What kind of interior best fits your classic car? Are you thinking leather or cloth?
Should you just wait to see how much is left in your budget, before you decide what price range of upholstery will be good enough? The answer is no, a well-constructed interior is just as important to a classic car restoration, as the exterior.
Waiting until the end of the project to set an interior restoration budget is a mistake, one that your interior will reflect, and you will regret. To avoid this common disaster, set a budget that includes all aspects of your classic car restoration at the beginning of your project, and stick to it.
Leather Vs. Fabric
Before you decide on leather or cloth, take a look at this upholstery guide to help you choose the right one for your classic car restoration.
Cloth
Cloth is a vague term, for there are many different kinds of auto-grade cloths. Cloth is popular because it is an economical choice. The main faults of cloth is that it is very absorbent, however, it can easily be cleaned. Cloth has come a long way from its predecessors, and it a lot more resilient to fading, wear and tear, and can easily be patch repaired compared to vinyl or leather.
Nylon
The cloth seats in your average car is usually nylon or polyester. Nylon is such a common auto-grade fabric because it is durable and inexpensive. Nylon material is porous, therefore dirt is easily trapped, especially if it is goo you cannot identify. However, hot water, soap, and some elbow grease will most likely clean, and clear up any stains or buildup.
Polyester
It's often called microsuede, in other words, it looks like, and feels similar to suede. It does look nice, but it is difficult to clean due to its texture that makes it prone to stains. Microsuede can be cleaned, but it requires a special soap, and you have to be careful not to get the fabric too wet, for even water can stain.
Alcantara
This fabric is similar to microsuede, and sometimes referred to as ultrasuede. The difference is that this product if flame-retardant, and more costly than microsuede.
Leather
Leather is a high-quality fabric made from animal hide. Leather fabric has pores in it that allows it to breath, which alsoresults in absorbing liquids, and therefore harder to clean. Yet, with proper care, and moisturizing, the leather will stay plush, and luxurious.However, if you use the wrong products, or ignore caring for leather it will show by creasing, fading, or staining the surface over time.
Leather will always be the most expensive choice when it comes to upholstery. How much more depends on the quality of the leather, which can range from faux, to top-grain, or Nappa leather.
Leather will always be the most expensive choice when it comes to upholstery. How much more depends on the quality of the leather, which can range from faux, to top-grain, or Nappa leather.
Faux leather
Faux, or artificial leather is made up of natural, and synthetic fibers. Faux leather will have a similar texture to leather, but will not have any breathability. Therefore faux leather will not absorb liquids, and will bevery easy to clean. Faux leather is more affordable than leather, but unlike leather it won’t continue to add value to the car.
Vinyl
Vinyl can be an excellent choice for certain vintages, for vinyl offers an air of authenticity for vehicles of the right era. Vinyl is not porous, so it is basically waterproof, making any spill, easy to wipe off clean.However, similar to leather, vinyl is uncomfortable to touch in extreme weather conditions. Vinyl is also prone to cracking when exposed to extreme weather or direct sunlight. Those type of cracks, are very difficult to repair without having to recovering the entire seat.
Additional factors to consider
Audience
Who is going to be riding in this classic car restoration with you? Take a moment to think about who will be riding next to you. You don’t want to have fresh upholstery infected with the smell of spoiled milk. At this point, you might be wishing you had paid the extra for leather seats. Jokes aside, consider who will be driving along side of you, and what interior will best function for your needs.
Detailed breakdown of the proverbial leather vs. cloth debate
Climate
When selecting upholstery consider UV rays, and your climate, for these factors affect your enjoyment and the longevity of the interior. If you live in a seasonal climate, leather can be an attractive option because there won’t be as much fear of burning your skin from the hot sun, or risk fading due to the UV rays. However if you live in a climate of extreme hot, or cold, you might consider cloth as a more attractive option.
Still need some guidance? Here are a few popular public opinions:
So which one is better, leather upholstery or cloth upholstery?
It's up to you to decide what you like, what will work best for your lifestyle, and what your budget can afford. Yeah, the debate of leather vs. cloth upholstery is always going to be a heated debate. However, now that you have read all about your options, and know the pros, and cons of cloth vs leather upholstery, you can now make an educated decision. If you are still feeling indecisive, go talk to yourlocal restoration shop for advice specific to your classic car restoration project.
- People who seek appearance, and style choose leather interiors
- In climate of extreme weather people opted for cloth interiors
- People who demand stain and smell prevention choose leather, vinyl, or faux leather interiors
- People who wanted little to no maintenance chose nylon or cloth interiors
- People who are concerned about resale value choose leather
- People who are concerned about allergies chose leather, faux leather, or vinyl
- People who value animal ethics choose vinyl, faux-leather, or a cloth option
So which one is better, leather upholstery or cloth upholstery?
It's up to you to decide what you like, what will work best for your lifestyle, and what your budget can afford. Yeah, the debate of leather vs. cloth upholstery is always going to be a heated debate. However, now that you have read all about your options, and know the pros, and cons of cloth vs leather upholstery, you can now make an educated decision. If you are still feeling indecisive, go talk to yourlocal restoration shop for advice specific to your classic car restoration project.