Picked up a 75 with pretty low miles. Does this seat material look original to you guys? I dont see an analogous reference in the literature I am seeing... any thoughts?

nope

but congrats on the purchase.

Ok cool so I won't feel bad doing it in houndstooth instead.

Good choice! Post picture of the result.

I have also been thinking about the houndstooth...

Most houndstooth materials I’ve had in hand are super thin. Look cool but probably won’t wear well. ‘Pepita’ is what most Porsche’s had back in the day. Looks similar (it’s actually a contrasting black and white block pattern) and the material is thick. Google them and with a little staring you’ll be able to tell the difference. But I’d get samples and check before you plunk down your money!

The cloth will not wear as well as vinyl. I have some OEM pepita, it got baked out in the sun and is worn through in many spots. If you compare the two the vinyl is most durable.

Mike I was looking on your site for the replacement material and the houndstooth looked great. I like the idea of leaving the top off (the car) and the lighter color not getting as hot? The seats now are in nice shape so no rush for this one as I get the car in top shape but definitely thinking ahead.

Agree that the vinyl will wear longer. But it’s unbearable in the south to sit on a vinyl seat when the top has been off for 20 seconds and the sun is out!

Yeah Rob that is my thinking as well. We took lunch the other day and left top off in 85 degree and sunny. Seat cushions were cool to the touch, the vinyl was toasty.

Well Mark (Mikey914 in this thread) has a bunch of the plaid seat recovering kits on his website. Not sure the color of your car but the plaid/tartan was definitely available in various colors on the 75/76 models. So you’d kinda have the best of both worlds. Cooler butt time and period correct. Heck, I can’t remember for sure but they might be more than just ‘period correct’. They might be the exact patterns used by Porsche in 75/76, can’t remember. Mikey?

We do have the black corduroy that was mostly European delivery cars. Not a great picture, but period correct and correct for the cars.
Kind of hard to find on the site I'll post up some pics tomorrow and work on getting it easier to see. Right now you can't see it in the listing but in the thumbnail you get a close up.

https://900designs-container.zoeysite.com/search/?q=seat

It's #700 in the drop down list.

Here ya go

Here ya go

I totally missed this response so sorry for not responding back. Thats a nice look as well and would generally stay cooler than the vinyl even though it is black. My SO and I are going back and forth on the color. She says the silver and black is boring and wants something more colorful like red. She has been a champ through this whole thing and even bought a new dash for the car so she doesn't have to look at a crack when riding (not interested in learning stick lol) so I want to make her happy with the choice. I like the black and silver tartan as it would be the factory pairing but she says yawn... Torn on this one.

Once in the car the black and silver seats really pop with the rest of the interior in black vinyl.

The original 75 76 plaid was so fragile, that I actually saw new 914s sitting outside on the Porsche dealer lot with the material starting to fray. It was not made correctly with a UV formula but rather one for inside use. Hence many of these cars were reinserted with just a few miles on them. Our man Doug at SMS auto fabrics took it upon himself to reproduce the plaids at first having a problem with them fading but now seems to have it right.
Your car looks like a very nice one so I would certainly have the seats redone in the correct plaid insert color

You have not lived until you have second degree basket weave burns in the back of your legs.

does anyone have pictures of that black and silver tartan actually in a car? I cannot find anywhere. Extra bonus points for a silver exterior lol

Here's my seats

People do look at you funny when you have basket weave burn marks on the backs of your legs!

I don’t have pictures of the plaid but I do if the ‘Pepita’. Give me a bit and I’ll post them...

Pepita

Got both in stock if you need.

https://914rubber.com/sewn-plaid-seat-material-kit


The pepitia is less expensive too

https://914rubber.com/sewn-houndstooth-seat-material-kit

Those look great to me. Will be added to winter project I think. Thanks everyone for weighing in. Really appreciate it.

same as mine!!! at first i thought it was a picture of my interior. btw your heater lever is in the on position.
I like mine too but if i had to do it again i just might opt for the houndstooth, but it sure gets a lot of attention and complements!

Phil

Update. Have the plaid covers that were optional on my car in 1975 coming today from 914 Rubber and could not be more excited. Or so i thought!

Was at the upholstry shop this morning with the car to discuss the install and was reviewing the seats. I turned the bottom cushion over on the driver side and saw this:

Click to view attachment

It would seem that whoever recovered the seats with the non-standard material that is on it now went right over the old material WHICH WAS THE PLAID! CARma at it's finest. So excited to be returning it to original which i just happen to like. Cloud 9 right now

@Mikey
@dr914 @autoatlanta.com

Is there a recommended UV protectant product that can be used (sprayed or applied) on the SMS tartan fabric?

Fantastic!

What is the condition of your original hidden plaid, once uncovered?

Not sure yet but I asked the upholsterer to keep the original material intact as much as possible. Maybe all they wanted to do was change the look but I expect it to be torn or at least worn.

So the seats are back and installed on new carpet. Plaid as optioned from factory and i really love it. Got the old skins as well and they were stained which i think is why they put the non original fabric on top of it.