67 Caddy Deville. Blood red interior.
1) My front seats are cracking and the foam is coming out all over. I would like to have the front seats upholstered. I am in Los Angeles. What are you guys paying around the US? Do the red materials match?
2) I am a dummy (forgive me). Last year, the rear window glass tore on my convertible. I fixed it with brand new glass. I didn't think, and neither did the shop, but now that I use the top up and down a lot, top is cracking, and basically I need a new top. Can my rear glass be used? I see OPTI sells tops for $400-800. What tops are you guys using? What should be price of install?
Some pics of the pattern of seats.
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G'day Ryan,
With regard to your seat problem, I have just fitted covers from lseat.com to my '72 Eldorado and am very happy with the results. https://www.lseat.com/ Lots of colours available, and if they don't have your actual style, they will give you a discount if you supply your old covers as templates.
As for the roof, it looks like it might have to be a "simple" replacement.
Bruce. >:D
Thank you Bruce!!! I will look at the Seat link you sent.
On the roof - my question is, is OPTI where you guys buy the roof? Talked to a Vegas member and he said $2500 for roof + install. Sound right to you?
Do you have any photos of your seat covers?
https://www.lseat.com/products/1967-cadillac-deville-coupe-custom-real-leather-seat-covers-front.html
As I remember, a new convertible top with rear glass window and pads for my '68 Pontiac Bonneville was (very roughly) $600. Expert installation was another $600 or so. Sorry I don't have more exact figures but it was certainly about half of the $2500 you have been quoted.
Quote from: 35-709 on January 20, 2023, 12:17:19 PMAs I remember, a new convertible top with rear glass window and pads for my '68 Pontiac Bonneville was (very roughly) $600. Expert installation was another $600 or so. Sorry I don't have more exact figures but it was certainly about half of the $2500 you have been quoted.
That sounds more reasonable.
The tops at OPTI with plastic rear window is $400. Glass rear window is $800 or so. Since I have a glass rear window (new), I wonder if I can buy a top without any windows and reuse mine?
I will stop by a couple of other shops and ask the price.
Seat pics
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Just as a price reference, about 18 onths ago I had the top replaced on my 2001 Corvette. It has a Stayfast 3 canvas top and glass window. The top was made by GAHH. That company also owns Robbins tops and some other brands. The top and install was $1600. This is a smaller car, obviously, but probably a bigger pain, labor wise. I believe that the pads and cables were still good and were re-used, as was the headliner. Of course, headliners weren't used in convertibles in the 60s, generally. That'll be in the ballpark.
The hardest part of the seat I think would be acquisition of the correct leather and vinyls used. A good upholstery shop can stitch them up from there. My 64 CdV was redone that way, and the only giveaway really, was that the leather was nicer, being new, and all the skirts were redone in leather also. Usually only the Eldos were done that way. The others had vinyl skirts. Whoever did it did a fabulous job. They don't come any better than how that person did it.
Might be talking out of turn because I am in early stages of fixing the tears and discoloration in my 70 DeVille seats..I didn't want to recover them and was told by other region members who had seen the interior to keep the original leather. Looked at several utube videos on how to patch and fill tears with compound and purchased the Leatherique system ( they custom matched my red color) which wasn't cheap but was consistently recommended on the forum. The Leatherique conditioner really helped soften up the hard and cracking leather, especially on drivers seat back and then I started patching tears with backing material and glue. Then I found A.R.T. real repairs for real customers videos in which he stitches leather tears shut instead of glueing and knew I had to restart. Not sure I can blend and regrain the filler compounds as well as done in the videos but I have stitched two areas so far (had to add a patch to one area that mice had eaten away and made a nest in drivers seat while car was in storage) and I am happy with the results. I'm in no hurry,I'm not the best sewer and have not finished but I would keep your original leather(of course I can't see how bad it is under the tape on drivers side) which looks no worse than mine.
Rob
Well got my seats done. Very happy how it came out. Member from Australia here was extremely helpful.
Next I need to do the top.
have to give a big shout to member here BRUCE REYNOLDS
Had a new top done on my 1970 Deville Convertible in Denver CO this past spring/summer it was 900 for the top/window/well from Robbins and 1100 for the install.
Quote from: 67caddyLA on October 05, 2023, 01:04:09 PMhave to give a big shout to member here BRUCE REYNOLDS
Thanks Ryan,
Good to know that everything worked out and you were happy with the results.
Bruce. >:D
Sharp car, great colors.
So did you use Lseat then ? The seats look great !
I got a quote on my 60 in leather front and back seat 2400 usd
Jon,
Was your quote from Lseat?
I just looked at their website and the prices are US$349.00 each for the front and back.
If they don't have the patterns for your seats, then if you send in your covers as patterns, the price will be half.
But, as with everything, be warned that they are not as good as Factory original, or made with really expensive hides, but they are good, and better than sitting on worn-out seats.
Bruce. >:D
PS. I do not represent, or work for Lseat, but have purchased from them.
Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on October 09, 2023, 07:39:35 PMThanks Ryan,
Good to know that everything worked out and you were happy with the results.
Bruce. >:D
You rocked it my friend. Couldn't have done it without you.
Quote from: marty55cdv on October 11, 2023, 11:26:30 AMSo did you use Lseat then ? The seats look great !
That is correct.
Quote from: colorado4x4 on October 09, 2023, 01:28:55 PMHad a new top done on my 1970 Deville Convertible in Denver CO this past spring/summer it was 900 for the top/window/well from Robbins and 1100 for the install.
Thank you for that info. I am going to have to do it in the spring. I have a brand new glass window in the rear now. Hope I can just get the top + install.
So thats 700 plus instalation 1500 is 2200, Im close
I didn't include the installation costs as I did it all myself.
But, the cost of having a Shop doing the whole task, including buying in the hides, etc, one would be looking at upwards of $10,000.00 and more
A friend (Upholsterer) did his own, and using the best available materials, he was looking at an estimated $15,000.00 if he was doing it for a customer.
So, $2,200.00 doesn't look that bad without doing any of the work yourself.
Bruce. >:D