perforated leather?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View CA
perforated leather?
Can somebody give me an idea why my 88 seems to be the only vette I've ever seen with perforated leather seats? They look very appropriate for the 80's C4, with the digital dash and hard lines, but a lot of the same vintage cars don't have perforated seats it seems.
If it was an option, is it just for appearance, or does it reduce weight or somehow help preserve the leather?
If it was an option, is it just for appearance, or does it reduce weight or somehow help preserve the leather?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,119
Likes: 1,725
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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The earlier ones have perforated leather, unless you got cloth seats.
I think theyre crap, you need nonperforated leather if you want it to last, perforated tears and wears out too quickly. I replaced mine with nonperforated.
I think theyre crap, you need nonperforated leather if you want it to last, perforated tears and wears out too quickly. I replaced mine with nonperforated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 224
From: Northeast FL
Originally Posted by vader86
The earlier ones have perforated leather, unless you got cloth seats.
I think theyre crap, you need nonperforated leather if you want it to last, perforated tears and wears out too quickly. I replaced mine with nonperforated.
I think theyre crap, you need nonperforated leather if you want it to last, perforated tears and wears out too quickly. I replaced mine with nonperforated.
All the little holes end up being starting points for tears.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
i noticed when i was shopping for a vette that hardly any had cloth seats, mine does but not for long. how rare was this. but at any rate i think the perforated leather looks better than the cloth.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,721
Likes: 708
From: Bergen County, NJ
Originally Posted by wht_slvr_86
i noticed when i was shopping for a vette that hardly any had cloth seats, mine does but not for long. how rare was this. but at any rate i think the perforated leather looks better than the cloth.
I may be wrong .
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I have perforated leather in my '88. Perforated leather breathes better tan full leather and therefor feels cooler on a hot day when you jump in the seat with bare skin.
Mine are 17 years old and still look new. The trick is monthly leather cleaning and conditioning with a quality leather cleaner like Lexol to keep the leather supple. Without the conditioning regimine the leather dries out and cracks.
Mine are 17 years old and still look new. The trick is monthly leather cleaning and conditioning with a quality leather cleaner like Lexol to keep the leather supple. Without the conditioning regimine the leather dries out and cracks.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View CA
Originally Posted by rws.1
I have perforated leather in my '88. Perforated leather breathes better tan full leather and therefor feels cooler on a hot day when you jump in the seat with bare skin.
Mine are 17 years old and still look new. The trick is monthly leather cleaning and conditioning with a quality leather cleaner like Lexol to keep the leather supple. Without the conditioning regimine the leather dries out and cracks.
Mine are 17 years old and still look new. The trick is monthly leather cleaning and conditioning with a quality leather cleaner like Lexol to keep the leather supple. Without the conditioning regimine the leather dries out and cracks.
Great point. In CA in the winter I didn't notice a difference, but you're right that the perforated leather stays a lot cooler in this hot, sticky east coast summer.
Mine are 17 years old too, and even without any application of leather conditioner they really haven't cracked at all, just wrinkles.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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my 85 has perforated leather - 20 years old and still looks great. much cleaning and conditioning, plus swapping passenger and drivers seats/backs every couple years...
Last edited by Joe C; Jun 15, 2005 at 10:38 AM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna BC
My perforated leather lasted 19 years so far, and still look great.
The leather on my 98 Buick Regal GS (Super Charged) is not perforated, and even though it is taupe and the Vette is Graphite, the Vette is way cooler to seat in.
Just my opinion.
Fred
The leather on my 98 Buick Regal GS (Super Charged) is not perforated, and even though it is taupe and the Vette is Graphite, the Vette is way cooler to seat in.
Just my opinion.
Fred
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Cloth seats on my ford sucked, I got sweaty after long trips.
That's not a problem with the perf seats.
My new ford has solid leather seats, thin leather, and i've never had any issues there on long trips.
The perf sucks for wear. I'll replace with nonperf when the time comes.
It also sucks for applying conditioner, it gets in all the holes. I sort of solved this by putting dye into the leather conditioner so it's a dark grey also.
That's not a problem with the perf seats.
My new ford has solid leather seats, thin leather, and i've never had any issues there on long trips.
The perf sucks for wear. I'll replace with nonperf when the time comes.
It also sucks for applying conditioner, it gets in all the holes. I sort of solved this by putting dye into the leather conditioner so it's a dark grey also.
