Original (sorta) 66 "Deluxe" seatcover

[rideblue00]

So here's my newly recovered 66 deluxe seat! I am stoked! I wanted my seat to look as close as possible to the original. My guy did a really good job i think. He didn't have a heat seamer to do the white stripe like original, but i told him to just get it as close as possible, and i think he did good. I told him to try and take my original seat cover apart as best he could because i wanted to possibly make other covers. So i have another seat in the works. Its going to be the original silvery vinyl color. I had them make this one more to the color of my paint inside the cab, thats why its a beige color. The other seat won't be done for 6 weeks as his shop is busy. I can take more pics of the new cover if you like. So heres a summery in pics, PM me for more info.

[Clyde65]

I like it!

[1963c-10]

Nice job. The seat looks great and will compliment the truck nicely!!

[chevy6guy9]

Looks great, what did in all total cost u for an original style seat.

[chakah]

very cool

[bj383ss]

Looks Fantastic!

[1961Apache]

That is sharp!

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by chevy6guy9

Looks great, what did in all total cost u for an original style seat.

My guy here in Fayetteville charged me $300 and I supplied a seat, fabric and vinyl. He took care of the rest of the labor and parts. I think were just around 2 hours south of you.

[rideblue00]

The cost was $145 for the cloth from SMS. I bought 2yds, but only needed 1.5 ($95 yd). I dont know exactly what the cost was for vinyl/cotton/burlap, but it cost $350 for him to cut/sew/install the new cover. Im going to have another seat done in about 6 weeks. Going to try and find the original color vinyl for that one (silver). Im considering having him make more to sell. He said after he does the next one, he'll have a better idea about what kind of time it takes and also cost I suppose. I asked him if people could install this cover on their own, and he said he didnt see why not. There is one issue I have to address with him on the next one though. I was sitting on it for about 30 minutes, and when I got up, it looked like it was a little loose. He told me that if he made the new cover exactly like the old cover, that it might be a little big. So that's what I'm attributing the looseness too. Maybe he can stuff it with just a little more cotton on the next one. He said that the original foam probably shrunk.

[HOTFUN]

Very nice seat! I started my OEM 66 Custom Cab seat project a few years back and still today they are still unfinished sitting at my local upholstery guy of 30 some years. I had SMS make to order, the heat seamed off white vinyl insert into the silver fawn upper piece just as oem. I sent them my original and they matched it perfectly. The only think I noticed is the white insert was not quite snug tight fit in the heated seam like I would have liked. I believe they were when new tightly inlaid with no sags but even the Lambrecht 8 mile 66 Custom Cab showed some loosness and sag in that insert. ( But again was still new under factory plastic but 47 years old). My upholstery guy placed a thin piece of foam backing material in between the white insert and the backing and it will work perfectly. Now just several ago they quit making that silver fawn color oem style walrus vinyl and after countless months of searching I was able to secure a roll from an upholstery shop of it with about 28 yards. I also bought about 6 yards of the reproduced SMS cloth material. So I have two truck seats for myself and with it all the material and seats still sets at the upholstery guys shop in town. I know if you have the OEM heated seam insert from SMS made to order and their cloth fabric and possibly their silver fawn vinyl replacement it will be at least $400-$500 for those items shipped to do one seat. I have been waiting to see what mine turns out like but again the upholster said 1st one is the trail and error time involved and the second one is easy. We also had to weld back together the drivers side edge zig zag spring that I could not find a supplier for. I have tore apart several deluxe foam seats and 9 out of 10 that drivers side spring is broken. They say welding them back is as good as new and generally is what has been done for years. Will see. Mark

[WhippinSaw]

Wow, Beautiful, I like

[rideblue00]

well i hope they finish your seat soon HOTFUN, what a drag

[rideblue00]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I'm so happy with it, shoulda done it 20yrs ago, woulda been cheaper.

[rideblue00]

Luckily I didnt have any broken springs

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by rideblue00

Luckily I didnt have any broken springs

How the heck do you get on a list to have some original covers made for a 65 GMC made up. Thanks for any info...Vernski

[earl84]

That looks awesome! Wish I could find a deluxe seat.

[factorystock]

Looks good. Does anyone know where to buy clear plastic seat covers to put over our brand new redone seats? It would be nice to protect the work, yet still see the work. Wasn't a clear plastic seat cover an 1960's GM type of accessory?

[rideblue00]

I have seen a few of those plastic slip covers,but no one has ever said much about them.

[rideblue00]

Vernski...do you have any pics?

[rideblue00]

Earl84, i saved all the pcs from my old cover when my guy cut it up. I can have them made at any time.

[Andice]

As far as I can tell this is an original GMC seat cover. The second image is the cover that I had made up by SMS. Pricey - but nice. I, too, had difficulty in locating seat bottom springs. In then end I scoured the parts marketplace on this site and came up with a pair of goods used zig-zag springs. I also located ten NOS long, flat seat bottom springs and forwarded them to Tony Smith after I used what I needed. Shoulda kept 'em.

[LT1 Burb]

Can someone post a pic of a deluxe seat bottom without the fabric, kinda curious of the difference in the springs.

[CustomCab66]

I received a sample from SMS. They want 55 for the correct vinyl per yard and 95 per yard for the material. They can emboss the ivory into the back rest for 95. Food for thought

[CustomCab66]

Sms quote

[Afirehawk1]

Anyone have any measurements that i could give my shop to make the seatcover?