Any Idea on the center material?
 

So I saw this for 73-87 Chevy trucks on a FB ad, any Idea on the material used in the center?

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

I've not seen squarebodies with plaid upholstery, so I'm guessing those are custom inserts. My only idea is to do an internet search for that photo and see if it pops up elsewhere, where you can get an idea of who made it. There is an upholstery sign right above it, but of course we can't see whose name is on it.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

I have asked companies before what it was originally from, then they get all defensive. I am not in the market for a new seat, but thought it was cool.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

Wow, this company was very professional when I asked!!

It from a VW MK7

See their work here!!

https://www.facebook.com/DemascUpholstery/

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

BBuckets

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

Cool that somebody recognized it and was willing to tell you what it is.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

Same company, when I have asked previous companies they gave me attitude, that's why I asked here. No one was sure, so I asked the company that posted the seat for sale. They came back with a professional answer, and I went to their Facebook site to review the offerings and history they had. I am impressed with the professionalism and quality of work.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

I’ve used Houndstooth on a 73-80 seat. I try and keep my seats as close to stock as possible, but I have to admit, this is probably one of my favorites. There is only a couple of the Houndstooth colors that will work with the original interior colors.
When it comes to adding different materials for inserts, and trying to make it work with the original colors of our interiors, it can be challenging. The seat you posted, in my opinion, looks like it would go well with Camel Tan. My guy that does my covers for my seats, just showed me some materials that would go well in the 73-80 Interiors.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

VW has used some pretty cool Tartan fabrics in the special trim vehicles like the VW GTI, Corrado, and Scirocco. AMC, Triumph, Holden, Vauxhall and several others used tartan fabrics to give otherwise nondescript vehicles a nice interior.

Various Tartan plaid fabrics would work in the squarebodies if you pay attention to the color mixes.
GM used Tartan plaids in the 67-72 Highlander trim trucks.

Fabrics with complimentary dark and light colored long straight lines aren't as forgiving as other patterns. They have to be sewed up and installed properly.
When it's done right the pattern looks great but doesn't draw a lot of attention because the pattern lines are not clashing with the lines of the seat itself.
The houndstooth that TKCR installed on that seat is an example of some really good work from both the installer and the outfit sewing the cover.

You also need to choose a fabric that isn't going to stretch more than the vinyl and ideally not more give than is needed to keep it from tearing. The foam needs to be resilient so it keeps the covers taut. That way the fabric doesn't get loose and the lines in the plaid or houndstooth or... don't get skewed and look funny as the seat wears.
That's what good upholstery guys or your own experience will get you.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

You are correct on the patterns and lines. I have seen some like that. People have posted up pics of their seat that was done, but I didn’t have the heart to point that out to them. Even good upholstery guys can make mistakes. I got a cover “once”, that the sewing line was off center. Didn’t notice it until I was putting the cover on, and was looking for the center line placement. I was like WT...? Had to wait to have another one made, this one was not acceptable?

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

I could both of your points.

Re: Any Idea on the center material?
 

I saw some pictures of a 1977 Vauxhall Chevette 2300HS that shows my point on how the underlying structure and probably fabric choice affects the fabric and vinyl covers.

This is a picture taken before the foam in the driver seat began to break down.
Attachment 2156673

After the same driver seat has several decades on it and the foam is not as resilient as it once was.
Attachment 2156675

It also shows how a cheap lackluster little econobox tin can like the GM T6000 chassis cars could be made to look reasonably decent inside.