$1800 for BMW horse hair front seat/backrest pads!

[joebarthlow]

On 2/18/2018 at 5:16 AM, Conserv said:

 

 

 

Steve, did you powder coat your frames on restoration? I'm considering powder coating mine. I've learned from restoring motorcycle seat frames this does three things: removes rust, protects the metal from rusting again and adds a little stiffness to them.

[Conserv]

7 hours ago, joebarthlow said:

 

Steve, did you powder coat your frames on restoration? I'm considering powder coating mine. I've learned from restoring motorcycle seat frames this does three things: removes rust, protects the metal from rusting again and adds a little stiffness to them.

 

Yes, Joe,

 

The front seat frames have been powder coated. They were pretty “fuzzy” with rust, as that first photo shows, and the frames themselves had clearly been painted or powder coated originally.

 

By contrast, the frames of the rear seats appear to have been plated originally (silver cadmium? clear zinc?).  The photos below shows the rear seat before. I had the rear seat frames re-plated in clear zinc. The transformation was amazing, but I can’t find a photo of the re-plated rear frames!  ?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited May 10, 2018 by Conserv

['76mintgrün'02]

Steve, 

did you put this piece of paper back on top of the spring, or make a fresh copy of it and put that there? 

 

Is that string original equipment?  If so, did you reuse it, or install new?

Thanks,
Tom

[Conserv]

6 hours ago, '76mintgrun'02 said:

Steve, 

did you put this piece of paper back on top of the spring, or make a fresh copy of it and put that there? 

 

Is that string original equipment?  If so, did you reuse it, or install new?

Thanks,
Tom

 

Thank you for asking.

 

The Naue card, after conservation — of course — went into the ‘76’s archivio. Critics have noted that the Conservation Department looks much like a shop vac and the archivio bears a strong resemblance to a “big ol’ manila envelope” but I dismiss those criticisms as mere jealousy. And most of those critics don’t know a word of Italian, anyway!

 

The string — original equipment, dated March 24, 1976 — was restrung in a dramatic representation of “fuzzy springs” (all lower case) and is now on display in the museo as part of a rotating exhibit entitled “What’s This Shit?”

 

Wiseass! ?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

Edited May 10, 2018 by Conserv

[thinksound_mike]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My seats we're feeling pretty saggy and had been redone by a previous owner with foam over decaying horsehair. I restuffed them using the 2" green foam from Joanne Fabrics. It's pretty firm, yet comfortable. I cut up a thin yoga mat and used it as a base for the foam to sit on, above the springs. I also zip tied some of the springs together to increase the firmness. Cost me $40 since I had some materials on hand already. If you're not doing a concours restoration, I would go with foam or get recaros for that money. I'd rather spend 2k in engine upgrades or nice wheels and tires. 

[chargin]

Who would have ever thought that installing a set of Recaro's would be the "Cheap" way

On that note, my upholstery guy re-did all 4 of my door cards in actual stitching instead of OEM molded stitching for just over the cost of 1 new panel.

 

 

 

 

[joebarthlow]

This seams to be a good thread for seat rebuild questions

 

I'm lining up my options for rebuilding my '74 black factory seats. One of my options include repairing/replacing the bottom insert of the driver's side. The replacement material I have has a slight basketweave. Rogerstii site says it's pre-'73. GAHH shows an exact match to my '74 seats, but they don't list black. I don't see fabric option images on the World Upholstery site, but they mention the difference for '74 embossed insert vinyl. Anyone have a close-up photo of '74 correct embossed upholstery from World?

 

Can someone confirm this is pre-'74?

 

this is my passenger side seat bottom. are those large perf holes on the pleat line correct for '74?

 

My driver's side bottom. My upholstery guy noticed they had been worked on before. apparently the pleat lines have been sewn. They don't appear to have the large perf holes on the pleat line. maybe this whole embossed insert is a replacement? thoughts?

Edited May 10, 2018 by joebarthlow

[Conserv]

Joe,

 

I never owned a ‘74 but I believe the heat-seamed perforated vinyl on your passenger seat is original.  The driver’s side, with sewn — not heat-seamed — pleats is likely a replacement in its entirety.

 

I’m not certain what “pre-‘73” means since there were at least two different perforated vinyls used prior to the 1974 models: (A.) late round taillight perforated vinyl used for, at minimum, the 1972 and 1973 model years, and (B.) early round taillight perforated vinyl, with stitching simulated in the pleats, i.e., molded into the vinyl.  This appeared early — my ‘67 had it, but ‘69’s and perhaps ‘70’s had it as well.  There may be even more round taillight perforated vinyls, but, if so, their nuances are simply lost on me.

 

Maybe by “pre-‘73” they mean “before the Modell 73”, which, despite its name, was the 1974 square taillight.  (“Modell 73” was used because the square taillights went into production in August or September of 1973.)

 

The first two photos below show authentic “late round taillight” perforated vinyl, heat-seamed. The seams in the first photo are filled with antique dirt. This vinyl disappears at the end of the 1973 model year. World’s sample looks similar, although you’d have to do stitched seams — which has been done and the world has, shockingly, kept on spinning. The third photo below shows the earlier style, with its simulated stitching in the pleat valley (a.k.a., heat seam).

 

If GAHH doesn’t list black perforated vinyl on their website, I’d call and ask anyway! But I’d be looking for a pattern that matches your ‘74 passenger seat.... ?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve