Seat Leather

[Michael Vogler]

The bench seats in my ‘64 need to be recovered.  I want to get the leather and perforation as close to the original as possible, particularly with the very smooth glove leather.  Any thoughts or recommendations?  Attached is a pic of the perforation sample from my upholstery guy.  It’s not quite right.

[Kurt]

Alright, I'll start. SMS Auto Fabrics (contact info is under the Parts Suppliers, Service tab above) will provide top quality, factory correct material. However they are not known for quick turnaround time or prompt status updates on orders. I'm sure you can do a search of our website here and find many stories about SMS. With all that said, after your interior is done, it will look fantastic and the prior frustration experienced before that point will fade. If you do go with SMS, whatever lead time they give you, triple it and you will be in the ball park. Good luck with your restoration.

[Michael Vogler]

Thank you Kurt.  I checked out the website and put in a request for a call and leather sample.  While the perforation looks correct, I’m can’t tell from the picture that the smooth leather is smooth enough.  But with all the reports here, seems like a good bet.  
Do you know if they create the entire seat upholstery and then my upholstery guy here installs the covers, or does SMS simply provide bolts of the material that my upholstery guy then sews?

[Kurt]

I don't know if they create seat upholstery covers. When I had my seats done in 2006, I ordered leather, vinyl, and fabric from them and had a local upholsterer make the seats. My interior is Rose and it took a couple of tries for them to provide the correct color leather swatch. Also mine is a 63 so non-perforated. Black may be more readily available. 

[Tony and Ginny 429]

They supply the material only unless they do the complete job ( forever - sometimes years ) but all do say worth the wait for the  degree of perfection they turn out 

Enjoy 

[Michael Vogler]

Got.  Thanks.

[Tony and Ginny 429]

 Micheal

SMS requires full payment up front  (WHAT ? ) — then you wait until they take their sweet time to get your parts ready with the correct original materials used 

They do the job first class job  —but  very very frustrating waiting time from all the  prior posts 

They do not stay in touch !

Covid did slow the process as with many other things 

I think they are the only people with the correct original materials needed for the job 

Some order the materials and have another interior shop install the parts as an alternative to not be at their mercy 

Very nice work you are having done to bring your Cadillac to another level — Just Love It ! 

Enjoy 

[Michael Vogler]

Thanks, Tony.  I’ll keep you posted.

[Mark S Anderson]

SMS is by no means the only game in town, they probably don't even do their own leather pressing.
I haven't been active in upholstery in a long while, but in the old days, there were a few places that had the roll dies to emboss the 64 pattern.  One was a guy in NY state,   his company was named Putt Georgi, in the 90's he had the rolls to make the impression.   Another was standard embossing in Newark, who may have had the rolls too, i never used them.   These are just two from the northeast US, certainly there are more around the US.   Cadillac reused the pattern in the 80s in the Cimarron, but in vinyl, if you are into fun facts.

I can't say whether these companies are even still in business, but i'm sure that someone still has the rolls, they aren't something to get thrown away.

[Michael Vogler]

Putt Georgi seems to still be in business.  Thanks for the additional lead.