ConcoursMustang Forums

1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1969 Mustang => Topic started by: Daven on August 09, 2022, 11:07:48 PM

Title: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on August 09, 2022, 11:07:48 PM
Hi all,

Has anyone ordered seat fabric for the 69/70 Mach I seats from SMS Auto Fabrics?  I got a sample of the comfort weave and the vinyl for the outer part of the seats but it's hard to tell if it's truly correct with such a small sample.  I don't want it to look like some of the aftermarket seat covers.  An exact material as original is what I'm looking for.  Any information would be great!

Dave
9R02R107xxx
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Scode67FB on August 10, 2022, 02:57:37 AM
https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=26781.0
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: sah62 on August 10, 2022, 08:16:17 AM
There's an easy way to identify genuine comfortweave material: hold it up to the light and see if light shines through the gaps in the "weave". If light shines through, it's woven. If it doesn't, it isn't.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 10, 2022, 09:09:41 AM
There's an easy way to identify genuine comfortweave material: hold it up to the light and see if light shines through the gaps in the "weave". If light shines through, it's woven. If it doesn't, it isn't.
Or try to blow through it is another simple test.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: J_Speegle on August 10, 2022, 05:17:24 PM
Here is a close up of the original material. You can make out the "breathing" holes inside the weave pattern

(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/17/6-100822161633-178202105.jpeg)
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on August 10, 2022, 11:12:04 PM
Thanks all!  It does have holes in it, so it's breathable.  Now I just have to figure out how much material to order. 
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 10, 2022, 11:31:21 PM
Thanks all!  It does have holes in it, so it's breathable.  Now I just have to figure out how much material to order.
Most likely 4 yards for high back buckets and rear but verify with your upholstery person.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on August 10, 2022, 11:33:49 PM
I put the pic of my sample on the old post.  Sorry, here is the pic on this post.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on September 26, 2022, 07:45:03 PM
Here are a few pictures of the SMS samples compared to the original material.  The comfort weave is very close.  The stitching is slightly different.  I think i'd be satisfied.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: J_Speegle on September 27, 2022, 05:24:30 PM
Thanks for posting
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on December 21, 2022, 02:15:38 AM
Daven,
Were you ever able to get your seats done and if so how much yardage of the CW and the plain vinyl did you end up ordering  and or using for the front and back seats ? How about the welt? Were you able to get the correct sizes and was your seat maker good with it? I ordered 3 yds of cw and 5 yds of vinyl and 3 different sizes of welt before my seat maker said his machine was not able to stitch in the welt SMS sent me. It has truly been an excersise in futility to get my seats made and still in waiting. I think I might pray harder. Any help with my questions is greatly appreciated. BTW I know what not to do if any one wants to know. LoL
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on December 22, 2022, 01:53:13 PM
Keeper,

I have not ordered any material from them yet.  I'm hoping that someone will make the seat covers with the proper material at some point.  I would gladly pay good money for the proper look. 

