Not for NCRS judging, but restoring for like new condition, which one to go with? I haven't found the build-sheet yet to say whether the 'vette should have regular or Deluxe interior and I'm assuming only black and saddle colors came in leather in early C3s, so question # 1).
Looking for opinions on the 3 types of seat covers listed in title such as looks/feel, wear, and logic.
#2). What other parts (besides seat covers) are different/included in the deluxe interior option?
#3). If you (a buyer with experience) went to look at a '71 Corvette that was restored to "like new" or "sympathetic" condition, would a deluxe (non-original) interior be a turn-off and like-wise for the seats being leather instead of vinyl?

 

I don't know about deluxe interiors, but the woven vinyl is much tougher than leather and doesn't tend to crack as easy.

 

Here is what I know.. (and what I don't someone else will correct)
The deluxe interior was an option that started in 1970. It added chrome, wood, and carpet to the door panels in conjunction with the wood grain insert for the center console. Deluxe interiors only come in leather. As for your question about seat covers. The leather-like seat cover is basically all vinyl except in a few areas. In a few areas it has leather which I imagine is put there for wear. Leather most likely will stretch easier than vinyl over the course of time. Leather Like does not mean the vinyl is such high quality that it will fool you to believe it is leather. What is meant by leather like is the design or pattern of the seat cover is the same as leather, but that the seat cover is made out of vinyl. I use to have a set of them that I sold to a forum member. I can tell you this, if you install them on your car most people will most likely think it is leather.

 

your trim tag will tell you if your car came with vinyl or deluxe (leather) interior.

 

I'm going to make a suggestion that is really "out of the box"....but it works!! I'll probably get the same reactions I gave my upholster guy when he first suggested to me.....use the same material they cover jet ski seat with! At least once a year, for 4 years, I would have to take my seats to ACS Protrim (my upholster guy) for them to fix a tear in a seam here or a tear there, etc etc etc. I had them change it from vinyl to leather to leather-like (each set I got from either Wilcox or Ecklers)....It seems that "fat butt" or my carelessness sometimes (leaving a screw driver in my back pocket, with the blade up and then sitting in one of the seats), would either poke a hole in the seat or the seam would start to come apart....and since I'm real picky about my Vette (as with a lot of you guys) I would have the seat cover repaired or replaced....and that was costing me a PRETTY PENNY! Then one day, John @ ACS Protrim suggested the jet ski material....it was forgiving in that it stretched;it was soft and supple all year long; it was UV protected; it was waterproof; AND I could get it in any color and a pattern that looked just like leather!

You be the judge...the picture, below, of my interior is 5 years old and it's a daily driver and I haven't had to take it in once for seat repairs!!! Now I just see ACS Protrim John monthly Car Council meetings.

 

For a "high use" car, that looks like a great option.

In general....leather looks better and you slide around less than with vinyl. But, with leather you have to put conditioner on frequently to keep it supple and looking nice. Vinyl is the easiest seating surface to maintain; use a polymer protectant (like Nu-Vinyl, etc.)....NEVER use petroleum-based stuff on vinyl parts . If you don't care that much about the car being 'original' [and you don't mind listening to other ex-spurts about how your car isn't correct], put in what looks/feels best to you. When I look at a Corvette, the interior difference is just a simple option choice...it doesn't alter my opinion of the overall car.

 

From a seat cover installer's point of view leather is the most durable of the currently available options.

However, you did miss an option in your post. There are two leather options. One is full leather and is the most expensive option. The other is driver/oem style where the seating surfaces are leather and the balance is vinyl. Very economically priced about $100 or more under full leather.

I put the driver/oem covers on my '72 seats and they are very nice.

Leather like is as described above, vinyl made to look like leather. It's plastic and has all the negative qualities of plastic. In cold weather it will crack and in hot weather it will burn your skin.

Comfort Weave is vinyl with a weave pattern. The main negative I've noticed with it is dirt gets into the weave pattern and is very difficult to get out. They always seem to look dirty. The weave pattern is a molded pattern. They are not really woven.

As far as the deluxe interior it was described accurately above. You are correct about the colors being black and saddle only.

The way to tell if your car came with Deluxe interior, look at the trim code. For black standard it is 400 and for deluxe it is 404. I will tell you that if you buy deluxe door panels they are about $200.00 more each than standard panels. The woodgrain trim piece for the console plate is about $23.00.

