Seat back carpet

I am getting ready to order the carpet for my '79 IM. I will probably order it from Vintage, but their interior kit does not include the carpet for the seat backs. They are checking on a price from their supplier for me. I am wondering what others have done about the seat back carpet.

Thanks,
Chuck

Chuck,
I'm right in the middle of this myself. Here's what I'm doing -- I went down to my local auto-upholsterer and ordered 5 yards of matching seat/dash vinyl and am using that instead. You won't need 5 yards to cover the seat backs but I ordered extra to use for a trunk panel and a rear panel.

I believe square weave German wool carpet on the (Speedster bucket) seatbacks were how the original Speedster configuation was delivered. Unless "356" coupe seats were optioned.

Interesting that Vintage is getting you a price for the seat backs. They told me they don't provide those anymore, which was actually fine for me because I've never been a big fan of the carpet on the seats.
Anyway, like Adrian I found some matching vinyl and applied it to the back. One done, one to go.

What did the coupe seats look like? I wonder why Vintage has quit making the seats with carpet?

Adrian: are you doing the seats yourself?

Real Porsche Coupe (or real Roadster/cabriolet) seats are too wide for pan based replicas. To best of my knowledge, VS offered 2 types of seats - the "Speedster" bucket style with the 2 cut outs in the back and an over stuffed seat build on 914 seat shells (with the read rest cut off). The buckets ae minimally padded and if your butt is overly padded you won't fit comfortably in them. The 914 derived seat you sit more "on" than "in" it -- it offers less suport at sides but is probably more comfortable for longer trips. To fit in a pan based replica the seat needs to be between 18-22 inches wide.

Thomas, Yes I will be doing the seats myself although I haven't started it yet. I have list about a mile long and its on there somewhere!

Vintage never replied with a price for the seat back carpet, so I am having the upholsterer cover the backs in vinyl. A small concession to authenticity. Thanks for the input.

Chuck

Chuck: welcome to the outlaws.

Finally finished hand sewing the vinyl to the second seat back. No brain surgery for me until my hands stop swelling. Next time I hire someone - although there is that sense of accomplishment to go along with the throbbing fingers.

Very nice, Doctor Jones.

Thomas, those look great!

The upholsterer and I did not care for the looks of the seat backs when covered in vinyl. They showed every little bump, even when padding was added. We were able to locate some bulk carpet that is a very close match to the VS carpet. The search for the carpet slowed down the process, but I think it was worth the trouble.

Chuck