Daven
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on December 22, 2022, 03:59:02 PM
I thought you were going to have them made with the material they exclusively have. Don't hold your breath for SMS to make seat covers any time soon. Lol. It is nearly impossible to get the material much less the material made into seat covering. TMI has some very nice reproduction seats IMHO. I will let you know how it works out for the ones I am still waiting on.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on December 22, 2022, 05:19:42 PM
I have been dragging my feet on the whole process.  I'll just at least get the materials ordered.  I'll ask how much material it is going to take at a seat upholster shop.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on December 23, 2022, 02:04:00 AM
I ordered 3 yds of cw and 5 yds of vinyl and that came from the SMS's recommendation. Plus the welt in various sizes. My seat maker really was leary about making "custom seats" and ultimately blamed the welt for being too short.He backed out ...   Sms told me they could make them to start with but stupid me said no thanks. I had to go back to SMS and they agreed to do the seats, sent me return shipping label and 1 1/2 years later they finally informed me (after a once a month or two nagging) that their seat guy had left and had taken the seat cut out patterns for the 69 Mach1 with him along with many other seat patterns apparently. Of course to be fair, this was early 2020 and the Covid fun was just beginning. So as I speak today, my material is sitting in the waiting room at a very solid seat maker awaiting the approval of quality control dept. and then on to production who does have the correct patterns for the 69 hi back bucket seats to be produced using SMS material.
If they ever get done you will be at the top of my list to share photos with. Prayers are always welcome :D
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on December 23, 2022, 05:14:50 PM
Wow!  That is quite a headache!  I hope all goes well and you don't have to wait too much longer.  Good luck!
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on December 24, 2022, 09:03:22 PM
Thanks Daven,
Hopefully, by the end of January they will be done and I will share photos.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on February 27, 2023, 02:00:12 AM
Daven,
I got my full set of true comfort weave seats back Saturday and wanted to share the good news with a few photos. This process started in March of 2020 and ended Feb. 24th 2023. Patience is not my best asset but it must have paid off.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: tgilliam on February 27, 2023, 11:24:21 PM
Hi keeper,
Did you get your material from SMS Auto Fabric? Who made the seat covers for you? I am curious what was the longest part of the timeline you mentioned - 3/2020 to 2/2023?

Tom Gilliam
tom@jtgil.com
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on February 28, 2023, 05:07:42 PM
 Hi Tom
Yes it came from SMS and yes TMI made them.The longest part of the timeline was SMS not doing much about much. TMI was quite a bit better to work with but they too, were picky about the material SMS sent them and a bit slow in communicating. However, both parties did finally come through after a long and testing experience. I sent you a PM and wish you the best of luck.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on February 28, 2023, 06:55:30 PM
Hi Keeper!  That's great news that you got your covers made.  I was just emailing Michael Koldus of TMI about working with SMS to getting the seat covers made by TMI.  The price to get them made with SMS material is around $600 higher than the TMI seat covers that NPD sells. The seat covers would have to be dyed to get the correct color match as well.  I guess I have to make up my mind if it's worth the extra dollars on a car I plan to sell.

Dave
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on March 01, 2023, 01:16:05 AM
Hi Daven,
Thank you for the fast response. Very excited that my patience paid off at last. I am a bit perplexed that TMI is charging so much more today than when I first made the order last Labor day. They have added 600 dollars to the cost compared to what I had to pay. But they do know how to make nice seat covers ! What color are your seats going to be if you have them dyed ?
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on March 01, 2023, 06:42:03 PM
The seats are the maroon metallic.  Everything you get is the dark red maroon with no metalic in it. I have the original rear seats to know what it looks like and Jeff Speegle has posted many pictures of the
 seat color as well.  I think the overall price difference was more like $700 for SMS material and TMI  making them verses just the seat covers ordering from NPD made by TMI.   
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on March 01, 2023, 06:54:08 PM
Daven,
So you already have the rear seats you are just after the front ones then ? I hope you get it done and wish you the very best of luck and look forward to seeing results.
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on March 02, 2023, 08:49:11 PM
Thanks Keeper.  I may have to recover the rear seats to get the fabrics all to match. 
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Bossbill on March 03, 2023, 10:37:38 AM
I'll have to check the Boss but the 67 cars use a thin welt that I can't find. It's not smooth either. It has a grain.
Where did you find the correct welt?
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on November 25, 2023, 04:33:54 AM
Its been a long journey and as time seems to zip on by I wanted to share the most recent photos of the NOS SMS seats built by TMI and installed by yours truly. Photos taken in late September 2023. They are well worth the time and trouble !!!
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: J_Speegle on November 25, 2023, 09:58:48 PM
keeper thanks for sharing. Will help others considering the same issues and choices
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: keeper on November 26, 2023, 02:40:34 AM
Jeff, it was the very least I can do considering all of the help this forum has freely and generously given me over the years.  ;)
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: tobkob on November 26, 2023, 03:09:01 PM
Beautiful... :)

TOB
Title: Re: Mach I seat material
Post by: Daven on November 30, 2023, 01:37:11 AM
Beautiful!