Projects Leather or vinyl in the '61 Cadillac convertible

Just picked this up about two weeks ago and I cant decide what to reskin it with. My 62 is done with vinyl and its nice but whats your opinion of leather in a convertible? Pro's and cons with both,fading,cracking etc.

Im definately going red interior and Jet black on the paint.Pic showing what Im thinking.
2nd pic is my project and the other is my 62

 

I love leather, it smells and feels SOOO nice...........but in a drop top? I'd think it would be a bad choice, especially with that good ol Cali sun. Leather is painted, it cracks, peels, will make you feel like a kick has been given to the ding ding the first time it gives up its red color, unappreciative of the money you spent.

But I'm just sayin!

 

Some more pics of what im shooting for

 

In the far past, leather was the ONLY choice in ALL convertibles. Cadillac continued this until the first end of convertibles, 1976. What this means is that you could only choose color for your convertible's interior, you could not choose material, it was going to be leather. Not even as special order, Cadillac would NOT do it.
Now, the leather that was used is a lot thicker than the leather used in cars today, so it held up very well.

Cosmo

 

I'd probably go with a leather-look high-quality vinyl. But that's just me....

 

Nice compromise........you've been married a long time haven't you?

 

I am with TotallyCustom...a nice vinyl that looks like leather and won't cost much if you burn it when you drop your stogie...and yes, I have been married for a year or bazilion.....

E

 

Save the Nauga's.......
With all the cheeseburgers eaten, there is an abundance of leather available.
Nothing compares to the real thing, it will cost more, but is worth it in the end.
Think of the shoes you wear, would you wear plastic boots?

Okay, that's probably a bit unfair, There are some nice leather like vinyls.

 

Thanks for the info. Im still in the middle. Not married so Im not that good at compromising yet.... Ha ! I think I just need to see them side by side,Im going to look at some high end vinyl tomorrow and see.

 

My 59 Caddy convert still has the original leather. 50 years old & still is nice. Do it the way Cadillac did it, 1st class!!! Nice caddy by the way.

 

If I decide with a High end vinyl, whats the best brand to get.

 

Sadly, your 59 Caddy was built in an era when quality mattered more than quantity. Leather today, lacks that durability and quality.

 

besides the color scheme are you going custom or stock with the car? If you ever end up selling it the extra money you put into it for leather will probably be a better investment. Depending on who buys the car that may even be a deciding point for the buyer if they have to redo the interior because you used vinyl?

I would go with leather in a convertible Cadillac either way.

 

Hahahaha, no....single.
Don't shop your fabric by brand but by what your trimmer suggests. The person doing the work can explain what will be your best bet, and why. Just describe your budget, and your needs, and you'll be on your way!

 

That's the second time you've posted leather is "painted".
Leather,QUALITY Leather is dyed.
I've actually been to a Leather tanning company(the old Salz Leather in Santa Cruz),did the tour and can tell you that NO "paint" was used.

sauces62,
If you can afford Leather,go for it!
If not,use the best vinyl product you can.

 

that's because I've owned vehicles with leather and their coloring
has actually peeled and flaked off much like paint. When I brought it
up to the dealer, they pointed me in the direction of the parts dept to purchase a touch up pen. So you tell me, because I've seen dyed leather and I've seen painted. Unfortunately, all the dyed I've seen, hasn't been in a vehicle. I've done the tour at Guinness, but that doesn't mean Coors brews the same.

Never met a man who counts how many times I say something.

 

i've been woundering the same thing of what to choose from . i never and do mean never put the top up on my 60' . i was told to even check out marine vinyl ? let me what you deceide at the end & why ? thanks scotty ......

 

Leather, the smell for starters, the feel, the look, the quality..

you will regret vinyl in the time it takes to back out of the trim shop and click it into drive...............

