63 Laurentian - front bench repair or replacement

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

63 Laurentian - front bench repair or replacement

1961ragtop · Veteran Member

There is a guy named Kenneth Weinstein on Facebook Marketplace in Bowmanville, NY who is selling seat covers for classic cars. I bought a set from him several years ago and they were good quality. He has a selection of colours and patterns.

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

Thanks for the advice.
I'll put my wife on it

because I don't use FB myself

65Camino · Uber Guru

Look into NOS Reproductions.
They are on here as well.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Cars Inc and Ciadellas sell upholstery for Chevies but Im pretty sure it is not the same. Check on th American Pontiac sites amd see if any are the same pattern, maybe Catalina? Also look at eBay other places at pontiacs for sale amd see if any of the interiors match yours.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

SMS Auto Fabrics in Oregon will likely have original upholstery for your car. You can send them a sample of yours and they'll mail you back a sample of what they have. They can also sew complete replacement covers if you wish. Turnaround time is slow and they are expensive but they do good work.

https://smsautofabrics.com/

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

@ 65Camino
do you mean this website, https://www.nosreproductions.com?

Only carpets and trunk mats are available there, but no seat covers. was i on the wrong website?

@DonSSDD
Cars Inc unfortunately does not have any pictures of the products and Ciadella only has Impala interiors for 1963. I haven't found anything suitable on Ebay or other sales platforms. I think the exact same pattern and the exact same color I will not find either.

@Canadian poncho
I've already looked around at smsautofabrics.com. But haven't found anything for Canadian Pontiacs. But I will inquire by email.

pontiax · Poncho Master!

When you contact SMS, tell them the trim code. It is located on the cowl tag above the heater box.

I purchased my seat material from them for my 64. I also had them make the door panels.

NOS · Poncho Master!

does the '63 Laurention not have the same interior as the'63 Biscayne ? . If so maybe getting NOS yardage to ship overseas and have the seats made up locally would make sense financially ? The vinyl is reproduced by PUI. But I would double check with CARS Inc on actual availability of Belair on s special order ? It seems to me we once had 66 or 67 BB Biscayne covers made by CARS under special order.

Dale @ NOS

-- Edited by NOS on Thursday 13th of May 2021 07:57:31 PM

-- Edited by NOS on Thursday 13th of May 2021 08:01:49 PM

-- Edited by NOS on Thursday 13th of May 2021 08:03:11 PM

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

The patterned material appears to be the same as Biscayne. The difference appears to be the top styling of the seats.

NOS · Poncho Master!

thanks; Dale @ NOS

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Poking around the net, strangely, it seems member Laurent's 63 shares all the the vinyl, piping and (maybe) the crest with the 63 Catalina, BUT uses the 63 Biscayne patterned material.

The Canadian brochure image shows the patterned 63 Laurentian material to be not like any other.

But more brousing shows that the sales image appears to be in fact a production pattern. So it's strange to see Laurent's Biscayne type pattern on his seats.

63 Canadian Laurentian sales brochure image, actual 63 Laurentian image,

63 Laurentian.JPG

63 Catalina,

63 cat.JPG

63 Bisc,

63 bisc.JPG

63 Bisc, Laurent's,

But Wait! More discovery....

Laurent's seats appear to have the 63 Strato Chief patterned material! I bet the seats (or at least the covers) are from a strato, with a upper repair of some kind done previous. The vinyl certainly doesn't look the same grain, and the sewing doesn't look factory.

63 Strato from the sales brochure,

s3 strato.JPG

Repair panels?

Everyone more confused now lol?

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

you are awesome! Thank you for your great help

but now i'm much more confused than before

If my seats are not original, the easiest way is to look for seat covers in the original color for both benches. then the pattern wouldn't matter.

The only question that arises for me is from which model would fit the covers to my benches. Biscayne, Catalina, Strato Chief, Bel Air ...?

edit: my cowl tag and also my Data Sheet from Vintage Vehicle Servics says Trim 909 = Light Aqua for Cloth + Vinyl.

