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Hello,
I'm french and I need to fix the seats of my C5 1998 convertible.
Do you know a good leather upholstery cover provider ? My intérior is red firethorne.
Thank you
I went with the 100% leather sports seat option offered by Top Flight Automotive, aka Corvette America. My seats are the Black with Torch Red inserts, however they offer other colors including Firethorn Red. They offer both 100% leather and the less expensive, leather-like vinyl both in standard and sport seat styles. They also have replacement seat foam and have the GM licensing rights to use the Corvette lettering and C5 logo if that's important to you.
Below is a link to the Firethorn 100% leather sport seats:
Thank you for your help.
I'm looking for an original interior because I want to keep the look like in 1998.
You may still want to check Top Flight Automotive as they also offer single color seat covers both sport and standard seats. I chose Mod Red two-tone style, but they have single color sport and standard seat covers.
I don't think GM still offers the stock covers any longer so aftermarket may be the only option. Ridies is another option as they have made custom seat covers, so they may be able to duplicate the Firethorn Red.
Did you do the recovering yourself or order the "snap in ready" parts and labor? - If you did the install, how did it go? - Thanks.
Originally Posted by MSG C5
I went with the 100% leather sports seat option offered by Top Flight Automotive, aka Corvette America. My seats are the Black with Torch Red inserts, however they offer other colors including Firethorn Red. They offer both 100% leather and the less expensive, leather-like vinyl both in standard and sport seat styles. They also have replacement seat foam and have the GM licensing rights to use the Corvette lettering and C5 logo if that's important to you.
Below is a link to the Firethorn 100% leather sport seats:
Did you do the recovering yourself or order the "snap in ready" parts and labor? - If you did the install, how did it go? - Thanks.
My lesson learned....
I rebuilt the seats with new foam and some automotive rubber burlap to prevent the seat springs/wires and sharp edges from cutting into the new foam as that's the primary reason the stock/OEM seats fail and get soft over time. I tried rebuilding the passenger seat first and although I was able to get the new foam and covers on over the automotive rubber burlap, I didn't like the finish as the leather appeared loose in some areas and tighter in others with some wrinkles at the corners.
So I decided to stop and work with a local automotive upholstery shop. I had them redo my passenger seat and rebuild the driver seat with the new skins, foam, and rubber burlap I provided. I'm glad I did as it's really in the tools used. The shop had a table that looked like a medieval torture device which used wires and hooks to stretch the new leather over the seat foam and seat frame. While using the hooks to stretch the leather, they also used a steam machine to work out the wrinkles and to better fit the leather around the corners of the seat frame and then finished off work with better clamps than the ones provided.
Definitely worth it in my opinion to get it done professionally. There are a bunch of do it yourself photos online and you can definitely tell the difference in the finished product when the work is performed by a pro shop that has the right tools.
I rebuilt the seats with new foam and some automotive rubber burlap to prevent the seat springs/wires and sharp edges from cutting into the new foam as that's the primary reason the stock/OEM seats fail and get soft over time. I tried rebuilding the passenger seat first and although I was able to get the new foam and covers on over the automotive rubber burlap, I didn't like the finish as the leather appeared loose in some areas and tighter in others with some wrinkles at the corners.
So I decided to stop and work with a local automotive upholstery shop. I had them redo my passenger seat and rebuild the driver seat with the new skins, foam, and rubber burlap I provided. I'm glad I did as it's really in the tools used. The shop had a table that looked like a medieval torture device which used wires and hooks to stretch the new leather over the seat foam and seat frame. While using the hooks to stretch the leather, they also used a steam machine to work out the wrinkles and to better fit the leather around the corners of the seat frame and then finished off work with better clamps than the ones provided.
Definitely worth it in my opinion to get it done professionally. There are a bunch of do it yourself photos online and you can definitely tell the difference in the finished product when the work is performed by a pro shop that has the right tools.
Thanks for the class!! I watched the video they provide on Top Flight and it looked fairly complicated. In the end, I am going to go the same direction you did. We have a really good shop here in NOVA, the owner does nice work on classics. I'll save myself a bunch of cussing.....
Not trying to be a troublemaker but I did these seats myself, from Interior Innovations, sometimes associated with Ridies. They are full custom with new foam. Yes, I wrestled with them but in this case I made the entire interior my own, including carpets and trim areas. This was about 8 years ago, so I’m unsure even if either of them are in business but they provide a good product and did have stock GM colors at the time. I’m “back’ because I just bought my 3rd C5, but I have other plans for the interior of the next one. I was quoted back then about $2500 to do the seats from a great shop. I’m an obsessive DIY’er and did it for 1/3 the price and learned a lot in the meantime. I’m 78 now and my arthritic hands will get back at me with a vengeance if I try working with uncooperative leather again!
No trouble, looks like you did quite a bit of work that came out great. The entire interior refit is a big lift. Your skill level in upholstery is likely beyond mine. For sure your patience level is I imagine - Thanks for sharing.
Topflight is about the best for stock replacement.
Install is not hard but it takes some good arm strength and you fingers will be sore by the time you are done. Invest in a good pair of hog ring plyers as the cheap ones will go south after one seat.
The Burlap to be clear needs to go between the foam and the metal springs on the seat bottom. As the foam ages it gets hard and kit will slice the foam like a cheese grader. This is why the seat bottoms on most seats look streached out and loose.
You need to buy the burlap as it is not generally included and use a little upholstery adhesive to hold it in place on the bottom.
Also while the seats are apart I would recommend to replace the bushing in the power seat track. It is cheap and easy to do while the seat is apart. If it has not been fixed it will need it soon.
Also inspect the seat attachment points in the rear as they are cast and can break or fracture. Again easy to fix if the seat is apart.
Check the side bolsters and lumbar bags as this is the time to replace if not working.
I went though both of my seats and they are better than new. Also coat the leather regularly as this will preserve the finish. My seats look like new. I have seen cars with less miles and cracked leather seats due to no care.
Check out L-seat, my buddy used these full leather replacements covers on his Range Rover classic the leather is very nice don’t let the price fool you at 350.00 for the pair, I’m definitely using them on my Range Rover classic and my C6 project.
https://www.lseat.com/products/1997-2004-chevrolet-corvette-c5-sport-custom-real-leather-seat-covers-front.html
I just looked at the L-Seat site. From what I can see the quality is not to the standard of Ridies or Interior Innovations, but it is cheaper.
what would you base that on? The reviews are really good and the ones I’ve seen first hand installed looked great. Are the Ridies full leather or are they vinyl on the sides?
I know about Interior Innovations which was a “sister” company to Ridies AFAIK. I viewed many customer evaluation pix, including one by “Matthew” and was not impressed with the result. What do I base that on? My seats from “II” are perforated leather with ‘Nusuede’ seating surfaces, and double diamond contrasting stitching. Including the seat covers and full replacement foam I paid about $1200 for the material which I installed myself. Not trying to be a smartass, but you don’t see any wrinkles or puffiness like in the examples I mention. In addition these pix were taken when the seats were at least 5 years old in a “almost” daily driver. I’ll gladly answer any questions.
