My 59A seats

[gkw]

Nice job Mic, that is going to be my next task, doing the interior.
I am looking forward to it. Gordon

[badsix]

great post, there's more to these seats than one would think.
Jay D.

[roy mawbey]

Thanks Mic for this thread. Over 20 years ago now I decided the red vinyl stitching on the pleats of the seat pad you sit on which had split along the seams needed work. I tried first to re-stitch the vinyl by hand. Impossible, the vinyl which is all original had become so hard not flexible anymore.
So I took the drivers seat complete to a trimmer in London. Was I lucky, he had just done a Mercedes in red and some vinyl was left over
and it matched mine perfectly.

He then on my request only replaced the seat pad all the sides were left original as were the seat backs. When I collected the seat I was so pleased I gave him the other front seat to do as well.
ut.. I never found out if he did much to the horsehair or put foam inside the springs. My seat does not have the feel of some 356 seats I have tried to sit in. By seat backs are fine on the vinyl but the support is nowhere like it should be. I need really new inserts.But
I have question for you all. I restored 2 dining room mahogany chairs that are over 230 years old. The horsehair was real!! I had to comb 200 years of dirt out of it and it became really pliable and bouncy again after much work. Its original and I used it again. Are the 356 horsehair pads actually man made fibre?? I seem to think its just a terminology the suppliers use?

I wish I knew how he attached the original sides to the new vinyl pad
the round edging must be the attachment area I am interested to know your feelings about the 'support' you get when you finish them. You mentioned the head rest tabs Justin on the tops of the seat up rights.
I must see if I can feel them through the vinyl on mine?

A pic of the colour match I was so lucky with below. As your car Mic is like mine a 1959 I attach some pics of the still factory original rear seating just in case you might need to see how it compares with yours. I have detailed pics also of the rear seat upright and how it all works should you or others need to know.









Looking forward Mic to the next stages of your seat repair.

Roy

[JR]

Hey MIC,
You are certainly going in the right direction and are doing much more than I did when I did the 61 B Roadster seats last June.
I have in my garage, in a big plastic bag, foam seat backs that I got from Autos Int when I got the seat covers.


If you are interested in them let me know because I am not going to use them.
They also sent me burlap and some foam.
I think I still have that.



On my seat bottoms I overlaid the burlap seat bottoms with some pieces of foam that I cut to fit.
It was the expediant way to go to finish the job and it has worked out.
I'm sure that I picked it up at a Walmart someplace.
I have a small sailboat that I occasionally race so I had a bunch of bees waxed whipping line that I used for securing the burlap etc. It lasts a long time on a sail boat exposed to the elements so I figured covered up and in a garage it would last 'MY' lifetime.


Whipping line.



Finished seats.


Keep on truckin'
Dick
jrpitman@juno.com
Chester, VA

[MMW]

Update. In looking at my last post here I can't believe it has been 7 weeks. Like everything I thought this would be done by now.

Yesterday I received my covers from K&H. All looks very nice.

top of seat bottom

inside of seat bottom

front of seat back

rear of seat back

front of seat back cushion

rear of seat back cushion

top of seat bottom cushion

bottom of seat bottom cushion. This pc. has burlap molded in.


I have gotten the passenger seat parts painted & will attempt assembly as time permits. The drivers seat is still in the car. One at a time.

I am most likely going to add some rolled up foam inside a few of the springs. This will be trial & error.

[MMW]

Dick, I can't believe I never got back to you on the seat cushion offer. When talking to K&H they recommend I buy the cushions in sets (top & bottom) although they would have sold them separately. Being that this is from a different vendor I decided to get them from K&H in case of any discrepancies in molding/pattern etc. Thank you for thinking of me anyway.

The only thing I question is the lack of a tie down area for the "smile/crease" in the lower seat cover. They have told me that since it is molded in it is fine. You can see it in the first picture.

[JR]

Hey Mic,
Not to worry about the smile/crease area. They do not have to be tied down since they are molded in that way. At least that is the approach that I took. Good idea on sticking with the same vendor.
Iam presently in San Diego visiti a long time friendfrom my Navy Daze!
Tommow the plan to drive up to Autos International and visit Augustin and the folks. My friends have alreay laid the ground work and said there is a 'pleathora' of 356s in the shop.
Hopefully there will be pics soon.
By the way it is quite nice here in SUNNY CA. I came thru a blizzard in CHI. Should be about 75 here today!
Your seat are loking great.
Did you get new lower seat rails?
I got mine at Stoddard for about $200 and they really improve the appearance.
Cya,
Dick

[Jack Staggs]

^^^ Glad you're enjoying the weather

[JR]

Yeah Jack,
I'm home sick.
I miss the SNOW!
NOT!
Off to MCAS Miramar to see some old airplnes that I flew in my youth!
:>))
Dick

[Don C]

Mic,
Are those covers Vinyl or leather? Look good too! Kind of the same color as mine are now. Keep those pictures comming!
Regards,
Don

[JTR70]

Really nice Mic and I like that color! 7 weeks huh? Time sure gets away quick I know. Looking forward to seeing them installed!
Justin

[Don C]

Mic,
How are the seats comming? It's been a while.

[JR]

Hey MIC,
I perhaps incorrectly said that the creases in the seats do not have to be tied down.
I did not tie mine down.
When I was on the West Coast last week I asked Agustin about that at Autos International.
He said that they do tie the creases in and that accentuates them more.
It was a very informative trip watching the pros do their professional magic and meet the folks who did my tonneau, boot and seat covers.
I'll attach a few pics from the trip.


Rafael Gonzalez working on Roadster top-rear window


Speedster Interior


Top Jig



Rafael doing zippered rear window



Carolina, Me, Karen and Agustin Vidaurri-owner of AI.


They gave me a great reception and ley us roam the shop.
Lots going on!
Dick

[MMW]

Sorry guys I have no update on the seats. Work/family is getting in the way. Hopefully soon. I want to wait until I have some uninterrupted time instead of trying to rush it or doing a few minutes at a time.

The new covers are vinyl which was originally in my car.

I'm going to take a closer look at the covers tonight in regards to tying the bottom cover. I don't think there is any thing to even attach something to but I'll see. I just don't want to have to do it again. I know I should just do it & not worry about it. It's got to be better than it was.

Thanks for the great pics. I love looking at any kind of shop.

[JR]

MIC,
I couldn't find anything to tie the crease to either.
Maybe thats why I didn't tie mine!
Good luck and good idea-take your time!
Time is cheap!
Dick