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MG MGA - New Seats

I have to replace my seats and pannels as they are in very poor condition. As the actual seat frames are quite tired I'm looking at the "Complete Seat Set" from Moss. Looking through the archives, I am concerned that the colour (red) may be a little bright. I'm not sure if mine are the original colour but they are not a very bright red.

Has anyone any experience with the red Moss seat covers or complete seat kit's? I have not found anyone else selling the finished seats, are there any other options?
R. Maher

I believe you can ask for a sample of the material from Moss. Also it has been suggested to get the complete set at one time, from one supplier. Then the panels and the seat should be the same shade of color. Yes, there has been some discussion on this board about the brightness of the Moss replacements for the interior where red is chosen.
Moss does make a good quality seat cover. My black with iris trim leather seat covers from Moss installed some 15 years ago still look great. And I will add they cost a lot less money then .

Ray

Ray Ammeter

R,
I recovered my seats, panels, dash and parcel shelf (coupe)with upholstery kits from Scarborough Faire. They offer 2 shades of red, one with an orange hue and the other with a darker, more maroon color. I chose the brighter color as it seemed to be a better match for the hidden, unfaded areas of the old upholstery. Now that it's all done it's definitely bright, but I think it will mellow some with age and it does look really good against the black exterior. The darker shade has a bit more of a classic car appearance but I think it's too dark compared to the original material. Just my opinion.
Bill
Bill Boorse

The bright red matches the original red of the MGA interior. M.S.
Martin Straka

I'm restoring my '62 MKII and recovered the seats with the Moss red. It's a nice maroon that matches the orignal red very well.

- Ken
Ken Doris

Thank you all for your replies.

I'm a litle confused as to the original colour, I will be ordering "Original MGA" but so far I have read posts here and in the archives which indicate that both the bright red and the darker maroon red were at some time original colours.

I'm very tempted to go with Moss as their quality seems to be good from the posts I've read and the convenience of getting a complete seat is huge. I will for sure be ordering the panel set at the same time so this is a very expensive purchase, I hope I make the right choice!

Again, thank you all for your input.

Roy.
R. Maher

My understanding is that the original MGA red was bright red, but as the interior aged and broke-in, the bright red darkened, turning maroon. I am fortunate to work near Scarborough Faire, so I usually pick-up my orders in person. Cecilia at SF has shown me an original, red, MGA seatback that they keep around. The exposed part of the seatback has darkened to nearly maroon, but the unexposed areas are still bright red - as original.

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

Last winter I installed a red leather kit from Moss. I was very happy with the way it came out. The red on mine that was on the inside of the panels was a bright red. With age the area that shows has darken to a dark maroon red. Moss's red was a good match for the aged red. I like the Moss red better than the original bright red.
Jim.
Jim Jensen

Check with VB as well--their kits are well done, too. Get samples from all of them and compare them. Go with what you like. Unless you are striving for a concours restoration, use the shade that pleases your eye...even then, what's to be know for sure about the originals? Red is a color that fades a lot and after a few years, will be a bit different than what you started out with. My first B had red leather seats and after four or five years , there was a noticeable difference between those areas exposed to the sun and those that were somewhat hidden.
R. L Carleen

The comments about the original color being bright red match my experience of restoring my '62 this year. The really bright red I found was on the folded under portions of the dash vinyl (MKII's have a covered dash). It was so BRIGHT RED I was stunned it was the same fabric!

I also have had great experience using Scarborough Faire, and although I'm happy with the Moss interior parts I have, I didn't know of Cecelia when I bought them, and would probably buy them from her if I had to do it again (she helped us, via the phone, fold and staple the seats correctly even though we boutght the package from Moss!)
Ken Doris

Just to add my 2 cents worth about Cecelia form Scarborough Faire.. She's one wonderfully helpfull woman. I've order some parts from S.F. and she has gone out of her way to help me on any mga problem I've had...... can't say enough...... mike
mike

I found the same bright cherry-red color on unexposed material and it didn't match the Moss red at all, which is a darker, almost mahogany brown. It looks like they chose a color that resembled that of aged material, not new material. Actually, my old, shot-to-hell seats are even a little brighter than the Moss red.
Myself, I think a bright red interior against black is pretty nice. It's more original, and has more of a 50's look to it. I would look for a better red had I to do it over, but like they say above, you should get what you like.
I had no problems with the fit or quality of the Moss kit.
John Vallely

I've seen a MKII, in black, with the bright red interior color recently, and although it was probably what was in the original car, by today's standards, it just seemed a bit odd, especially when compared to others with the maroon shade of red. Definitely not for me, but I assume the owner loved it. After all, that's what these cars are all about - fixing them up so we enjoy them ourselves, and if others do too, then great.

- Ken
Ken Doris

It's quite confusing to know which way to go. My "A" is a 1960 MK1 in correct old english white, I like the aged colour of my, most likely original, seats so I think the Moss colour will be fine but it's hard to be sure, the comment of them bing almost mahogany brown is a little alarming. While a little sample can let you know if it's totally wrong, I think I would have to see a white car with the bright red to know if I liked it or not. I keep thinking... bright red in a white car... hmmm, a little loud!

One problem with living in Canada and shopping in the US is that returns are a pain.

I have to admit, the main reason I was attracted to the Moss seats is that the complete seat set they sell are just out of the box and into your car. My drivers seat frame is well past it's sell by so I would be looking at replacing basically everything. When I priced it all out the ready made seats are only, if I remember correctly, $120 odd more than buying it all and doing it yourself. I don't think anyone else is offering the ready made items.
R. Maher

Oh, I almost forgot, when I called Moss to ask them to send me a sample of the colour the sales chap told me to look at page 9 in the colour pages at the front of the catalogue as there is a picture of a red seat. Now, he is sending me a sample but the picture in the catalogue is not a dark red it is quite bright. I hope the sample card they send is actually the colour of the seats and panels!
R. Maher

FWIW, I think Scarborough Faire will complete the seats for you also, and their prices tend to be less than Moss - but their red is brighter!

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

My seats are original, even down to a small cigarette burn. They are BRIGHT red, and shiny, not maroon. They look great with the OEW paintwork
dominic clancy

The picture on page 9 of the catalog is a red seat, alright, but it looks nothing like the red seat I bought from them.
That was 5 years ago and maybe their color changed, but you're right to get a sample.
John V.
John Vallely

I got some seat covers from Moss about a year ago and they were no where near the colors shown in the full color catalouge so I would most definitely get color samples before ordering. You may also want to check out Victoria British as RL mentioned, they are running their winter sale now and have sets of leather seats complete for $1600 in either black, red or tan. JI think good until Feb 28
Ken

The original MGA red interior was bright red. I have two NOS in the wrappers door panels to prove it. However the fabric applied to the black hardboard of the NOS "kick" panels has turned maroon either due to the glue used or a bleeding of the black dye of the hardboard into the fabric backing.

The originial bright red vinyl will turn orange after exposure to the sun. The leather doesn't change color as much.

Moss's upholstery is the maroon as seen on the discolored NOS kick panels I have.

Regards,
Blake
Bullwinkle

I covered my red seats 10 years ago. I used Scarborough Faire's, they were bright red when I got them but within a couple of years they faded to the nice colour they are now. I always found Cecelia to be great and accurate with advice.
If you are going with Moss, try Little British Car Co. www.lbcarco.com they are a Moss distributer and they offer a good discount.
They are in north Detroit, if you live close you could probably arrange to drive over and pick them up and save on shipping.
MGA Joe

This thread was discussed between 07/01/2005 and 15/01/2005

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