Here is what I started with; factory original discolored cracked vinyl, rotted stitching, and rusted seat frames.






Tomorrow the bottom seat frame gets dropped off for sand blasting. Seat back frame is in good shape, no rust, some red over spray, just nasty looking paint so I’ll pant both when the bottom gets back from blasting. In the mean time I need to pick up burlap, muslin, and heavy felt or cotton padding.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

If you don't have them already.....pick up some hog ring pliers...

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Got two; straight & crocked.

The last auto upholstery project I did was a 1927 Model T Ford Fordor in early 1970's. No kits were available for the late fordor sedans at the time, so I had to stich seat covers from wool broadcloth and muslin in tuck & roll stile by copying original upholstery, and tack them to the frames. I had to build all the interior panels with black board & broad cloth; pre made head liners were available. All this was made on my mother's little old portable Singer Sewing Machine c. 1940.

This buy'em and hog ring'em on cover stuff with a steal frame is akin to sliced bread and remote controlled TV...

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Some of you may have seen yesterdays post addressing this project in Social. I have copied and posted it below:

Today UPS stopped by and the return package is on its way back to Year One.

The seat frame is back from sandblasting requiring paint which will happen this afternoon. And I now have the required quantity of burlap to make this project happen.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Sweet I just did this a couple years back. The angled pliers are life savers for the front seat when working around the seat tracks. Probably not necessary for the rears though.

I'll be watching this thread with great interest. The rear seats in my 67 convertible desperately need redoing as I'm down to vinyl on springs.

I know it's not easy taking photos while working on a project but any you can take would be appreciated.

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1967 Dodge Dart GT Convertible
1950 Plymouth Deluxe

Just got an email today, seat covers are on the way; ETA is next Wednesday.

Seat frame & springs were adjusted and painted several months ago, and are ready for their new covers to be attached.

I will post photos of the project in progress.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

A while back sometime in April I cleaned, painted, and repaired seat frames and some of the burlap sections of foundation in preparation for today’s blessed event. I reused the original cotton padding, even though it was water stained from past baptisms.

Seat covers arrived around noon today, and they were ordered through Classic Industries. I hauled the box to the Man Cave, and got right to it.



First was a quick check to see if they were correct pattern, burnt once already on that from a set of covers from Year One. Note: Year One did not supply Legendary brand covers, but some other lesser product. After a test fit, they were the correct item, and looked as if they were very close to factory covers I removed in January. Happy, happy, happy.



Starting with the bottom frame the first step was to check center lines, and ruff in the fit to see if it was good, and it was. I started to attach cover at front of seat working from center to outer edges not unlike torqueing down a head.









Next step was to work the rear edge of seat. In order to get the cover to stretch far enough to be able to hog ring into place the springs had to be compressed and vinyl warmed. This posed a problem, it was cool and raining today, my basement is only about 60 degrees, and I don’t have three arms to accomplish all the stretching, centering, and compression so I had to improvise.


Using wire ties to cinch down the springs, and a heat gun to warm the cover the attachment of the rear edge of cover went reluctantly into place, and got hog ringed on.



Next the sides were worked into place with the aid of a Quick-Grip bar clamp to compress springs allowing a free hand to place the hog rings which completed the base cushion.




Seat back was a bit more compacted as it utilized two vertical wire rods that slid into a pocket, and were fastened to the spring structure through the padding to tuck or pull side of cover into seat back. Also original metallic medallion had to be removed from old cover and installed to new cover.

Gently removing medallion with two screwdrivers.



Its backing plate was rusted, requiring wire brushing and a spritz of rust treatment.




Medallion was than located in proper place on new cover, holes poked, and back side retaining plate pressed on the protruding studs, sealed with a dab of black silicone gasket goop, (it’s what I had handy to match factory method), then contact cement was applied to retaining plate and a strip of jute padding to duplicate what the factory did.




A sheet of paper with rectangular hole cut in it to mimic the location and size of jute pad was used to prevent over spray of contact cement on seat cover’s back side.



Jute pad was also coated with contact cement.




Next step was to locate both vertical pocketed wires and fasten them to springs through padding with three hog rings.







Finger pointing to where pocketed rod is to be attached.



Then the top edge of seat back was stretched and hog ringed into position. This step took a bit of working, and stretching to make sure the seam rode along the contour of rear side and top edge of seat back. Compression of springs and wire ties were employed to accomplish the task.

Next the lower or bottom edge was fastened into place being careful to center cover before attaching. Heat gun was needed to warm the material to get it more willing to conform, and took a bit of working to get it right.

Here are both cushions sitting on the bench before installing in car.





Kind of dark, but here is the finished job installed in car.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

looking good Bill