Leather or not? And does it matter?

[shed driver]

I've had a look at a 1970 Jaguar which has spent a fair while in the USA. It's had a retrim at some stage in the past - possibly in the US as there is a big chunk of the paperwork missing.

It looks quite tidy inside, but is there any way of checking that it's leather or not? And does it make any difference?

I've only been able to view it for about half an hour as it's 200 miles away and I was on my way back from a funeral.

The vendor is unsure, he's selling it on behalf of the previous owner who sadly died earlier this year.

Otherwise apart from a little woodwork needing a bit of work and a few minor paint imperfections it seems pretty good all over.

SD.

[Turbobanana]

Can't offer too much in the way of wisdom, compared to some on here, but I do recall that Jaguar used "Ambla" as an alternative to leather, which I seem to recall was pretty good. Whether a US trimmer would have access to it is another matter.

Years back I was told about a Rolls Royce dealer that took a Silver Shadow in as a part exchange. The car was lovely: well maintained, clean, good colour combination. The dealer was just not happy that the car was "right". It turned out to have had vinyl optioned on it from new, so of course it didn't smell of mellow leather inside.

My instinct with the Jaguar (what is it? XJ? E-Type?) is that as long as it looks right it doesn't matter what it's made of, unless the car has some historical significance.

Probably no help - apologies if not.

[tapkaJohnD]

There are many websites that will advise you, but the common factor is as mentioned above, the smell!

Perhaps a rear seat, when back meets seat will have the least wear.

[robwilk]

If you can see the back of the leather, its quite obvious maybe not all but it was on my VW that i was told was leather but turned out to be vinyl.
You can / could see the weave in the backing material.

[lowdrag]

Ambla was used by Jaguar on the Mk 2 at the end of production. The model was called the 340 and is easy to spot; the bumpers are far slimmer than a MK 2. Over the years leather gets a patinated look but Ambla tends to look far newer than leather. I'd try and peel back a little bit of the seat under the seat frame and then you can tell the difference easily.

[shed driver]

It's a 420G - seems pretty tidy and the vendor comes across as quite knowledgeable but can't be certain on the seats.



SD.

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

Speaking having owned a recently dormant leather restoration company, set up in 2011.

The simplest way is a touch test. Press the material in with a finger, real leather will wrinkle under the touch like skin does. Like -



If you see 'crazed' cracking looking like this, run as fast as you can. NB, cracking will happen with genuine leather pigment over time if not looked after, but is less intense, for want of a better word.



This is a product called Bonded Leather, and it is evil stuff. Scraps of leather, off cuts and the like, are mixed with PU, applied to a paper or cotton backing, then have an artificial grain pattern embossed on the material. It will ALWAYS fail at the 4 year + mark. It's not just budget brands who use it, for example, AFAIK, all BMW 1 series's with leather have the sides of their seats finished in this.

[Turbobanana]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

Speaking having owned a recently dormant leather restoration company, set up in 2011.

The simplest way is a touch test. Press the material in with a finger, real leather will wrinkle under the touch like skin does. Like -



If you see 'crazed' cracking looking like this, run as fast as you can. NB, cracking will happen with genuine leather pigment over time if not looked after, but is less intense, for want of a better word.



This is a product called Bonded Leather, and it is evil stuff. Scraps of leather, off cuts and the like, are mixed with PU, applied to a paper or cotton backing, then have an artificial grain pattern embossed on the material. It will ALWAYS fail at the 4 year + mark. It's not just budget brands who use it, for example, AFAIK, all BMW 1 series's with leather have the sides of their seats finished in this.

This is why we come here. Brilliant info, thanks.

[mattman]

with the acres of seating in a 420G you'd expect to see a pretty sizeable bill for retrimming in leather.

I personally wouldn't be too fussed whether it was leather or not, rather it was clean and free from rips and major wear. What is the rest of the car like in comparison? could be a bargaining chip on the price if you are concerned for future values

[aeropilot]

shed driver said:

It's a 420G - seems pretty tidy and the vendor comes across as quite knowledgeable but can't be certain on the seats.



SD.

Looks like it might have been done in the USA, as its got hideous contrasting piping added, so clearly it has been retrimmed. Although UK owners are quite keen on the silly piping thing as well in retrims.
if it was done in the USA, its most likely leather and likely not the correct shade, which again along with the added contrasting piping makes it look a bit restomod.
It doesn't look vinyl, and I would think its most likely leather. It will smell like leather as well, so can't believe the vendor can't smell it....unless they have no sense of smell?!

[lazlong]

Didn't leatherite sell a lump of leather smelling just right to put under the seat?. Same problem here s2+2 leather e type that lacks ambience....

[MitchT]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

This is a product called Bonded Leather, and it is evil stuff. Scraps of leather, off cuts and the like, are mixed with PU, applied to a paper or cotton backing, then have an artificial grain pattern embossed on the material. It will ALWAYS fail at the 4 year + mark. It's not just budget brands who use it, for example, AFAIK, all BMW 1 series's with leather have the sides of their seats finished in this.

I can't speak for current 1 Series but my OH's 2005 model has stuff called Sensatec on the seat bolsters. It's a wholly synthetic material which contains no leather of any sort.

[neutral 3]

That 420 has had a re trim, it looks dire in comparison to what it’s OE interior would have looked like.

[craigjm]

When new it was only the seat facings that were leather. The rest of the seat and the door card etc are ambla. As above to check if it’s leather do the test suggested

[Mike-tf3n0]

If you want it to look as it should, as it was originally, then it needs a retrim as at that time Jaguar never used contrasting piping and to any purist that interior is completely wrong. If, on the other hand, you are happy with it as it is then just use it and enjoy it!

[badhuis]

As said before it clearly is a retrim.
I have had Jaguars from the USA and some had a retrim in the 80s or even earlier, no wonder with the hot weather and burning sun out there. The three I have experience with all had a retrim in vinyl. Was pretty good work too, exactly as original. So be careful.
If you, as the owner, do not mind it being non-original then why not keep as is. But it will always be less valuable when it comes to selling it.