Replacement seat covers (color, please vote!)

[22229stingray81]

Okay, Im getting ready to get new seat covers for my '81, but I cannot decide on the color! I am not worried about originality at all, so keep that in mind. The interior now is dark blue. I was thinking about possibly white (because the exterior is white), stock blue, light gray, two-tone blue/gray, and blue/white. So, what do you all think? I'm leaning towards gray or stock blue right now. White would be hard to clean I suspect.. and the two-tone, while unique, looks a little funny. Thanks for your replies, hopefully this poll will work!


-Tatortot

P.S. Click here to see samples of the colors I am talking about. The gray I'm considering is first on the list. http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.52.5765

 

[Andy]

Seat Covers

Morning...I have oyster white leather interior and it is a NIGTMARE to keep clean. I'm always thinking to myself that it looks dirty, even though it's not..it's a mind game...I would opt away from oyster white..even though I LOVE the color, a rich expensive look.

Andy

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for your input, Andy. I was thinking that after a while, the bright bright white I was looking at (called 'white '76-77') would yellow or look dirty soon, and I would just never be able to get it back to the same color. It would annoy me to no end. Do you think light gray will do that?


-Tatortot

 

[jrbartholomew]

hey tatertot,

my wifes car has light gray.its a daily driver.it does get dirty but is easy to clean.i think white would be a chore if you drive the vette often.with us the biggest problem is the blue coming of our levis jeans .the main thing is to get a color you like, that makes it easier.
jeff

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for the reply, Jeff. I guess any light color will get dirty easily. What do you reccomend to clean it? I know to stay away from armoral products. Forgot to mension that I have cloth seats now, and I am upgrading to 100% leather (not stock leather/vinyl). Thanks again for the reply!


-Tatortot

 

[Andy]

Agree, bottom line is to get the olor that YOU REALLY WANT, whatever it is...you can always find away around the cleaning issue. I have always wanted a white interior and now that i have it, i wouldn't trade it. In my 1976 I have buckskin leather interior and while that is very very nice, the white just looks better.

Andy

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for another post, Andy. That's the hard part, I can't figure out what I want. I think I pretty much ruled out the two-tone idea. I don't really like the idea of a blue interior, and if I had ordered it from the factory I wouldn't have picked that, and especially not black (really dont like black interiors). I think red looks great, but I could never see myself taking the plunge to actually change/dye the whole interior a different color. I have had a bad experience or two with the dyes they sell. Again originality is not issue. This is my Corvette, it is far from original, I will never sell it, so I shall do what I please, but still not sure what I want... I think the white seats at this point would be too much contrast, especially that they would be the only new looking item in there. So I'm down to stock med. blue, which I can't go wrong with, or gray, to give it a little contrast but make it not stand out too much. Blue or gray.. which one which one....

-Tatortot

P.S. What does everyone use to clean their leather seats??

P.P.S. Andy, could you post some pics of your white interior???

 

[Andy]

Cleaning leather seats is a tough one. Check out the post I have on that one as well.....I have been using many different things, but use a little soap and water, then i'll put on a leather cleaner from armorall or meguires.....


Andy

 

[Andy]

check out my vertical doors on a 79 post. I have about 5 pics of my custom white greenwood. u may be able to catch a pic of the interior. Oyster white seats, with an off bucksin color rug...Looks real nice....how often are you driving this...Is it a show or weekly driver? white on white, how much richer looking can ya get?


Andy

 

[22229stingray81]

Hahaha good stuff, Andy. Took a look at your vertical doors thread, I've always loved vertical doors. On a vette it gives it that exotic look it deserves. Can't really see the seats though. My 'vette is an all year round semi-daily driver. Needs new paint BAD but that will have to wait until I graduate. Thought white on white would look pretty darn cool, but considering that the rest of the interior is showing its age, I'll hold off untill I have the money to make a drastic change. Seat has rips in 'em so gotta replace those now. Thanks for all your help and info.-Tatortot

 

[BarryK]

just my $.02..........
While I agree the white gives a "rich" looking interior, as mentioned the cleaning issue could really come back to haunt you down the road.
I would go with the gray, but I'd actually probably go with a medium or darker gray for the constrast against the white paint.
My father had a new '79 that was white and it had the black leather interior - the constrast really offset very well and it looked great. Have you considered a darker gray or black at all?

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for your input, Barry. As I previously posted, I greatly dislike black interiors. They seem too common and boring to me. I think the lighter gray, would go nice in contrast to the dark (medium as gm calls it) blue throughout the rest of the interior. Darker gray might get lost in the dark blue. I think if I want to go dark, I'll stick to the stock color. Make any sense to anyone else out there? Thanks again for your post.-Tatortot

 

[81 Corvette]

from that list, i'd go with the med blue.

i have that in a white car and it looks fine. I personally would go with a dark color. (i hate cleaning)

 

[jrbartholomew]

i use blue magic cleaner and the cream conditioner they seem to do the job.i think i got it at autozone.jeff

 

[hardnoks]

color

torch red!

 

[sehflyfisher]

How 'bout black? My '72 also has white exterior and the black is gorgeous and leather is easy to maintain if you get the proper cleaning solution.
Most often I just wipe it thoroughly with a damp rag, but I also use a leather cleaner I got from a pro-shop that I don't really know what it consists of 'cause they guy who gave it to me handed it to me in an unmarked container.
But my vote would definitely be black.
Question though? What's the color of your dash, etc.? If your dash pad is blue, balck will work, but maybe a charcoal or blue/gray would be best.

 

[22229stingray81]

Everything in interior is stock dark blue. I have a wood dash kit and mahogany steering wheel, but besides that it is as it was from the factory. Sorry, just don't like black interiors. I really think I'm going with gray at this point, the stock blue seems too boring. Thanks for everyone's replies. If I can barrow a digital camera from a friend I'll take pics when I install them.


-Tatortot

 

[goertz]

i clean leather with simple green. works great. then after you're done, don't treat with expensive leather cremes, i use plain old hand lotion. hand lotion moisturizes your skin, and keeps it from cracking. leather is animal skin, the same should apply. I've used it for years on my cars, couches, etc. for the dash, don't use armor all, i use the highest SPF sunscreen for babys that i can find. moisturizes the vinyl, and protects agains UV damage. works great for spa covers too. I figured this out one day when i went to buy stuff for my spa cover, and on the bottle it said it was SPF 50. I opened it, and it smelled like sun screen. i'm sure that's all that was in there.

 

[1981corvette]

BASIC BLACK. Goes with anything.
Won't show the grease or oil.

 

[22229stingray81]

I got some color samples from Mid America, and one was stock '81 color "slate". It looks more like silver to me.. anyone have slate interior?? Anyone have a picture of their slate interior?? Is it really silver? Thanks for any replies.


-Tatortot