GT Junior - Recover Seats

[Campbeli]

I'm at the point of re-covering the front seats in my1970 GT Junior (series 2)
Making  a decision cover and foam cushions from Alfaholics / Classic Alfa and fitting myself  V a local upholsterer.
I like to keep the car as original as possible.

The alfaholics parts look like the cover fits over new foam without any attachment between the two.
But my current covers appears to be stitched to the foam seat

So, is my current arrangement original or a re-upholster?
Or are the parts from Alfaholics the most "original" way to go.

Cheers
Neil

[Campbeli]

another photos of existing covers

[LukeC]

Just a word of advice/warning.

About 6 or 7 years ago I fitted some seat covers to a 1750 GTV myself. The seat cover kits were from Classic Alfa and apart from having to add some extra foam to the seats where the original leather had compressed the foam, they fitted very well.

The kits came with the vinyl sewn to a layer of foam (as I believe original construction was).

Recently I supplied a set of front seat cover kits to an upholsterer for fitting. They appeared not to be any where near as good (very similar seats). The upholsterer had also just done a set of 1750 seats with kits from Classic also with ill fitting issues. He has said he will NOT use their kits again. It seems the quality has slipped in recent years.

My advice is to buy the materials from Classic and get a good upholsterer to do the whole job here.

[Campbeli]

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated.
My research so far was suggesting that fitting the seat covers can be a real challenge, which is one of the reasons I am weighing it up.
Do you mean i should consider buying the covers (IN007/1) and foam ( IN152 , IN154) from classic alfa / alfaholics and give to the upholsterer,
or
Buy the skai vinyl material (IN302) by the roll and hand over to an upholsterer?

[JohnLW]

I've recently had the seats in my 72 Spider redone using foam backs and cushions from Classic Alfa plus their coverkit (black vinyl).
I also replaced the seat bases as they were rusted out, its not too hard once you take out the seats themselves.
The foam was beyond saving, and any springs/wires were long gone.
I started with the headrest covers, softening the vinyl in the oven to make it workable - that was enough to convince me that the job is best done by a qualified auto upholsterer.  Tidying the vinyl on the underside of the headrest is difficult - espec as the plastic panel that closes the vinyl folds under the base is very brittle and more than likely to break as you tighten it with the single screw that pulls it in!
If you can supply the seats to the upholsterer out of the car that will save you several hours of labour.
Mine have come up very well - Im very happy with them.  Upholsterer's charge was just under $800 to have the job done.

[Campbeli]

Thank John,
My seats are out at the moment as i've stripped the floor an fire wall insulation to expose the rusted floor plans. Look like a post lockdown trip to my preferred upholster first to discuss.