-- Edited by Laurent63 on Friday 14th of May 2021 03:31:39 AM

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

In 63 Canadian pontiacs, the seats themselves are Chevy, Ive found tags in them from gm with Pontiac and Chev on them. My first 62 BelAir had a 63 Parisienne back seat in it and Oldsmobile door panels. Pick whatever Chevy pattern you like would be the cheapest and easiest way to go? I hear they are back ordered btw. Both Cars and Ciadellas make good stuff.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I see this set is available for a 63 Biscayne 2 door sedan in aqua. Pricey and backordered but might prove to be a reasonable look for your car. If you could do them yourself, or have them installed, you'd certainly come in less than getting all the material from SMS, and having the covers sewn and the seat built by a shop.

It appears to be at least the same pattern material you have, described as Aqua/Black. The large image does not represent the covers just the bodystyle.

https://www.classicindustries.com/product/1963/chevrolet/impala/parts/b10463006.html

I'm assuming this represents the 3 materials in the cover?

Would be similar to this,

You can just see the ribbed vinyl on the seatback top in this image,

Question, do your seatbacks have the crest?

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

@DonSSdD

Your BelAir is a nice mix of different vehicles

Where are the tags located?

@cdnpont

I like the set from classicindustries

Maybe a bit darker color but the pattern would even fit.

Yes, my seats have the crest.

Could it be easily removed from the old seat and attached to the new one?

@All

I'm on short vacation until Sunday evening. Please don't be surprised if I don't answer.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I would say if intact, the crests could be taken out of the top sections, and sewn into the new covers. With a good shop anything is possible.

I'm sure you could also have that grey band added into the covers as well.

For what it's worth, I had gotten samples from SMS of the original material for my 65 Laurentian, but just to see, I went around and found a local shop that had all kinds of material. I chose to use what he had on hand, deciding that it was period and close enough for my taste. The shop took my old tattered seats and stitched up new covers and built them back up. They turned out exceedingly nice all for $2000. I had gotten quotes for up to $6000, so it's no wonder I went with these guys. Looking at the result, it was a steal.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Laurent63 wrote:
@DonSSdD
Your BelAir is a nice mix of different vehicles
Where are the tags located?
Could it be easily removed from the old seat and attached to the new one?

Tag was attached to the rear seat springs, also found the remnants of the build sheet in the same place. Most of my BelAir was Olds, one panel was off white (or just dirty?), I sold this in Helsinki, sold a Red 63 Corvette split window coupe to a fellow in Switzerland.

Pics of the 62 that came out of a local junk yard. I think the front seat was from a 62 Impala convertible.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

The tags and build sheet can be found in the springs of the front or rear seat, usually in the bottom cushion.

This was from a 63 Parisienne convertible I parted out, but I think a similar tag was in that blue seat in my 62 BelAir.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

DonSSDD wrote:
The tags and build sheet can be found in the springs of the front or rear seat, usually in the bottom cushion.
This was from a 63 Parisienne convertible I parted out, but I think a similar tag was in that blue seat in my 62 BelAir.

Total derail here, good to see another guy who knows what a good snowblower is biggrin

Now, back to the issue at hand, the seat repair!

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Carl, this is a good Switzerland topic too. Had it since 1999, have a manual for it on PDF if you need a copy. The Cdn joystick controlled was unique in these years, USA didnt get them so the manuals are hard to get.

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

My wife and I discussed for a long time yesterday how we want to proceed about the seats.

we have decided that the next thing we should do, is get quotes from local upholstery shops.

Maybe we are lucky to have a variant that we like and that is not too expensive.

I will of course keep an eye on cars inc, ciadella, smsautofabrics, classicindustries ect

I will keep you updated on my seats as soon as there is something new.

many, many thanks to all of you for your valuable input.

btw: should i buy a snow blower ...?

my wife says NO

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I did leather on my 63 vette, a local guy did them and they were perfect plus cheaper and stronger than the leather from a vette leather pre sewn supplier. Ciadellas will sell you material amd you can have them seen locally. But Im sure you can get some very good quality materials locally which will look great. Post pics when done.

As for the snowblower, when you need one you need one. Carl needs one, I used mine 3 times this winter.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Having them custom made by a local shop is a good way to go. As long as you're not concerned about 100% originality and can find some period looking material like I did, then it's a go.

Perhaps the shop could even repair what you have?

Let us know what you find out. Cheers and good luck.

Laurent63 · Veteran Member

a small update.

Our plan now is to just replace the textile part and have the vinyl cleaned.
On Thursday we have an appointment at a upholstery shop.
we hope that we will find something that we like and that the offer is not too expensive