Lancia Beta Forum

Technical stuff => Interior => Topic started by: JohnFol on October 27, 2025, 08:31:33 AM

Title: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: JohnFol on October 27, 2025, 08:31:33 AM
Morning all, I've been looking to change my tan coloured seats in a 79 spider for a while, probably colour as well. Although good condition the passenger seat cover has split where the stitching is so needs repair.

I have a quote to reupholster that's outside my budget, so I've been looking for ~year for another set.

So far blank on a black set, and find Marketplace sellers just don't respond or I get 1,000 seat belt adverts on eBay.

I'm after ideas. Has anyone had success with seat covers, or replacing the seats with those from a similar model, ie Fiat (sorry for the 4 letter words) ?

Just after the fronts..
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: peteracs on October 27, 2025, 09:55:45 AM
Hi John

What sort of money have you been quoted out of interest and it what material?

Sorry no idea on seat covers or alternatives though obviously Coupe seats should fit I would think and be easier to find?

Peter
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: WestonE on October 27, 2025, 09:57:38 AM
Hi John on the front seats it is usually the stitching that has rotted so removing the covers and re-stitching is a practical solution. You need a friendly trimmer with the right machine and thread of course.   
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: JohnFol on October 27, 2025, 10:52:52 AM
Hi John

What sort of money have you been quoted out of interest and it what material?

Sorry no idea on seat covers or alternatives though obviously Coupe seats should fit I would think and be easier to find?

Peter

The company who did my roof gave a ball park figure of £1000-£1200 per seat based on my description rather than inspection, confirming materials. I know they would do an excellent job but £2k+  . . .

Eric, yep, you're right it's the thread that has perished
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: peteracs on October 27, 2025, 11:31:15 AM
Hi John

If the material is good then re-sewing is cheapest solution, though you may want to change the colour?

That pricing is on the high side, I had the complete interior for the HPE Inc cards and headlining and materials (leather and vinyl) recovered for £3400, admittedly over a year ago, but should put seats at well less than £1000 inc.

Peter
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: Ferrit on October 27, 2025, 12:28:46 PM
Dam thats expensive :-O

I want to retrim one day.  I am not that keen on my interior and I want to use some rough VX Recaro's I have in the loft at some point.  Headlining needs doing also.  I have 9m of VX cloth but not 100% sure about blue on maroon

I was thinking I will find the rest of a donor interior rather than just bin a perfectly good Coupe interior, at a £1k per seat I might be thinking again ...

Mark



Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: JohnFol on October 27, 2025, 01:45:52 PM
I have two people on Marketplace / Ebay who have interiors for sale but getting photographs is a nightmare. All I get is a price but no details.

Mark, that interior looks fab!

Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: peteracs on October 27, 2025, 08:01:47 PM
Hi John

Perhaps you should do a deal with Mark??

Peter
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: Ferrit on October 27, 2025, 08:20:40 PM
I have two people on Marketplace / Ebay who have interiors for sale but getting photographs is a nightmare. All I get is a price but no details.

Mark, that interior looks fab!

The one in Godalming off of eBay I was going to give a call and see what they had. 

Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: JASPER_40 on October 31, 2025, 03:19:59 AM
Just curious.....

Can anyone tell me if the back seats for a coupe are the same as the back seats for a spider ? I do know that the spider seats did not actually have a headrest but maybe internally would accept one ?

Asking because my coupe interior is black vinyl and is superb condition. The PO told me the seats had been re-covered but the workmanship, fit and finish seems too good and so thought they may be spider seats with mods to add the rear headrests.

I realise that the coupe didn't have a black vinyl option but it does looks just amazing and one of the reasons I bought this car despite the interior not being factory.
 
Cheers,

Steve

Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: peteracs on October 31, 2025, 03:08:59 PM
I thought all front seats had head rests?

Peter
Title: Re: Alternatives to reupholstering seats
Post by: rossocorsa on October 31, 2025, 10:36:04 PM
Just curious.....

Can anyone tell me if the back seats for a coupe are the same as the back seats for a spider ? I do know that the spider seats did not actually have a headrest but maybe internally would accept one ?

Asking because my coupe interior is black vinyl and is superb condition. The PO told me the seats had been re-covered but the workmanship, fit and finish seems too good and so thought they may be spider seats with mods to add the rear headrests.

I realise that the coupe didn't have a black vinyl option but it does looks just amazing and one of the reasons I bought this car despite the interior not being factory.
 
Cheers,

Steve

Off the top of my head so I'm not 100% but  I think you will find that you could get the coupe in black vinyl or black leather but it wasn't a typical option in the UK, we seemed to get a restricted range of options here.