It should be comfortable ... and what it means to restore a seat
06/10/2019
When restoring a car, the first thing that comes to mind is the bodywork and the technology underneath.
However, the ravages of time also take their toll on the seat upholstery, which is also not safe from decay.
The upholstery of an Alfa Romeo 1900 Touring from 1953 shown here is enjoying a complete overhaul.
Here, too, everything is first meticulously dismantled into its individual parts and all the parts that are still intact, such as the metal spring section, are cleaned and refurbished.
The fabric and leather are remade using identical materials.
People are always surprised at the prices of vehicle restorations, but if you carefully add up the individual hours of work, it becomes clear what you are paying for. Certain jobs logically require a specialist with a great deal of experience in their field. Such luminaries are usually booked up for months, which can of course massively extend the lead time of a restoration.
Unfortunately, the seats in particular are often restored far too early, which can sometimes cause the car to lose all its charm.
Personally, I think that a 50-, 60- or 70-year-old car can certainly show that people have felt comfortable in it. The 90-year-old unrestored seat of the Lancia Lambda with all its traces of life is shown as a prime example (picture at the top)
