Rare/desirable options...

[TedTaylor]

I believe leather was standard in all Belgian built Mk2's. It doesn't age well though, mine is in a terrible state (it's on the to-do list).

I've also got a GB spec parts car that has 2 pull up blinds, just behind the back seat with clips on the roof. Looks pretty authentic but I suspect it was a dealer option or later addition.

Yes leather does need a lot of care - unless fed properly on a regular basis there is a real risk that the leather will crack and split as has happened to so many cars. Originally SCG had leather seats but plastic ones were fitted by the previous owner to get SCG back on the road and I only have the original rears as a 'pattern' for future restoration - they had deteriorated unbelievably and look as though they had been attacked by a Stanley Knife (or the German Shepherd Dog that a previous owner had and was why he bought the car).

To organise GOOD replacements is very difficult and estate well nigh impossible, and recovering completely is not an option because the diamond pattern on the fluted portion is no longer available. In my attempt to replace the present plastic seats I have accumulate a large collection of leather seats in various states of repair and none in the black that I need, mostly in tan though one estate rear base in cactus, and some excellent tan saloon rears.

Unless I can find some good black seats (any offers on swaps.....) my plan is to get my tan fronts sorted with the plain leather sides (bolsters) replaced with original pattern plain black leather which is available, and then colour the fluted centre black. The rears are the big problem and that may be a case of using the immaculate saloon seat fluting which will be re-coloured black, and new black leather sides.

It is still a bit in the air because I would like some good black original specification seats and if necessary get minor repairs done to those, but I will be taking everything to a trimmer soon to discuss how we an mix and match and recover and re-colour the large collection that I have

Ted

[christopherhenry]

The sides and the backs of the backs of mine seem to be plastic (leather look-a-like vinyl stuff) and the actual parts you rest your bum and back on are leather, made of sections about 1 1/2 ins with simple straight stitched seems and no pattern.

I need to visit the upholsterer too, but that can probably wait till next year.

Mine is a '72 so has no headrests and the seats can be reclined. I know that Mk1 seats are different to Mk2, but I'd settle for Mk1 seats if it were a practical (and cheaper than reupholstering) option. I'd even go for tan if you have a spare set (saloon). I assume the runners are the same? What are the differences?

[TedTaylor]

Yes the backs would be plastic however I never realised that the Mk2 had leather as an option Also the un-perforated leather may indicate an aftermarket re-upholstering in leather but I could very well be wrong.

If you have un-perforated leather then it should be a straightforward process to get a motor trimmer to retrim in leather. All my previous remarks were related to what I know about Mk1 upholstery.

Ted

[Charles H]

French spec LHD Mk2s had leather!! Leather sourced by the factory in Belgium. Anyone have any tan fronts available for Dave Davis LHD PI?

[TedTaylor]

Anyone have any tan fronts available for Dave Davis LHD PI?

If the leather was sourced from Belgium is that plain or perforated leather on the fluting type? If plain leather any decent trimmer can sort it out.

Ted

[Charles H]

From memory, it was perforated on the centres and plain on the edges. Now shredded!!

[TedTaylor]

From memory, it was perforated on the centres and plain on the edges. Now shredded!!

Ah - the usual specification after all these years

[Jonathan Lewis]

Does anyone know whether any other manufacturers used that diamond-patterned ventilated leather, or is it unique to Triumph?

[TedTaylor]

From my enquiries with a number of trimmers this type of perforated leather is no longer available which suggests it was unique to Triumph. However if anyone can answer Jonathan's question about other manufacturers who used this type of perforated leather it gives an option about trying some other line of enquiry.

Ted

[Jonathan Lewis]

Hi Ted,

I suspect that it may have been unique to Triumph. Even then, as leather (as opposed to Ambla), the only applications I'm aware of are facelift Mk1s, Belgian-assembled Mk2s, some export-specification 1300/1500 FWDs (again, perhaps CKD) and - possibly - some TR5s and early TR6s. If I'm correct with regard to the latter, might it be worth approaching one of the firms producing retrim kits for those cars and seeing (a) if their offerings use plain or tooled leather for the pleated sections and (b) if tooled, whether they would be willing to sell a small quantity of material for use elsewhere?

Just a thought!

Regards,