futura

Our '59 project car continues to creep along. I need feedback on the first quote I received today to put new covers on the old seats. I'm supplying the new Al Knoch leather seat covers and foam. The original seats are tired but the springs were said to be repairable. The quote I received was $1,200 for 40 hours of labor. They should be ready in about four months.

I did a quick search on the subject but didn't see anything current. I'm going to get a few more quotes prior to making any decisions. I'm a first timer for any major upholstery work. Obviously quality is more important than price, but I am interested in your comments.

Thanks!

Frankie the Fink

$1,200 and you're supplying the materials? You're kidding I hope....

I bought all of the vinyl covers, foam, wire and springs from Corvette Central and found a local Latino gentlemen to do both seats for $200 8 months ago. He had the seats for 4 days. That price included repainting the frames.

Run away.

BTW - you should find a leather/cardboard tag strapped to the springs on the upper rear of each seat if they are original. Be SURE TO KEEP THESE...they are date-coded and part of the car's original documentation.

STEVES59

1200.00 and 4 months is this guy kidding me. Buy the installation video from al knoch for 60 bucks do it your self and save your self 1140.00 when you done drop me a line I will gladly buy the video from you I plan on doing mine this winter

Gman58

Forty hours seems pretty excessive. The price is not very realistic. I would check with some other shops to look at the difference in pricing. Greg

narlee

Way high! If you're not comforable doing it yourself, like stated earlier should be in the$200 range.

AZDoug

I paid $235 total to have new AK leather covers, new spring packs and new foam installed on both seats, plus rattle can the frames.

Actual install time was less than a day, but it took the upholsterer about a week to get to it.

Doug

53 Blue Flame

If you supply the materials, he should have them done in a day and should not charge more than $350 MAX.
If it takes him 40 hrs, he's not qualified to do the job.
Run Forest................

Mike Terry

I have had new padding and covered put on in 1 day form the guy I use all the time. I supply the goods and he puts it on $200.00 and he is GOOD. If someone is charging you that kind of money, you need to RUN.

narlee

It's sad to think someone might not know and just pay that much.

65convt

RUN Forest RUN!!!!!!!!!! $1200.00
I had the new seat covers and foam for a 65 coupe I was doing.
A high end upolstrey shop restored the frames and installed the material for $375.00. Before he did the work he walked me through his shop and showwed me his work in progress, Vintage Jags, Street Rods, and Vettes. He was busy but got my seats back to me in 2 weeks.
Seems like this guy is a Crook

kwkenuf

Was he able to keep a straight face while he was telling you that?
Make sure you tell him HELL NO!, AND that you will not be doing business with him anymore, will be letting everyone in the local area know of his attempt to gouge you and that you may post the name of his business on a certain national automotive forum........

John S 1961

about 300 should do it, that would be about 6 hours work at the upholstery shop.

my58

You can do it yourself without the video. I did mine in a few hours. It is not difficult, just take your time. As stated above an ethical shop will only charge you a few hundred bucks. If you were closer I would be glad to help.

Loren Smith

You could ship them to Al Knoch and have them do them for a lot cheaper. At least it was when they did mine about 8 years ago. I also had them take out about 2-3 inches in height on the bottom and the back, made the cabin space a lot roomier.

illmachy

Ditto here. post up the shops name and location though so we can flame him...

Frankie the Fink

futura - we been smackin' on you pretty hard here but that price and time frame are just an order of magnitude too much. Since you appear to be doing a major resto, don't get so beat down that you don't keep checking back here for other sanity checks. These guys are a tough bunch but they'll look out for you - they did for me!

jcapps

Here in the high price capital of the world. One of the top upholsterers would have them done in a day for $150 to $200 each.

Run from whomever you are dealing with.

At that price you could ship them to me, I could get them done and ship them back and you would probably spend $700 including shipping, and have them back in 2 weeks

Steve59

I hate to say this but about 2 years ago I had my seats done for my 59, with my parts for $175 per seat part ($700 total). I had gone to 3 other shops, two were not interested and the other wanted $250 per part, so I jumped on the $175.

futura

Thanks everyone for your insights and observations. The $1,200 quote was more than I was expecting and apparently much higher than the going rate for quality work. Since he won't be seeing me again, let me know if you've got any local upholstery leads in the Connecticut -western/central Massachusetts area.

Futura

Fawndeuce

I paid $400 to have the ones in my '62 done last year, I supplied the materials.



Paul