When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I remember this was the stuff alot of street rodders would put into their coupes. I used to be hooked on 32, 33, 34, and 41 Fords. My dream car was a black, fenderless, chopped, 34 Ford 3 window with Halibrands, blown 426 Hemi, manual tranny, and dual velocity stacks coming up out of the hood.
Back to Naugahyde, lost focus for a second, I always thought is was an upscale vinyl material.
Naugahyde is a trade(brand?) name for a high quality vinyl coated fabric.
I recently bought some on E-Bay to recover side rails on a water bed. Great looking product.
It's probably the closest to leather looking stuff there is. It can get pricey also :cheers:
I do, I do :lol: it is in between vinyl and leather, I had it as upgrade in my 68 W-31 (Ram Rod) cutlass supreme, rare, rare car I sold back in 70 :cry
Naugahyde: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: With all the cruelty in the world, how can you kill those cute little Naugas just for their hydes?
A: We don't. Naugas shed their hydes without harm to themselves, making Naugahyde the Cruelty-Free Fabric. For more information and pictures about Naugas, their history and their habits, read the Nauga Story.
Yikes, this brings back other "sights and sounds" of the 70s, including "... fine Corinthian leather..." big hair, platform shoes and leisure suits:eek:
The original question posed was why did Naugahyde lose to leather and vinyl?
For me, it's the "image thing". During that time period my parents purchased a La-Z-y boy Naugahyde armchair. I recall the salesman positioning Naugahyde as a "low cost alternative" to (those who couldn't afford a real) leather chair. My impression, reinforced by other subtle and not-so-suble cues since then is that Naugahyde is the "poor man's leather". Best to get cloth and when you can afford, graduate to leather. One man's experience.
Ah yes, the mighty Nauga! Too bad that they are illegal to hunt, in some parts of the world they are starting to become a real problem. I hear numerous accounts of valuable automobiles damaged when rut crazed bull Naugas cross roads, trailing a heard of cow Naugas.
It's demise was probably due to it no longer being in fashion, for cars or for furniture. When vinyl first became available in cars it was an extra cost option. After a few years though it became the standard upholstery in the bottom line models and fabric was used in the high line cars and the use of leather became much more widespread. I think it is interesting that it's demise was close in step with McDonalds growth. All those dead cows made real leather more available. Things would have probably turned out much differently if the "Naugaburger" had caught on :).
... Things would have probably turned out much differently if the "Naugaburger" had caught on.
I think our school lunch program included government surplus "Naugaburgers". At least that's what they tasted like. :lol:
If you read some of the comments on the C5 forum concerning the quality of their leather seats, Naugahide might just come back into fashion. Did it ever WEAR out?