff I have seen on line ias about 120 quid a full hide.

Im not that flushed.

I may recover my seats to better match the car (they are new but in black pvc). I fancy a red and black interior scheme. Already asked my mum if shes up for some sewing. May still do it myself tho....

atb

steve

[Edited on 15/9/03 by stephen_gusterson]