I've just been to see the local trimmer (who was recommended by the bodyshop that did the paintwork). My front seats definitely need a retrim - driver seat bolster even has a small hole in it now.

I did get quotes from Southbound last year (by phone) and it was £1K (plus vat if I remember correctly).

The local guy said that to recover my front seats will cost - almost £700 inclusive (he said it as if it was a high price) but in his samples he was having trouble matching the tan colour.

He said that he could always dye the door cards (or recover them) to match. So I asked how good the die was - and could the colour be changed?

He told me that he can die the other parts black - that if I use any abrasive cleaners it would go through the dye, but they should be fine.

So I said it was tempting - but then it wouldn't match the carpet. Oh, he says - I can replace the carpet.

Total cost - for recovering the front seats in leather, dyeing the rear panels / door cards etc. black and replacing all the tan carpet with black carpet was....... about £1,300.

If he makes a good job of it, this is going to be the bargain of the century. I can't have it done for a few weeks - the g/f has a friend down next weekend who is insisting I take them out in the 964, and the Supra is being serviced at the start of April so will need the 964 then. But it looks like I may be changing my interior in mid April.

Bit of a gamble - but the paint guys spoke highly of him, and he's a guy of about 50 and I got a good impression.

 

I did a Tan to Black interior restoration about a year ago. I went another route and sold my front seats and purchased another black OEM set for the same price, recarpeted using German Silverknit, found front leather door panels, and recovered all the vinyl pieces w/new German vinyl and more...not sure what color your interior is but don't forget you also have the center console, door handles w/door lid pockets (I have another black set if you need them) shift ****, and handbrake. Total cost was about more or less equal in price £1,300 = ~$2500 USD without having to resort to dye...BUT that's just an estimate I didn't want to add it all up for my own sanity

Preview:


More pics here: LINK

 

My plan is probably to go the dye route and see how it lasts. If it causes problems on the heavily used parts (door handles, handbrake) then I'll have time to look for replacements. I reckon the dye should be fine for the parts that don't see any use (rear seats etc.).

By the way - your photos convince me that the colour change is a good idea!

 

I'm dyeing my linen seats, handbreak etc this weekend so will post pics of before and after next week. I keeping the same colour though.

 

I have spoken with the people at Leather Magic (I think they are out of North Carolina) and they assure me their die can essentially change any color seat to any color of your choice with the right prep work. I have also spoken to people who have re-dyed with their product and they are very happy. You could save yourself a LOT of $ if you went this route, it would just cost you some time. Good luck

 

Actually, I'm not sure I would save that much doing it myself. The front seats are beyond just being dyed - they definitely need recovering. The carpet also needs replacing - and even if I had the time, I'm pretty bad at that kind of thing and think I'd make a mess of it. About £1.1KK of his price is the front seats and the carpet - so the dye part is only about £200. More than happy to pay that because I think he will probably make a much better job of it than me.

 

How much for the carpets Dave, its looking good.........

Kevin

 

He quoted the carpets would be "as much as £350". Hmm - that much eh? Well...... since you're doing the seats anyway.........

 

Might want to try Original Fit Interiors...I think I paid $450 USD for German Silverknit carpet set. Even though they're in the USA it may be cheaper to have them shipped over to you. One word of caution, while the carpet set is EXCELLENT, it did take a little longer than expected to ship to me.

 

Thanks - but that would mean fitting it myself, and I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

One thing I am thinking - is that I may ask him to quote on recovering everything and then I'll balance that against the dye. I'm guessing the rear seats will be about half the cost of the fronts. Maybe another £700 for the rest of the interior? Would still mean the whole lot would be black for less than £2K which I'd be happy with.

Will see when I go back - but that won't be until the 2nd week in April, since that's the first time I can do without the 964.

 

Dave,

Is not easier to try and find a complete black interior set and do the swap (specialist carpeet and installtion if you must) then sell your original parts.

Surely Porsch-Apart or someone similar must have what you are looking for making the process easier on the wallet.

 

I'll make a few phone calls - it might make sense to buy some of the interior if I can find it.

 

Dunno if you noticed this partial colour change. Results look very good, I'd say.

 

When I did the swap, I did dye on the rear seats, side panels & center console. You couldn't even tell it was ever tan.

 

Puma, I looked into doing that, problem is LHD v RHD fit, it doesn't always work out, add VAT and import tax, and oh ho another surprise bill....

Kevin