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| '68 Firebird custom interiors used a woven vinyl called Comfortweave. Real Comfortweave looks like vinyl that has been cut into thin strips and then woven. There will be places that you will be able to see through it. |
| Front Views |
| Reverse Views |
| Real Comfortweave SMS Auto Fabrics |
| Simulated Comfortweave Ames -PUI |
| Simulated Comfortweave PY |
| 1968 Firebird "Deluxe" Seats Custom Trim Option 554 Medium Red 258 with Comfortweave Insert Vinyl |
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| Over its thirtyseven years, the factory original seats in my '68 had become discolored and were beginning to show signs of wear and splitting at seam areas. I went on a quest to find original style '68 red Comfortweave for replacement. |
| The current replacement vinyl offered by the repro parts vendors uses a simulated comfortweave that is molded to simulate the texture. I received samples of both real and simulated Comfortweave. |
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| I found the original material at SMS Auto Fabrics. Front and rear seats took about 2 1/2 yards of Comfortweave and 4 yards of the solid madrid vinyl. |
| The seat covers were sewn by Fryers Auto Upholstery. Fryers will take an original set of covers as a pattern and duplicate them with the new fabric. They provided all the other materials needed for production. |
| The seat buns (cushion material) were crumbling so I purchased new ones from ACI (American Cushion Industries) via NPD part number C-SF203. These are good quality replacements. |
| The right seat back panel was bent so I replaced both with NPD part C-11358-3B. The new panel quality is is adequate. Red panels were no longer available anywhere so I bought white and painted with YearOne interior M30 red paint. The YearOne paint is an excellent match. |
| The hinge covers were painted. Chrome parts were polished. The seat sliders were cleaned with degreaser and polished. Rust at the leg/bolt areas was treated with POR15 and FreshSteel paint. I used WD40 on slide surfaces and a day later, white grease was used to lube them. I had a local upholstery shop repair and cover the front buckets. The left seat had a broken frame back and needed spring replacement and reinforcement. |
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| Removing the lower rear seat cushion is difficult on my '68. This is the left (driver side) clasp that grabs the seat frame. A picture of the clasp may help visualize the "push back - lift - move forward" motion to remove the cushion. |
| I replaced the covers of the rear seat. (no picture) |