1972 Leather seat covers
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
There was an issue with the covers wearing out and tearing on the sides in 1968 and 1969 production so GM changed the covers in 1970 so that the leather covers would have a vinyl skirt on the side. From 1970 to 1982 all leather seats were leather in the middle and vinyl on the bolster.
This makes sense since your rear end is the first thing to hit the bolster of the seat. The vinyl could take this hit and last longer vs. the leather. This is also the same reason we try to talk people out of buying the 100 percent leather covers... They wear out faster than the original leather vinyl design.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Oct 13, 2017 at 12:05 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
No.. The last 100 percent leather cover was in 1969 until the 1984 production came about.
There was an issue with the covers wearing out and tearing on the sides in 1968 and 1969 production so GM changed the covers in 1970 so that the leather covers would have a vinyl skirt on the side. From 1970 to 1982 all leather seats were leather in the middle and vinyl on the bolster.
This makes sense since your rear end is the first thing to hit the bolster of the seat. The vinyl could take this hit and last longer vs. the leather. This is also the same reason we try to talk people out of buying the 100 percent leather covers... They wear out faster than the original leather vinyl design.
Willcox
There was an issue with the covers wearing out and tearing on the sides in 1968 and 1969 production so GM changed the covers in 1970 so that the leather covers would have a vinyl skirt on the side. From 1970 to 1982 all leather seats were leather in the middle and vinyl on the bolster.
This makes sense since your rear end is the first thing to hit the bolster of the seat. The vinyl could take this hit and last longer vs. the leather. This is also the same reason we try to talk people out of buying the 100 percent leather covers... They wear out faster than the original leather vinyl design.
Willcox
In a previous car I had leather bolsters on the sides of both the seat bottom and the seat back - guess where the seat (driver's side, of course) was showing obvious signs of wear after a few years?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Mr. Willcox is correct, 100% leather seats will show some wear after tens of thousands of miles but you have to consiser that in many cases new Corvettes were used as daily drivers, but that was 40 years ago.
How much milage do you put on in a year?
Driving one or two thousand miles are year you won't get much if any wear.
How much milage do you put on in a year?
Driving one or two thousand miles are year you won't get much if any wear.
