Horse insignia on headrest

So not to be a team guy or anything, but how often does one need to do this? For the low number of times couldn't we sell to each other or rent rather than each of us purchasing a new one ?

 

The one of my two 1989 cars (GTS and GTB) is 33 mm high by 23 mm wide.
Here the one one my GTB, with a metric slide rule to give scale. Leather is original.
Rgds
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

My horse imprint is very faded and hardly recognizable.
Can I use this leather stencil to refresh my headrests or will I burn into the old leather? I am not sure if you use the stencil on new leather you want to reupholster and if so is using a press like the maker shows in his video better than heat?


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

I'd leave it, mine is pretty faded and original.

 

I just ordered a new deboss tool that is 1.5"(38mm) tall for the 308. That's what my original headrest has, and I confirmed that dimension on a 2nd car with original headrest. Looks like maybe the 328 has a smaller deboss? I've never had access to a 328 I could measure or confirm was original.

I originally ordered all need leather from GAHH(actually Vic's but he just resells GAHH), but the headrest deboss was off center, too big, and had the corners of the tool showing. They eventually agreed to make me new blank head rests, so I could do it myself. Note to anyone ordering from GAHH, don't! They can't hold a dimension or stitch line better than +/-1/4", even on very small dimensions, but yet their prices are high enough that they should be able to deliver a high quality product. My local seamstress who has done some huge boat covers for me, holds +/-1mm on a 5ft span and usually charges me $25-30 labor if I supply material and pattern.

Anyhow, my intent is to use the tool, makes sure it works well, and see it someone else wants it once I'm done.

 

I would be interested when you are done.

Sent from my HD1925 using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

I just wanted to say (and no disrespect to the Platinum award) that ONLY a very few 308s, even had embossed headrests.

That is all....Carry on.....

 

I thought the consensus was that the early style seats 75-80 didn't have the deboss, and the "fishscale" seats 80-85 had the deboss? I don't want to sound overly confident, so educate me if you have details.

My theory is: The deboss is very shallow and easy to miss. It's no deeper than the grain. Also, think about how quickly they disappeared on cars. The factory leather didn't hold up. CNC debossing tools weren't easy to get until the last 10 years, the value of the 308 was low, and originality wasn't always important, so the seats got reupholstered, and lost the debossing mark.

 

I'm done with the tool. I'm thinking the way this will work is, I will take a deposit of $200 + $16 for USPS Medium sized prepaid box. When I get the tool back, you get the $200 back.

I definitely recommend installing headrest cover first, but not stapling yet. This will allow you to get the cavallino perfectly centered visually. I slid a piece of thin laminated wood under the leather(cheap, thin laminated wood floor sample). I waited 20 minutes for maximum temperature, and used a non-contact thermal camera to confirm. I used medium pressure for 20 seconds, rocking lightly up/down to make sure head and legs fully seat. I also used tape to make sure I was centered. I also highly recommend trying on scrap leather that is the exact same material on the headrest, first. My leather turned a pink color for a few seconds, and ejected some sort of liquid/vapor out the back during the debossing. I would have panicked if I saw this on the headrest, without knowing it was normal.

I'm very certain 1.5" high is the correct size. There are very few original seat interiors 80-85 left, because the leather was so thin. Also, the original factory debossing was so faint, it doesn't even always show up in a picture. I think this has lead to a lot of uncertainty on what was original. There's a set of seats on ebay right now for $1500/seat. Based on condition, they look original. If you zoom in on headrest you can see the faint cavallino, but you would never notice on an overall picture of the seat. Heck, even the headrest picture you can't see it until zooming in! I do have an original seat, if anyone wants confirmation.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Looks like you got the same one I got look at post #38

 

Yes, likely. There are only a few places online that make the debossing tool. Maybe we even used the same cavallino image? Thankfully, they didn't seem to mind making a tool of what is likely to be a copyrighted image. Maybe since, I'm not using it to make a profit, it's legal?

 

Chris, thanks for offering this up! I might take you up on it if I’m not too late with my interior. My headrests are fully installed and have been in use for about 3 years. If the upholsterer that did my interior can still do this (undoing the seams or unstapling the bottom of the cover) while in the car. Maybe it will work. I’ll check and see.

 

Pierce, It's definitely doable. Find the clip locations on the back of the seat, push on them while pulling headrest out. Biggest pain would be removing the 3 rivets on headrest trim. For staples, they only have to remove a few on the front. Just enough to slip something firm under the leather. Hopefully, they have some scrap piece to test with.

 

I can’t stop thinking of branding myself, way to tempting

 

My mind didn't go so far... but I did think about what else I could deboss, in or out of the car. The living room couch? But, then I thought about all those over the top interiors people do, with cavallinos everywhere, and how much negativity they get on this site. I put the iron safely back in it's box.

 

Looking at a 328 right now that, from pics, doesn’t look like it has the horsey on the headrest. Is it confirmed they all had it from factory? If so- it looks like it’s possible, or even better, to do this without removing the cover from the headrest, correct?

 

"Is it confirmed they all had it from factory?"

My USA '89 did. Maybe it was an option...like the roof wing!

 

Saw the car yesterday- super faint Cavallinos! So sweet! It’s at a great exotic shop right now getting a full PPI with a leak down and all. Very clean car cosmetically, and the inside is immaculate. Fingers crossed!!!!