Upholstery from leatherseats.com?

[Bob Sacamano]

As the title says, I'm looking for info on the upholstery kits from this vendor, which often advertises on eBay. Anyone try them and care to comment on fit and overall quality of the leather and workmanship? FWIW, I'm looking for a black kit for my '87 Veloce.

Any other alternatives? I do not have a suitable local shop I might use, so that option is out.

Thanks in advance.

[Giovanni2000]

Hi Bob,
I just had my 82 Spider Veloce seats redone with covers from Leatherseats.com. I'm not talking slip-ons here, I'm talking the real deal. I am very happy with the quality of their product, but I did have a shop put them on my seats so it turned out really well. I also had the shop install new seat bottom foam I bought from IAP. Overall I am very pleased with the end result. I don't have a pic right now, but I'll see what I can do. I also heard world upholstery does a good job.

[Elio Comello]

You should check/compare with World Upholstery & Trim in SAnta Paula CA.

World Upholstery, Carpet, tops & seat upholstery for collectable cars Mercedes BMW Porsche Jaguar Fiat Ferrari and Saab

pretty comprehensive alfa stuff (more than seat skins) and good quality. Many AlfaBB people reported good satisfaction.

TTFN Elio

[Bob Sacamano]

That's good news about leatherseats.com, Giovanni. Did you get the suede inserts, or all smooth leather?

Elio, As for the World Upholstery stuff, here's where I'm at on those. My Spider currently has both carpets and seats sourced from them (according to the previous owner). They're both OK, but I'd prefer the original one-piece main carpet (and rear deck area, too), rather than all the small individual pieces. Some pieces really don't have anything to hold them in place, unless I was to use glue, two-sided tape, or screws, and I also don't like the look of all the extra seams and bindings. The seats may or may not have a problem that I can blame on World Upholstery. They're vinyl with the fake suede inserts. The vinyl really does seem to be very high quality, and it both feels and even smells like real leather. The pattern seems correct, too, so that's all good. But, at both lower corners of the seat backs (on the side you sit on), the seams are coming apart and the vinyl is tearing. Almost looks like it might have happened during the installation, which may or may not have been done by a pro. Might be repairable by a skilled upholsterer, maybe using reinforcing patches on the inside. I'm just not sure, because while all this stuff is <1 year old, I haven't had the car very long and don't drive it much, so it shouldn't be coming apart (neither the previous owner nor I are overweight or oversized for a Spider).

So, that's my dilemma, repair and stick with what I've got, or just do it right and forget about it, as this Spider is surely a keeper. I'd also rather have the original color tan seats and carpet, and I'm not sure why the previous owner bought all the new stuff in black, but it doesn't look as "correct" as I'd like.

[Giovanni2000]

Bob,
Here is my Pax seat. As you can see it's all leather with no inserts.

[Zunige]

The seats of a 1982 Spider Veloce are different from those of a 1987 Spider Veloce, but both Veloce seats are leather. (A 1987 Spider Graduate would have the same seat style and pattern as a 1982 Veloce, but the seat material is vinyl...) Suede inserts were only OEM on the series 4 Spiders, which started in 1991. The series 4 Spider seats were vinyl and suede, whereas the series 4 Veloce seats were done in leather and suede.

Best regards,

[phil c]

I bought a set for my 86 quad from leatherseats.com about 3 years ago. They didnt have the grey leather, so I got black w/red stitching instead. They're absolutely beautiful and are the ones they're using on their ebay auctions. Think I paid about $350-400 and had a local shop install them.
Phil C

[Bob Sacamano]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm going to shoot leatherseats.com an email and see what a tan leather set with suede inserts would cost to stitch up for me. I can always reuse the black covers from World Upholstery in my S1 Spider, which has late-model S3 Veloce seats (with cracking leather that feels like cardboard). That way, I'll have better seats in 2 cars, and both will be restored to at least their proper colors. I know a '74 Spider isn't supposed to have Veloce seats with suede, but they're so much more comfortable and grippier on my body (not to mention having the shoulder harness guides).

[paulbinct]

The "suede" on all the Alfa S4 seats is of course synthetic, even on the seats that are otherwise leather. It is often referred to as "alcantara" which may be spelled wrong, I am not sure of this is a brand of fake (faux?) suede or what.

PS Alcantara is a brand name, they also own the name/product "ultrasuede" and they are an italian company

Alcantara®

[wutdhec]

I'm also interested in the seat covers at leatherseats.com ( eBay Motors: Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce Sport leather seat covers (item 380022444273 end time May-09-08 06:00:00 PDT) ).

How much did you guys pay to have them put on?

[Giovanni2000]

I paid a little over $400 for both, which included getting rid of any rust and painting the seat frames.

[CC alfa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giovanni2000 I paid a little over $400 for both, which included getting rid of any rust and painting the seat frames.

[Need4speed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elio Comello You should check/compare with World Upholstery & Trim in SAnta Paula CA. World Upholstery, Carpet, tops & seat upholstery for collectable cars Mercedes BMW Porsche Jaguar Fiat Ferrari and Saab pretty comprehensive alfa stuff (more than seat skins) and good quality. Many AlfaBB people reported good satisfaction. TTFN Elio

[Bob Sacamano]

PLEASE keep us posted on the installation. I've been side-tracked by other projects, but upholstery in my '92 is getting back to the top of my list, and I'd love to see how yours turn out. I'm interested in black, with the suede insert.

[spiderjimp2]

I purchased a set for my '87 Spider Veloce and had a local shop install them.

Jim P
'87 Spider Veloce in the pain shop