 

Leather. No substitue. Sorry, Brandy. You must've had a bad experiance with it. This is the time of year to look for close-outs and inventory reductions. Old leather was better? Yes some were but some old versions became less flexible over time and were not vat dyed (colored through) like many are today. Colored vinyl won't fare any better to the UV assault and when it starts cracking and peeling nothing says "cheap" or "junk" like tattered vinyl. Leather can be fed with lanolins or neetsfoot oil and stay fresh and pretty for longer with good care. The labor's near the same with the only addition being sorting through the hydes for where to use em and making welt cord n such. Matching vinyls can be used for seat backs or side facings where wear is typically less. Cheap leathers will oxidize like vinyls and leach colors now n then but it's rare with good stuff. Avoid the super fine and supple sofa leathers. Pretty and sexy, yes, but not designed for automotive use. Also sometimes twice the sq ft price of the right stuff.

 

I love leather, I just can't warrant the cost for something that will ruin. My seat
took the plunge after a few months. I've never bought a vehicle with it since; altho I do
covet Ragdolls. Marine vinyls are intense; I had a boat with white and red interior. That stuff takes a beating and never gave up the plot.

 

If you have the $$, leather is the only way.

 

You're right Brandy. And there are too many variables involved for us to do any more than share our own experiences, and let them choose what they want...

 

Please don't go for vinyl! There is nothing that wears better or looks better in a quality car than leather, and, as pointed out earlier, that is why Cadillac wouldn't put anything else in their converts.

A real problem with vinyl in a convert is that the vinyl will get sooooooooo hot in the California sun that it will give you severe burns if you sit on it without taking precautions. Also, vinyl always has that plastic smell whereas leather always smells like leather - and what could be better than that?

Be sure, if you do decide to purchase leather, that you get hides that are vat-dyed which means that the hide is colored from top to bottom. This will ensure that your interior will look fabulous for years and years to come. Also, as leather ages it just looks more and more comfortable.

Brandy, I have never seen genuine leather that peeled as you describe. However, I am not an expert on hides, I only can speak from the experience of having owned dozens of cars, and, in fact, dozens of pieces of furniture for my houses, that have featured leather. None ever did what you describe.

Last, go to eBay and do a search for "leather hides" and you will find many auctions for hides in all kinds of grades and colors. It is my opinion that you can purchase leather from one of these sources for LESS money than you would pay the upholsterer to provide you with vinyl. And when you are done, you only have vinyl and not the ultimate upholstery product - leather!

Just my 2 cents...

 

The interior in my car does not, and never has had; "A real problem with vinyl in a convert is that the vinyl will get sooooooooo hot in the California sun that it will give you severe burns if you sit on it without taking precautions". Never.....

 

Here's my 2c there are few of super high quality vinyl or urethane skins that are softer and more supple then the connely leather in rolls royces but they are very expensive.

 

I had a 62 Sedan Deville with the most perfect black leather interior you will ever see. I have never seen a leather with the quality that car had.

they must be making cows different these days.

Caddys need leather

 

metallic vinyl ...

 

That you know of....

You replied to another thread and seem to be convinced Leather was painted.
If you had "peeling" on your leather interior.I'd try and find out what caused it.

I'm just keeping you in check as to knowing the difference in quality and cheap leather.
Just like vinyl,there's "Marine grade" and the cheaper stuff.

I have 2 vehicles with leather interiors.
One's an '85 (Convertible)-All original and NO "peeling" and still looks great.
The other an '01 King Ranch-No other vehicle has leather like a KR. Rub some KR conditioner on them and you're good to go.

It all comes down to knowing what you're buying and deciding how long you want it to last.

 

Leather has been in cars since the get.... no such thing as pleather or vinyl back in the teens,twentys and thirtys etc.....Leather is the only way to go... think about it this way.... you have a classis car... when you drive it ( once in a while ) you'll have the top down. you aren't going to park this thing outside all day and night right... garages are quite nice to own for that reason. it won't be in the elements as much as they would have been back in the day either so it will last longer there also. Plus there's alot of different companys and defiantly different qualitys of leather out there. becareful shop it around and ask around to different companys out there.

 

Fair assumption-- but I used to work at an auto restoration shop, and i know exactly what he is referring to- as far as I know it happened alot with 80's Cadillacs.

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