Leather Repair and Restoration

[Jelmer]

Incredible. Well done! As said, it's not "as new", but it looks SOOO much better than what you had. Any more plans?

 

[gerryvz]

That is truly amazing work Karl. Congratulations. Wow.

 

[KarlC]

Amazing work.. Seriously incredible. Hats off to you sir!

Thanks very much kind sir !

Hi,
Yes, nice job.
But now the question is : how long the paint will last ?
Alex

Thanks

Not Paint, it's done with leather dye very much like the original, with proper care it should last many years.
.

 

[KarlC]

Incredible. Well done! As said, it's not "as new", but it looks SOOO much better than what you had. Any more plans?

Thanks, yes I am also giving even inch of the interior a deep cleaning and feeding to bring it all back to health.

 

[redred]

Thanks, yes I am also giving even inch of the interior a deep cleaning and feeding to bring it all back to health.

Planning to have this all done for tomorrow's GTG? Busy guy!

 

[8899]

Passengers seat still in progress

How about an update? Particularly interested in hearing how the seat is holding up in the areas that you cut, inserted scrap leather and then super-glued.

 

[KarlC]

Sorry for they delay on this l have beed slamed at work l will try and get some added photos this weekend

 

[need2speed]

I have always found satisfaction in restoring unusual items. As you said, it's a learning process as well as anything else. I'm really enjoying your posting of the process, Karl. Nice job on the sink.

drew

Agreed! Many will speculate on this and that but there is no substitute for hands-on experience. I'm very glad you are making the effort and bringing us along for the ride

 

[RLJett]

This is a super thread Karl, thanks for sharing. I just recently watched an episode of Wheeler Dealer where I watched them restore the seats of a Bently. I had never seen anything like this before, probably because I never had the need to look. But I recently picked up a 1992 400e with fairly rough looking seats and wanted to make them look as good as the ones on the Wheeler Dealer episode. So I came to 500eboard hoping someone had some recommendations for similar products/processes. And you did! Looking forward to doing this to my car someday.

 

[samiam44]

I've always though of doing this more of the re-dye to fresh it all up. I think J-sauce did the steering wheel which looked great.

How much did you spend total? How many hours? How much materials- cleaner , conditioner, dye, crack filler etc?

 

[8899]

Karl - still curious on how your extensive leather repair has held up over the last several months? Particularly interested in hearing how the seat is holding up in the areas that you cut, inserted scrap leather and then
super-glued. Has it held up to the point that it was worth the effort? Are you giving Leatherique the 500Eboard seal of approval???

 

[KarlC]

Karl - still curious on how your extensive leather repair has held up over the last several months? Particularly interested in hearing how the seat is holding up in the areas that you cut, inserted scrap leather and then
super-glued. Has it held up to the point that it was worth the effort? Are you giving Leatherique the 500Eboard seal of approval???

Sorry for not updating this project, I have been swamped at work and in my personal life.

The restored leather is holding up very well with no wear issues at all with the large or small repairs.

As I said before this was my first try with a project like this so if I where to do it again I would ....

- Use the same products but send Leatherique a small sample of the leather you want matched to get the best match.

- Repairing the NON perforated leather areas is real straight froward and not hard to make look great

- Repairing larger section of the Perforated leather areas is much harder due to trying to match the holes (I still need to touch this up)

 

[JwashE]

Is anyone aware of shops that do this kind of work? I rarely hear of shops that restore existing surfaces beyond detail shops.

 

[Bill Walsh]

You should stop by Teeters & Schacht in Novato. They do excellent interior work.

 

[Kip]

Rafi in Van Nuys did some interior work on my 6.3 with excellent results. If you look at his website, you'll see a W124 500E that he did a new interior in. He's a really nice guy and easy to work with. I'll be sending him my W126 hopefully after the first of the year.

Rafael Abramyan
Owner
Car Classic Interiors

15735 Strathern St, #12
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 469-0032
www.CarClassicInteriors.com
rafi@carclassicinteriors.com