Volumex cloth reproduction

[rossocorsa]

Out of curiosity more than anything else I wonder if cloth patterns are copyrighted. I seem to remember the chequered Volumex cloth being proudly proclaimed as being by the fashion house Zegna.

That had passed my mind too but surely they wouldn't worry too much about a few nutters replicating it at no real commercial profit? Zegna do still exist though so it will be their intellectual property I suppose?

[chrisc]

I'll worry about it if and when it happens. besides which it won't be the same, it'll be more durable than the original

Emphasis - this is the first test run, not the finished product.

The colours are actually ok, it's just that they look different because the pattern is a little off.

Another 2 weeks or so for the next test run.

[rossocorsa]

It is certainly close, it just looks rather like badly faded VX Cloth at the moment, it looks like the size and density of the stitching is the main issue. When new the VX Cloth is much darker than it appears in surviving cars.

[Nigel]

For info, the original material had what's called a scrim backing attached to it.
It's a 2/3mm foam with a thin nylon mesh-type fabric attached to create a 'sandwich'.
That's what breaks down and rots into orange dust over 40-odd years.

I'm sure modern foam will be better, and i'd recommend using something like that between
the new fabric and the seat foam.

Perhaps the suppliers or an upholsterer would know the best route to take.

Nigel

[WestonE]

Hi Nigel

A good point and I would expect my trimmer to just do that based on previous experience. Any decent trimmer has a vast knowledge of foam and knows what will work with a given fabric.

Eric

[chrisc]

Almost there everyone!





This is almost there now and to be honest, if I wasn't looking at it in fine detail next to the original cloth, I wouldn't notice the difference. That said, I am looking at it in fine detail next to original cloth and there's another trial run needed to get it perfect for all of us.

This last photo is just a bit of a cautionary note for anyone eyeing up the idea of just recovering their front seats, this one seat you can see a whole load of different permutations of fading + marks, and just how much the new cloth contrasts against it. As you can see from the first photo, my back seat cloth isn't in terrible nick, but it'll all be getting recovered.

[WestonE]

Great work Chris

I do think you need to look at un- faded fabric as the only real reference, perhaps on the under side of the headrest or the underside of the seat bases. You pictures show exactly the reason why patch repairs even by an expert trimmer are a nightmare. The OE fabric has faded to so many different colours and shades.

This will allow our cars to look amazing again.

Eric   

[rossocorsa]

Looking good, the original cloth has an odd effect as it fades as it seems to adopt a blueish tinge. Back seats and door cards are usually good. I think it is a difficult one to call as an exact match, new original cloth is very dark compared to any on an actual car.   

[chrisc]

I had 1 piece where I could say hand on heart it was perfectly unfaded, that is with the company doing the weaving as their reference point.

One colour tweak, one pattern tweak to go

[rossocorsa]

I had 1 piece where I could say hand on heart it was perfectly unfaded, that is with the company doing the weaving as their reference point.

One colour tweak, one pattern tweak to go

I can post you a very small piece of new original if you need it. It'll be very small though!

[Sandro]

It's great following your progress Chris, It must be extremely rewarding !
..the satisfaction of bringing something bespoke and that's no longer produced back to life ( as new again ) is awesome.

Good luck as you near the final!

A.

   

[chrisc]

It's certainly been an insight into the effort that Mark and co put into when arranging for items to be remade, with a newfound respect for that effort. Of course for me getting the interior is just one piece of my puzzle - the car itself is off having the bodywork attacked and I'm entertaining myself in trying to refinish a few trim pieces.. how hard can it be to paint a couple of badges I thought!

[SanRemo78]

Looking really really good! I may have to buy enough to trim a car I haven't bought yet! That's likely to be a year away yet!

Guy

[DeltaJames]

Hello
New member here, following this thread with great interest.
Although I don't have a beta, I own a Delta HF turbo (carb) and the front Recaros are in urgent need of repair.

I managed to find a source in Italy who has the original zegna cloth. Before I placed my order I checked he had the quantity that I needed, which he reassured me he did. I placed my order and waited. To cut the story short it's been a nightmare to deal with this business. He didn't send my item in 4 months, ignoring all my emails. So I did a charge back through my bank, then once I was refunded he sent the item. Then 2 weeks once it arrives it was the wrong colour and he only sent 1.8 meters. The matter is now back with the bank to deal with.

What your doing is great work. If possible I would also like to purchase enough to do the whole car. Even though it's not the same colour as the Delta Zegna it looks fantastic

[frankxhv773t]

My old HPE Volumex had gold Zenga so if that's the same as Delta fabric maybe the work already done could develop into also reproducing cloth of gold.

[DeltaJames]

If you look at the door cards(also back seats not in photo)you can see they are the original dark blue Square I think they called it.
The front seats were retrimmed by Lancia in the early 90s as my dad worked at there main head office in Crawley, but even then Lancia couldn't source the correct colour.
In all fairness I prefer the darker shade in the beta so would be happy with that.

[chrisc]

I suspect getting other colour options with the same pattern should be relatively simple as I already have a number of other options from when they were getting the right match for the volumex cloth, so it'd be a bit of .. you've already got the pattern, but I need this colour.

Still got to cross the bridge of getting the VX cloth finalised first mind, expect an update in the next week or so!

[Simongore]

Hi Chris
Not sure when you will be at ordering stage but when you are please let me know
I have just bought a vx coupe and I will be after some of the material.
Thanks in advance
Simon

[arguti]

I too am interested!

Great work by the wa

[monte]

add me also to the list please
Tom