What bits are leather?

[GBinUSA]

Apart from the seats is anything else leather?

[KKson]

I have the same question. I think it's seats plus gear lever and handbrake gaiter that are leather on mine. The rest is vinyl but I might be wrong.

[MethylatedSpirit]

Erm...


Steering wheel
.... uh, that's it I'm afraid.

~Fun fact: the bits you sit on are leather, the backs and sides of the seats aren't!

[GBinUSA]

Well that's disappointing. I went out and got the large bottles of Gliptone cleaner and conditioner thinking it was all mostly leather.

Guess I'll go find myself a quality vinyl cleaner then.

[ElvisWedgely]

GBinUSA said:

Well that's disappointing. I went out and got the large bottles of Gliptone cleaner and conditioner thinking it was all mostly leather.

Guess I'll go find myself a quality vinyl cleaner then.

Be careful using cleaners on the seat leather surface because if it has been conolised previously (leather painted) the cleaner solvent could damage it. Try it on a small area first and give it time. If it marks it, abondon project.

Tony. TCB.

[mrzigazaga]

Most of it was dependant on the client...I have seen Wedges with complete leather interiors but most are vinyl..After all it was the wonder fabric which was reported to be better than leather when it first came out...It was also more expensive than leather...Some seats have leather fronts with vinyl sides.

You can test to see if its leather by a number of ways..If you pinch leather it will stay like it longer than if it were vinyl..Smell..Leather smells but vinyl has no smell..If you can see any part of the backing..Leather will be suede like and vinyl will have a cloth weave...

There are products that say they are specially designed for cleaning vinyl but you are better off just using a mild soap solution in warm water and a clean cloth or sponge...Pat dry with a clean towel afterwards.

For leather seats you can do the same but they will need a hoover first with a brush attachment and then clean with warm water and mild soap with a sponge..Although DO NOT SATURATE..Pat down with a dry clean towel and allow to dry naturally, Preferably over night and then feed with a good quality leather nourisher/Protector.

Edited by mrzigazaga on Thursday 26th March 22:21

[adam quantrill]

Best way to find out is to peel back a little bit of the leather (or fabric).

For the centre armrest lift up the ashtray and peel up the leather underneath.

For the door cards you'll have to take one off.

For the dash - hmm - I'll have to think.

When you've peeled it up, leather will look like suede from the back, but vinyl has a cotton mesh backing (I think).

As others have said, the seat bits your arse and back touch are leather so no need to test them, the squabs and back are either/or depending on whether half leather or full leather was originally ordered.

In mine the dash is vinyl but I have a replacement leather one which will go in one day....

[Wedg1e]

mrzigazaga said:

Most of it was dependant on the client...I have seen Wedges with complete leather interiors but most are vinyl..

Mine is almost all leather; even the roof panel has a leather lining!
The seats have vinyl backs I think, will have to check...
From the price list that sometimes gets posted up on here, my car must have been about £23K new, what with the full leather, PAS and metallic paint options!
I have receipts/ history for another £23K that's been spent on it since...

[rev-erend]

Wedges were sold as standard as half leather. Full leather was an option. That gave you door panels and dashboard.

[JamesMK]

GBinUSA said:

Well that's disappointing. I went out and got the large bottles of Gliptone cleaner and conditioner thinking it was all mostly leather.

Guess I'll go find myself a quality vinyl cleaner then.

Well if you can't tell the difference, I guess you shouldn't be disappointed. The surfaces that crack and wear will be leather, those that last longer will be vinyl. That's the way I see it.

[GBinUSA]

Saying the interior is all leather sounds nicer than saying it's vinyl with leather seat faces . Dissappointed really because I purchased enough Gliptone to do all the interior surfaces and it's not cheap stuff. However, I am perfectly happy with the way my interior has worn since 1986.

In away it's not a bad thing as the Gliptone didn't really pull all the dirt off the vinyl. So now I can look for a stronger cleaner.

[mrzigazaga]

GBinUSA said:

In away it's not a bad thing as the Gliptone didn't really pull all the dirt off the vinyl. So now I can look for a stronger cleaner.

Try very warm water..Not boiling hot and a mild detergent with a soft bristle brush in a circular motion ..It does work..Just make sure that whatever other cleaner you buy is safe to use on vinyl...Vinyl is actually porous like leather.

[GBinUSA]

Thanks zig. I was reading that very diluted , like 10-1, Simple Green works well..

[mrzigazaga]

GBinUSA said:

Thanks zig. I was reading that very diluted , like 10-1, Simple Green works well..

Looks like its good for most things...it even say's it's "Orally non toxic" Although i wouldn't recommend drinking it...Saying that though it probably contains absinthe ...Hang on thats just reminded me of a night me and a few pals were drinking B52's in a friend bar...Thats all i remember...