Original spec - any ideas ??

[Kennybiy]

I'm trying to find out whether a car which is up for sale was originally supplied with Full Hide or not; the easiest way would be to go and have a look but it's over 275 miles away and if it's Half Hide, I'm not interested.
It's at a dealers and they didn't seem to realise what I was asking - to them, anything that looks a wee bit like leather must be leather...
The Handbook has been lost but I have the VIN - anyone got any ideas ??

[nikman]

Ask them what material covers the interior door panels. (The actual flat bit behind and above the pockets.) If they say it's carpet it aint full hide! See if you can get them to send you an interior picture - mine's full hide so I know what to look for. Which part of the country is this car anyway?

Nick.

[JonathanT]

I have half hide but I would imagine that you could spec carpet on the door cards with a full hide car? If they are sending you a photo, get them to take a closeup picture of the join between the seat squab (the bit you actually sit on) and the side/back of the seat.

On mine the vinyl covering is a different texture to the leather facings (I think the vinyl is more "pockmarked&quot.

Edited by JonathanT on Friday 22 June 10:26

[nig-gtv]

nikman said:

Ask them what material covers the interior door panels. (The actual flat bit behind and above the pockets.) If they say it's carpet it aint full hide! See if you can get them to send you an interior picture - mine's full hide so I know what to look for. Which part of the country is this car anyway?

Nick.

Not at all sure that this is a hard and fast rule. I've seen full hide with carpeted doors.

If you can find out where it was first registered, you could see if the supplying dealer has a record - bit of a long shot though. If I were you I'd assume it isnt to be honest... not that many are I dont think (if you buy it and it is then it's a bonus!).

[Zippee]

Hard to tell on the seats but as another poster said get them to take a couple of close up photos - particularly of the dash. Theres a huge difference in look between the vinyl I have on mine and the leather a mate has on his.

[IPAddis]

Bear in mind there was a popular 3/4 hide option. This included a leather dash but with the centre console and seat backs in Ambla. Much cheaper but a good improvement over an Ambla dash.

Ian A.

[Kennybiy]

Thanks folks.
As a couple of you mentioned, I can't use the presence of carpet in the door trims because not only was carpet available with Full Hide, but vinyl (or leather ??)was available with Half Hide - strange but true.

I've a feeling the dealer knows damn fine what it's got but in common with some other sellers, doesn't want to let on.
Perhaps that's just me being cynical again...

[VictorMeldrew]

I've had that on an interior for sale on eBay. The seller "didn't know" but thought it was leather. I asked if he was sure it was leather in "ask seller a question", and I pointed out it was unlikely, and most were half hide. My question didn't appear although I did get an acknowledgement by PM that it probably wasn't full hide. It also ended up being a completely different colour than adverstised - a real wrong 'un!