Seat covers, original or not?

[DennyD]

I want to replace my worn out seat foam in my front seats. I have the replacements on order from Brant. I believe that the seat coverings in the Shelby are original to the car, but they could have been replaced along the way. My question is how do I tell? Do the original covers have a manufacturer's marking or tag somewhere on the material? Thanks in advance, Denny

[KR Convertible]

I haven't done any in quite a while, but I seem to remember a date stamped on the inside.

[Bob Gaines]

I want to replace my worn out seat foam in my front seats. I have the replacements on order from Brant. I believe that the seat coverings in the Shelby are original to the car, but they could have been replaced along the way. My question is how do I tell? Do the original covers have a manufacturer's marking or tag somewhere on the material? Thanks in advance, Denny

Typically welting size differs. Larger diameter and smaller diameter on originals .Repros typically only have the larger.

[6s1640]

What I have observed on the new foam, it is much puffier or more full.  I am not sure if the original foam was this way and has just compressed over the years, but the fuller foam to me just does not look right.

Cory

[BGlover67]

Denny,

Original foam will have Carroll Shelby's signature on it.   

[Side-Oilers]

Or his butt print.

[6s1640]

When you have the seats redone, are you going to replicate the wire that is weaved into the burlap?  Does anybody have a source on this wire and the recipe for the weave?  I expect most re-upholster jobs leave this wire out.  I am assuming this wire is to keep the burlap from sagging or squeezing out.

See second image in the below link for this wire.

http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/interior-electrical/1408-how-to-rebuild-a-1965-1969-mustang-bench-seat/

Thanks

Cory

[J_Speegle]

Like many things its often easier to tell (if your looking at something) when something is not originally.  Signs of replaced, burlap, clips, material and so on.

You have two kinds of padding. One sewn in between the surface and the layer below in the centers and then you have the thick heavy padding between the upholstery and the frame. As mentioned get the wrong stuff or too much and the seats start looking puffy and it gets more difficult to get the seams to line up where they were originally especially along the top edge.  They start taking on the look of 68 seats


Markings on the back of the material, the feel of the surface and such all can be part of the investigation help for other parts of the seat



Cory - we've always been able to reuse the wires. Sorry stuff just normally does not have that much rust out here

[Brant]

When you have the seats redone, are you going to replicate the wire that is weaved into the burlap?  Does anybody have a source on this wire and the recipe for the weave?  I expect most re-upholster jobs leave this wire out.  I am assuming this wire is to keep the burlap from sagging or squeezing out.

See second image in the below link for this wire.

http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/interior-electrical/1408-how-to-rebuild-a-1965-1969-mustang-bench-seat/

Thanks

Cory

Thin wire and a lot of time. It can be done.

[Brant]

What I have observed on the new foam, it is much puffier or more full.  I am not sure if the original foam was this way and has just compressed over the years, but the fuller foam to me just does not look right.

Cory

Done properly, it can be made to look quite nice.

[march66]

I have noted that my original seats have a bluish color thread in the seat cushion areas. Maybe the stiching has faded with time and sun or maybe that is the way they were originally.

[gt350hr]

     The vinyl material used by Distinctive Industries ( the only brand I have used at this point ) is "softer" than original seat material. The original material "seemed" more "plastic" (in the day) to the point where it would harden and crack. It could be the material reacted differently to "baking" in the California sun than current materials.
    Randy

[Bob Gaines]

I have noted that my original seats have a bluish color thread in the seat cushion areas. Maybe the stiching has faded with time and sun or maybe that is the way they were originally.

The blueish tinted thread is very commonly seen  on original black interiors. That is what happens to black thread when it fades. It doesn't make sense for the factory to use a blueish thread on black interior.

[DennyD]

Thanks everyone for your input on the seat covers.

Brain, I see where Carroll Shelby's signature is located on the seat foam. I tried to snap a photo of it, but the signature has fadded and can't be picked up by my camera lens. You'll have to take my word for it!

Next, to Side Oilers, I always wondered whose butt imprint was embedded in my seat covers, thanks for that!

Bob and Cory, I've posted a couple photos here for you guys to study. I do see the blue thread that you mentioned. I'm not sure about the beading size since I don't have anything to compare it with. Perhaps you can tell from the photos.

Randy, are you well pleased with your covers from Distinctive Industries? Where did you get them?

Brant, thanks for posting the photo, those seats look perfect to me.

Cory, I'll try to get photos again once I've removed the covers. I wasn't aware of the wires that run through the burlap. I'm guessing that you're correct in that most reupholster shops don't do it. 

[gt350hr]

    Denny,
        Local swap meets for Mustang seats. This will be "my" first  shot at a "recover" for my Shelby. I simply ran out of untorn originals. Had to go the recover route. The ones for my Ranchero came from Virginia.