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My '70 Convertible came to me last year with aftermarket comfort weave seat covers and I want to replace them with high quality leather.
Have seen many different ones listed online including Ecklers, CorvetteMods, CorvetteAmerica and a couple more.
Seems all are in the $700 range for 100% leather, which is what I want.
Looking for recommendations on what you installed. Thanks
There are two different manufacturers Corvette America and Al Knoch. I personally like the Al Knoch seats better. You can purchase direct or through a distributor
There are two different manufacturers Corvette America and Al Knoch. I personally like the Al Knoch seats better. You can purchase direct or through a distributor
Did you install in your car? I see them on their website for $730. Thanks for the info.
I have installed in a couple of cars I did leather in a 72 and a 74 and vinyl in a 69 sorry I don't have pictures of the leather. I am restoring a 72 convertible and I will install the black leather it.
Last edited by 69FASTFUN; 09-06-2018 at 06:13 PM.
Reason: more
Are you certain you want all leather? Both the general design and fall in, rotate then climb out nature of getting in and out of C3 seats means that the bolsters (sides) are particularly prone to damage from excessive flexing. Vinyl upholstery with its permanently bonded fabric backing is significantly more durable in that application. This is the reason the nearly all new cars (and certainly later and perhaps all C3s) with "leather" seats actually have "leather seating areas" or similar phrase when described in the advertising and sales literature.
You can certainly have 100% leather seat covers made but even if the absolute finest leather is used (I don't know how you can know for sure) the bolsters are still subject to far more wear.
If you want something different and supremely comfortable search for tailored sheepskin seat covers. Tailored is the key word here. These are not the sort of seat covers you see in auto parts stores! They are made for the exact type of seat. Seatbelts, etc are accommodated for an will work. In the case of early C3 seats I believe that they completely cover the seat back. They're warm in the winter, and, more importantly, stay cool even in direct sun on hot days. Even though it has fur sheepskin is still leather so you do get "all leather" seats. I've had them on a couple of cars (not my Vette as it has fabric seats) and it is extremely durable. They cost as much or more as the new Corvette upholstery I've seen in the catalogs from the common sources.
I agree with what SwampEastMike said. As a matter of fact, I remember reading here on the forum about how the 68 seats were all leather, but they went with the leather/vinyl combo on later years due to the excessive wear problem. That's why I went with the leather/vinyl combination on my '72 LT-1. Plus, it was just like the original seats. I bought them from Corvette America, along with ALL relevant parts & pieces (foam, install kits, and tools.) Plus they have a great video on their site that shows you how to install them.
Those look beautiful. Do they "breath" like the original Comfort Weave?
Dang...that's a good question! The vinyl seat covers that we removed were not original but also had the insert weave. Since the new covers were installed, we've only taken a couple of local drives in the C3 and can't really say they breathe. The fact that the inserts are not a solid pattern, I would assume they may be a bit cooler than leather.
Wonder if they are real leather or that cheap coated look alike stuff?
A few years back I bought a what I thought was a leather chair for the house. About a year ago paper thin sheets of the black surface started to peel off and I realized it was not leather. It was the most realistic looking fake leather I've ever seen!
I agree with what SwampEastMike said. As a matter of fact, I remember reading here on the forum about how the 68 seats were all leather, but they went with the leather/vinyl combo on later years due to the excessive wear problem. That's why I went with the leather/vinyl combination on my '72 LT-1. Plus, it was just like the original seats. I bought them from Corvette America, along with ALL relevant parts & pieces (foam, install kits, and tools.) Plus they have a great video on their site that shows you how to install them.
Thanks for your post. Those look good. Did the pattern of the leather change by '72? Your's are laterally while mine are vertical...
Fairly certain I want all leather, have had multiple cars with leather and loved it. Premature wear is not a concern as it's not my daily driver.
Sheepshin? You've got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!
I have all leather seats in a car (Seville STS) and they've worn well even if they're covered in that comfy sheepskin. To my knowledge, the last of the last generation Seville's were the only GM vehicles with all leather seats--even other Cadillac models based on the same chassis had leather + vinyl.
The really good fleece (sheepskin) has about 1 1/2" of extremely dense hair--again this is not the stuff you see in auto stores. As my scree name implies I live in an area with extremely hot and sticky summer weather. I detesting sticking to leather seats and the sheepskin is even more comfortable than the ventilated seats in some cars. In the winter your body warms the fur faster than seat heaters warm the leather.
[QUOTE=SwampeastMike;1597947290]I have all leather seats in a car (Seville STS) and they've worn well even if they're covered in that comfy sheepskin. To my knowledge, the last of the last generation Seville's were the only GM vehicles with all leather seats--even other Cadillac models based on the same chassis had leather + vinyl./QUOTE]
Maybe you should trade up to a CT6? They have AC cooled seats!
09-06-2018, 05:41 PM
Leather seat cover recommendations needed
