Interior Lately, Anyone? Recommendations, 308 GT4

Veg tanned leather will patina beautifully but may not be period correct. Factory correct is the spray painted leather, uniform and 'clean'. Veg tanned is durable and throughout with what's called 'pull-up' color shift change as the oils get displaced during use. The other process is CXL not very environmentally friendly but faster and thus less expensive.

My thought is that vat died is CXL, that's not a bad thing. The leather is softer initially and cheaper to tan that way then veg or vegetable. Veg is more common with high end goods, bags, boots, saddles etc.. and custom bespoke furniture, automobile etc..

On one hand I get the factory look, it's clean and uniform. But personally I lean towards patina and supple over the yrs, history being collected. Rich deep color etc.. does that fit with a modern Ferrari? I don't know.. but what do I care what others think.. It's my car. All that said that's for hides and you'd need an upholster guy that can build from scratch.

Gahh is another supplier, looks factory but can be a real pita to get it to fit right, just looked, no GT4 listed. Ferrari parts in Sacramento is doing in-house interior as well.

If you're doing from scratch... Here's some US tanneries...

https://www.horween.com
https://wickett-craig.com

Our old Audi A8 L had an alcantera dash, interior. Very nice and zero glare. Miss that car. Classic Ferrari dash and angles suck for glare. I'd go alcantera, besides it really goes with the 70's vibe.

 

You did not say where you are. 3 sources for work or materials. The second is strongly endorsed by Marcel Massini.

I'd avoid alcantara or mouse hair in a non original application. Neither has proven to be very durable and alcantara fades.


Tappezzeria Luppi 059-2551109 [email protected] Via R dalia Costa, 190/E 41122 Modena All original Ferrari materials

Interni Auto Maieli Andrea & Stefania Maieli Tel ++39 0376 695 105 [email protected] Via Francesco Baracca 3 Fax ++39 0376 695 300


Also ReOriginals in Texas.

 

Garrett Leather is another, I purchased 2 hides to do my seats in my Montreal, very similar to the Dino seats, and had plenty left over. I believe half hides can be ordered too but you’ll be doing panels so I think 2 hides will do. The seats were rebuilt by Everlast tops and Upholstery in Union NJ
https://www.garrettleather.com/

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So was Vaumol Vegetable or sprayed?

 

What it really was was not very good.

 

Well 2 things. Since you are in Texas you should call Matt at Reoriginals down near Houston and talk to him.

Also I never play middle man on a job. If you are hiring an upholsterer let them source the materials and let them be responsible for the entire job. Nothing wrong with approving the source but let them get it. If you save a little by buying the materials you'll just pay more in labor.

I have heard Tin Lizzie Affair in your area is a good shop. Never done business but did have a long phone call with the woman who runs it. I liked her. I'd give her a call too.

 

Im guessing it was top sprayed/ The worn finishes on my VM 8500 {black} show a green under the black. Below is from the Connolly website. No mention of spraying though.


Throughout the golden years of the motor industry, Connolly Vaumol™ covered the interiors of the Grand Marques. Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar, as well as many others, chose Connolly Vaumol™. From these manufacturers' very first cars, the distinctive quality of Connolly Vaumol™ made it the only choice. Connolly Vaumol was used in many of the most famous public buildings such as the Houses of Lords and Commons and graced the interiors of many famous liners.

To this day, Connolly continue to manufacture using these unique production and finishing processes all developed entirely in house. Connolly Vaumol™ is now exactly what it was then. Like all well thought out, well designed products, it has stood the test of time like so many vintage and classic cars it graces.

Connolly Vaumol™'s unique combination of patina, aroma and natural grain make it the first choice. The natural origins of Connolly Vaumol™ are individual, visible hallmarks which give the hides subtle character and depth. The Connolly Vaumol™ dressing and finish enhances the distinctive natural characteristics of the traditionally undyed leather. The Luxan version, where the grain is subtly enhanced by the use of a second colour giving the hide added depth, is similarly unique.

We have created a range of the most popular colours from the period up to 1970 using our original recipes from our unique archive.

There are many other colours of Vaumol™ in our archive that dates back to 1878 and details of these are available on request.

 

Still not very good stuff. Ferrari interior quality and durability went up when they quit using it.

 

Sprayed, it's not dyed. Nick's got a couple hides at the shop and it's surface only, raw leather under. Cut thru and you'll see the layer of surface color.

 

Yes what i posted earlier. thx. Interesting how the website has no mention of it. Maybe Vaumol is not the same as it once was. .

 

BTW My seats are done by Vic at Tops online. using autolux leather.

 

I hadn't refreshed the phone, missed the update.
It's ok but not great. Honestly it looks too much like vinyl to me. When I think of leather I want to see grain and depth. Connolly has this finish with what looks like tiny uniform pokes into it, they don't go thru but it gives this 'fake' uniform look.

 

Yeah it's a crap way to handle leather. Leather is skin, it needs to breath and it'll need oils etc or it dries out and falls apart. Heck at a certain point dry leather can't be conditioned because it will disintegrate once the oil saturates again.

Makes some sense as to why vinyl and other synthetics are used.

Now if one wants to go full vat dyed leather.. Though it'll require care, there's nothing like it. Rough side out for grip, where needed. But it won't look factory correct.

Crushed velvet... That's the ticket

 

This is an interesting discussion on Connolly hides…





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I used the Avion line from Garrett leather, vat dyed Italian leather. My upholsterer encouraged me purchase the leather, actually less work for him. Very happy with the leather and final results. I just received my Italian wool carpets in red for my Dino from Matt Jones' Re-originals. Quality is excellent but haven't installed it yet. I believe he gets the carpet and upholstery from Elvezio.

 

The new Connolly can be split and torn... The leather is the substrate then they apply the top coat, how they do this I have no idea. But in playing with it, working with it on a custom project a couple yrs ago I found that you can split the top coat from the leather and peel it like a sticker, it's not overly easy and will tear like a cheap sticker. Heat with a heat gun and it'll come loose a touch easier. It doesn't burn which is good I suppose but does curl up much like plastic and smokes some.

If it gets scratched or lightly cut, that's it there's no patina to be had, it'll require fixing with some type of filler and respray or wholesale replacement.

I didn't care for it. Looks nice and matches the factory color when needed but to me it's only for garage queens and show circuit cars.

Also I'm not sure of where in the the full hide thickness the leather is cut from, but it's a loose grain that pulls apart easily and relies on that top coat for overall structure. Pretty sure it's split grain, at least that's what it seemed like to me.

 

I purchased some seat covers from Tops On Line in Saddle 3218 color. I was very pleased with the quality of the leather. I later purchased a hide to re-cover my door panels. The leather was sourced from an Italian company, Pasubio.

There is a very informative narrative on how hides are turned into leather on their site

https://www.pasubio.com/en/products/production-cycle/



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Agree with letting the upholstery shop purchase the leather. They know far more about what product is going to check all the boxes, giving you the look and durability you desire, leaving you to decide on texture and color. Best advice I can give is.. There are upholsterer‘s and then there are Craftsman. search out the Craftsman They make all the difference in quality job.