Your decision. Hope this helps.

cc

 

Leather is the only way to go. Plastic by whatever name you want to call it is easy to crack at the seams and has all the other bad features described above. I dont think you will ever see a Harley rider wrapping his *** in leather like.....Get the real thing, plus leather wont burn it like Naugahyde, vinyl, leather like, or again, "whatever"...all that's necessary to use on leather is 'lemon pledge' to keep it in brand new condition....besides, almost everyone will think its plastic anyway until they feel it...





My 67 and 68 Camaros also have leather

 

Look closely. They really ARE woven unless you have a cheap aftermarket imitation. The better vendors carry the real woven material. My originals went for over 30 years with no tears and over 300,000 miles. The weaving of the vinyl is what makes them so tough, and the weave keeps them cool. IMO leather cracks because it dries out, and it burns you when you sit on it in the hot sun.

It's a matter of opinion, I guess...

 

Yes, leather dries out and so it must be conditioned about once a month.

As far as it burning, I have never had to carry a towel to place over my leather seats in the hot sun and I never put the TTops in unless it's going to rain. Not so when I had vinyl seats. The vinyl retains the heat whereas the leather adapts quickly to the change from sun to someone sitting on it.

When I install seat covers, one of the tricks to getting vinyl covers to look good is to use a heat gun on them to remove wrinkles. But you really have to let them cool down after you are done or you will burn your hands on them. And of course, you don't dare get them too hot or they will melt.

With leather, by the time you have the gun set aside the leather has cooled enough that you can pick up the seat without getting burned.
Of course melting is not an issue.

If you have Comfort Weave seats that are really woven, then you will know when your foam is disintegrating because the powdered foam will come through the weave.

cc

 

When the sun [UV] destroys the channel foam behind those ComfortWeave seats, the yellow-green dust never ends! When I bought my '71, it had the complete and original interior intact (carpeting, seats, etc. etc.). The seatcovers were in great condition...except that the channel foam had turned to dust and much of it was gone. Not wanting to lose the original covers, I worked with them and figured out how to rebuild them (without taking any stitching out). The seatcovers have 200,000 miles on them now and still look nearly new. And, yes, the original ComfortWeave material IS woven; it also breathes, so it's cool in summer and not so cold in winter. The aftermarket ComfortWeave is a poor substitute for the original material.

 

Thank you for clarifying that. Obviously, I have not yet had anyone bring me an original set of ComfortWeave seats to re-cover. I agree with you, I cannot recommend the replacement seat covers.

cc

 

A few things on this...the deluxe interior also has cut pile carpet instead of the 80/20 loop. 403 is the code for black deluxe in 1971.

 

OK, I will give this one a try. My 1974 interior is a dog's breakfast and I like it. In fact I restored it that way. The usual "my car".

Code is 425 dark red/oxblood vinyl with standard trim and 80/20 loop carpets.

What you see is:
-cut pile carpets (a mod)
-deluxe 1977 door panels in black rather than the tacky wood trim (a mod)
-same for shift console
-seat covers are Willcox leather-like and they do look like leather. Heat is not a problem here in Canada.
-aftermarket stereo (a mod)
-kick panel speakers (a mod)
-Fox Weatherboots (a mod)
-leather (non-plastic black steering wheel), another mod
-etc

Would I buy this lowly 1974 with such mods? I would say 99% of the population would say it looks nice. You folks out there would not believe what I was offered a week ago. A red on red convertible....

 

I've got my original covers in good condition with the dreaded yellow dust coming through. Any tips on saving the covers while changing the foam?

 

Since I don't believe this is going to become a family heirloom My recommendation is to go with whatever came with that car - hopefully the build sheet can be found in the car this week. If the car winds up being sold later, the cost of the non-original upgrade will be lost. Under different circumstances, if this was a "keeper" than a choice for comfort and quality would prevail.

 

i really like 75,s jetski idea . i spose there is good and bad quality imitation leather but i had my seats done about 3 years ago. my options were real leather or fake leather,vinyl whatever you want to call it. real leather was 2 times as much so once i held both materials in my hands i went with the fake cause to be honest i couldnt feel or see much difference. the upholsterer told me to rub a small amount of vaseline into the seats once a year and thats it. 3 years later they still look like the day they were done. i guess like everything its just a question of money as real leather im sure is better but when im doing 6000 rpm around a corner ( racetrack of course) my passenger doesnt give a S**T what he is sitting in.

 

 

gingerbreadman someone put your steering wheel on the wrong side of the car. lol
nice avator also.
my 71 has 417 for a trim tag. is this the light saddle or dark saddle interior? standard interior?