Seat Upholstery

[68torino460]

Does anyone make an upholstery kit for the 67-68 imperial? I can't find one. I just had an upholstery shop quote me $9k for recovering the seats. I'm sure this is a fair price, but I can DIY it. Are these seat covers unattainable?

 

[ayilar]

@detmatt

 

[Davea Lux]

www.smsautofabrics.com

 

[CBODY67]

The Imperial interiors usually had the Eagle logo stitched into them, back then. Plus expensive fabrics and such. NOT to forget the premium foam under the upholstery. Being a premium carline, they were usually a more-complicated item to stitch together, too. Can't forget the "French-stitched" seams, either.

Typically, the ONLY kits I've seen (perhaps @detmatt has some information on kits?) were from Legendary Interiors and were usually for mid-60s Plymouth Sport Fury models. There were leather kits for Chrysler 300 Letter Cars, from the old Gary Goers operation.

Also be aware that some companies will quote very high prices for jobs they do NOT want or will take much more time to complete than they are willing to have their facilities tied-up for.

Network with local Cadillac enthusiasts for possible referrals to an upholstery shop they have used and is used to doing work on American Luxury car interiors. Go from there.

 

[detmatt]

Nobody makes a cover for these cars, you have to find someone to make them custom.
‘67 is very different from ‘68 and 2 doors are different from 4 doors. Which year and model?

 

[68torino460]

Nobody makes a cover for these cars, you have to find someone to make them custom.
‘67 is very different from ‘68 and 2 doors are different from 4 doors. Which year and model?

Is a 1968 two-door convertible.

So are the sport fury seats interchangeable? I’m not as concerned about originality. The car is definitely a driver. I got it to make memories with my boys, not to preserve as a museum time piece.

 

[CBODY67]

Just looking at the sales brochures, I would say "No". The basic structure might be similar, but the actual end result is different, I suspect. Sport Fury had bucket seats that were shaped differently and such, as the end result.

It MIGHT, repeat, M I G H T, be possible that a normal C-body seat assy might bolt to the floorpan of an Imperial in those years, BUT as there are some other things different on those Imperials from normal C-bodies, this is just my speculation. No more, no less.

Over the past few days, there have been some '67-'68 Newport convertibles come up on my various Facebook C-body groups' feeds, that were being parted out. Obviously, they had front seat in them, of some kind. Not sure of the sellers' locations, but usually in the norther part of the country, usually.

Have you looked at the Legendary Interiors website?

Good luck,
CBODY67

 

[MONC440]

Does anyone make an upholstery kit for the 67-68 imperial? I can't find one. I just had an upholstery shop quote me $9k for recovering the seats. I'm sure this is a fair price, but I can DIY it. Are these seat covers unattainable?

9K seams a little much to me. Well a lot much actually. I had mine done a 2 years ago for $1700 and the guy did a great job. I was not worried about having the factory vinyl so it saved me about $500 but he got the patterns almost perfect. I was also able to use some of my factory foam so that saved me another $300. Plus the guy told me 3 weeks and had them done in 2. Below are some before and after pics.

 

[Big_John]

I’m not as concerned about originality.

There is a place that I've used that makes seat covers. Nice quality stuff, but not original. You'll probably have to call or email.

Seat Covers & Upholstery for Cars, Trucks, and Suvs

They fit nicely and looked good when done.

 

[MONC440]

Years ago I sent all the seat measurements to a company in the JW Whitney catalog for a 65 Dart, waited 4 months and the covers showed up in the mail. Dad and I installed them and they looked great.

 

[68torino460]

Here's what they look like now.

 

[detmatt]

9K seams a little much to me. Well a lot much actually. I had mine done a 2 years ago for $1700 and the guy did a great job. I was not worried about having the factory vinyl so it saved me about $500 but he got the patterns almost perfect. I was also able to use some of my factory foam so that saved me another $300. Plus the guy told me 3 weeks and had them done in 2. Below are some before and after pics.

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I might want this guys contact info please.

 

[68torino460]

I might want this guys contact info please.

same

 

[MONC440]

same

PM sent.

 

[live4theking]

In my area to have my front and rear bench seats covered for my 68 NYer, cloth and vinyl, I'm looking at $2500. That was at 4 or 5 places I inquired with.

I managed to get the original fabric from SMS and I went back to the one about a year later and asked what the price would be, still $2500.

There's still one more shop about an hour 1-1/2 away that I would like to talk to. I've seen pictures of their stuff and it look good.

 

[Imperialist67]

The only way I could see $9K being realistic would be for something like a '67 LeBaron with one of the iridescent "full leather" H9 interiors (see attached - H9Y), done at a shop like White Post Restorations, including padding....... but that's out of the ordinary. Even without a kit, you should be able to best that by a long shot. Good luck.

 

[Margos Dezirian]

Does anyone make an upholstery kit for the 67-68 imperial? I can't find one. I just had an upholstery shop quote me $9k for recovering the seats. I'm sure this is a fair price, but I can DIY it. Are these seat covers unattainable?

I was going to buy Front and rear covers from Legendary for my 300.
They were actually having a sale.
A couple of weeks after ordering I called to check on the delivery date.
They estimated about 9 months.
I canceled my order and bought a small cheap) walking foot sewing machine (new)
Off ebay . Ordered vinyl and supplies. Watched some youtube videos and made them myself.
I did make a practice cover with cheaper materials before I used the good stuff.
I'm happy with the results. I don't get tangled up in the saddle blanket cover anymore and there are no rotted foam crumbs on my butt now either.

 

[Big_John]

I was going to buy Front and rear covers from Legendary for my 300.
They were actually having a sale.
A couple of weeks after ordering I called to check on the delivery date.
They estimated about 9 months.
I canceled my order and bought a small cheap) walking foot sewing machine (new)
Off ebay . Ordered vinyl and supplies. Watched some youtube videos and made them myself.
I did make a practice cover with cheaper materials before I used the good stuff.
I'm happy with the results. I don't get tangled up in the saddle blanket cover anymore and there are no rotted foam crumbs on my butt now either.View attachment 716866View attachment 716867View attachment 716868View attachment 716869

Nice work!

 

[detmatt]

Nice work!

I agree, wow!

 

[Margos Dezirian]

I agree, wow!

Thanks guys.
They are not perfect but great ithink for my first time.
My buddy has a 70 Monaco that needs covers that I will likely help him with.
They will be better due to the learning curve.