Lancia Beta Forum

Hello,

1. Seats tan vinyl

I'm looking for any information on the possible source vinyl that could be used to reupholster one seat and  wouldn't be much different from the all remaining original ones or maybe not that very much similar (if not available) to reupholster all of them, but in the way they still look similar to the original ones.

Here's the story:

As my '76 Spider project is slowly progressing, I need to resolve the seats upholstery problem.
My Spider has certainly the tan vinyl seats. The back and passenger seats are in perfect shape - like never used, the drivers seat had been reupholstered in the '80 i suppose and is so terrible that I'd consider it not usable at all.

I took the damaged one (+one original) to the car upholsterer I know for some time. He had told me that he would surely find the proper colour soon. Months already have passed, he had collected all available "light brown" car vinyl samples available on the Polish market and nothing even reminds THE colour. Completely different shades, nothing to do with my Spider's vinyl, just light brown.

I still want to have it as similar to original as possible, so I've decided to keep looking - I'm sure that there could be sth. close enough found somewhere in the world.

(Well - maybe someone has just the one original good seat for sale? - also some solution)

2. Headlinig black vinyl

I have also removed the black headlinig with the nice double holes as a pattern. It maybe might be glued back with the new layer of sponge, while it remains unteared, but it would be much nicer to have it redone with the new vinyl.
I've seen on the forum discussion on that vinyl from the last year - with no hint on that.
Does anyone have any idea on the source of something similiar?

Thank you
Artur

I'm undergoing a similar dilemma myself at the moment for my spider.
There are some firms offering a recolouring service for vinyl and leather car upholstry and maybe that's the only option-Have the seats done in cream or white and then have them dyed.
I am going to look at cost and will post details if and when I find out more

Hello,

I was actually thinking of that already, but here I've just found this service for genuine leather - nobody has experience with vinyl.
If you have any information on that - I'd be grateful.

Artur

Hi All

I had the seats including the rear ones and the centre panel of the door card covered in leather. The leather I picked was a similar colour to the original, though not exact. You can buy the leather in varying colours and quality. The recovering took two skins from memory and the cost of them was around £450 for the pair + the fitting cost. The result was very good to my eyes and a vast improvement to the original vinyl.

As for headlining, have not found a source of the original one, but have bought some perforated black headlining and foam. I have yet to start installing it.......

If you want any pictures, let me know.

Peter

I have used vinyl spray mixed to match a sample, supplied by a car paint specialist. Works best / easiest if the starting point is somewhere near the end result, i.e. cream or plain white for beige result and black for dark grey / brown / charcoal end result.

Cheap and cheerful solution.

That's what I like to hear.
There's hope for my seats yet this side of a mortgage.