houndstooth bench?

[muddpile]

I have decided to retain the bench seat in my 72 chevy pickup. The buckets I have cramp me a little too much and just don't look right. The truck is a 72 LWB Highlander with the off-white vinyl seat with the orange plaid inserts. I have no attachment to the plaid, so orange or black/white houndstooth will be a good replacement.

My question, do most guys buy these off a vendor, or get them custom made? Price is an issue, but not so much of one as quality. I want something that won't wear out or fall apart. Also, do the repro's have the stock scroll pattern in them? Again, I'm not that attached to it if they don't. The main thing is I want parchment vinyl with houndstooth inserts, give it that classy 70's mid-luxery look. Thanks! Any pics of anything you guys have got done would be great as well.

[Hart_Rod]

I had my custom made. It cost about $300, which is the price of repo covers if you buy them. Not to mention, the upholsterer guarantees his to fit, he won't the repo ones, .

[LUV2XCLR8]

I paid around $250 for mine, not done yet so no pic's, got mine from www.christiansclassics.com

[brak]

Mmmm Highlander

[muddpile]

Those custom units look pretty good! I'm kinda torn on which way to go. I'll have to call my local upholstery guy and see what he reccommends. My bench is pretty tattered right now, and needs foam as well.

[special-K]

It`s hard to believe you could get custom seat upholstery that cheap.In my experience,there`s no comparison in price between custom and ready-made covers.That guy is way cheap,nice work,too.I`d like his number.

[cdowns]

i'll always go thru the local upholstery shop too unless it's for a factory correct type deal. i'm really awed when i see guys payn the $1200-$1500 on the factory buckets sorry factorty correct aint that important to me

[Stoney]

I would like to find a original seat for my 72. Someone put a later model seat in there and it's ugly

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by special-K

It`s hard to believe you could get custom seat upholstery that cheap.In my experience,there`s no comparison in price between custom and ready-made covers.That guy is way cheap,nice work,too.I`d like his number.

Forrester's Auto Trim
850-293-7329

Tim - His name is Troy Forrester. He's super nice guy. His shop is at his house, about 8 miles east of mine.

[special-K]

That`s nice stitchin`,Rob.I say that after dealing with the same guy for over 25 years.He does great work,too.He does all the antique and resto stuff.Dealers,too.He doesn`t like aftermarket stuff,either.The guy that I bought my`72 Sierra from sold me a Repro cover.The same company LMC sells.I gave him the seat to cover.He was so unhappy with the results,he wouldn`t charge me.And he had a he!! of a time getting it on.I think he`d get closer to $400+ for that two insert design.I guess different areas vary.And,he`s got the name.It was his dad`s,then his,and his son will be next.He`s also president of the local AACA chapter.So,he get`s his price.

[Chevyholic]

Beautiful seats, I think I may have to consider something like that when I get mine done. I need to find a new bench first, though. The PO put a bench from I don't know what and it sits way too high.

[Ozark Tim]

You said you didnt care about the plaid pattern for your truck's interior, so if you can find a guy to do the upholstry work cheap you could probably find a local place that sells material and go pick something out. My wife goes to a place in St. Louis that has hundreds if not thousands of bolts of material that they sell by the yard and it is cheap.
For me, I'd stick with the Highlander material and if you choose to do that you can contact SMS Auto Fabric's in Oregon. Taint cheap but they have all the Highlander colors as well as the OEM vinyl's and even the scroll debossed center pieces in various vinyl colors.
Good luck with your seat!
OT

[cstanley]

i recovered mine myself with one of the kits from GMCPaul's. it wasn't cheap, because i had to buy new foams, too, but i am crazy happy with the results. it wasn't difficult at all to install. did it one evening after work. i think it was around $250 just for the cover.

[dan42]

Check this one out - I dint like buckets either

[special-K]

I wish I could get running length of the scroll to build a tonneau to match the seats.

[barn9]

Since I have the pic handy from another post, I got this done locally for $150.

[SacramentoJoe]

I've been pricing some seats here today. Aound $300 -$350 installed for new covers, foam, and all the side springs and hardware from the local shops. Paid about that much for this one 20 years ago. Probably go to the same guy since he is still there and I wore the hell out of these. He is the highest price though. Gotta wear the seatbelts with the bench seat to keep from sliding across.

[raoul.duke]

Here's mine that I recovered from the LMC kit over x-mas. Very happy w/ it, but my fingers still are sore from those damn hogrings.....