Hello to everyone, I was wondering what people were using to care for their leather. i.e. cleaning leather, protection, and even restoration of wear areas. Actual Experience is needed as too many claims out there for ineffective products.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
On my cars with leather interior I've been using Lexol for 40 years with best results .
Here is a recent pic of my '89 Mercedes interior (26 years old). Lexol helps keep it looking new.
Thanks Jim, I have used Leatherique conditioner, and cleaner. Not bad to soften the leather, cleaner though is not good if overly dirty. Ray
Jim, which products from that line are you using?
40 years on that MB, I think the leather must be THICKER on those years, now they would make two cars with the same leather 
That's because the cows got fatter!
My pickup truck had the "King Ranch", saddle leather interior - a bit thicker than run-of-the-mill stuff.
I asked Dusty Johnson (Saddle maker to the Stars) what I should use on it and he recommended "Leather Therapy" products, available at tack shops and from Amazon.
I had the truck for 6 years, and it was 8 years old when I sold it and all the leather looked perfect - really....like brand new. Not as long as Jim and his MB using Lexol, but a good run, none-the-less.
I've used it on my leather Bomber jacket, too, and it's looking good, as well (and that thing must be 40 years old now.....
Nice hands, Marty. You must be a professional hand model.
How do you think I can aford an Intermeccanica? 
How do you think I can aford an Intermeccanica?
Well, you could've bought an original for that much, you dope. 
But it wouldn't have A/C and heated seats, required by She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.
But it wouldn't have A/C and heated seats, required by She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.
And soon a power drivers seat
Where's David Chivard ("you coulda' bought an original for the price of that IM") when we need him?
"And soon a power drivers seat"
Wow! The Madness really IS strong on this one.
Where's David Chivard ("you coulda' bought an original for the price of that IM") when we need him?
Yes, but the seller says it's a very fast car...
You know, a few years from now when this generation no longer is the buyer for these cars, people are going to realize how cheap the originals really are. And I mean cheap in the sense of construction, etc. They were designed to be a quick seller to weekend warriors who thought they could be Juan Fangio.
when I attend the Hershey AACA events , I am at 64 a kid compared to most other s there , when they pass on, those cars will plumet in value as there will be little interest for them . muscle cars and street rods will follow in favor of Honda Fart Boxes
I think you are right Alan...I've noticed that our car clubs younger members for the most part hop-up and fix-up Hondas, Toys, older Audi's etc. Oh they like the 'old iron' but for most of them the price is out of reach.
I've seen at car shows where there is a mix of cars if there are 'ricers' on display the young guys attending the show bee line to them and hardly pay attention to anything else...and why not? it is the type of car they drive, the cars are in abundance and are relatively inexpensive and there is a ton of hop-up goodies available to them...
Sad to say but I think with a few exceptions the era of street/hot rods, Muscle cars, replicas and the like is coming to an end...
Bob, Alan, G.R.,
Absolutely. Stuff hits the front slope of the value curb when the generation that fondly recollects it hits about 55 or so. The curve heads straight up until that generation is in their 80s.
Have you seen the price of 930s and Countach's lately? 10 years from now, whatever was cool in 1990 will be worth a fortune.
The same phenomenon here in New England. Most of the 356 owners are quite a bit older than me, bought their cars decades ago (when they were affordable) and still have them.....and they are thrilled to sell them for well over $150K to help finance their golden years. The only two younger members of our group of 180 members are Peter Venuti and me and we both have replicas - go figure.
The original cars are beautifully restored and kept that way and, like a sailboat, they cost a lot to keep pristine and THAT keeps several New England 356 restoration businesses busy and that's good, too.....
We're going to a local tech session this weekend where a chassis dyno will be available to members. I'm really tempted to hang back as they watch their cars hit 40-60 hp at the wheels and then drive Pearl onto the rack and crank her up to 120 BHP......
.....It's not a "phenomenon" it's a case of everyone getting old and that, sucks rocks~
