MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TF Seats

Has anyone put alternative seats to the originals in their
TF please, and what did you use? I spoke to my upholsterer / seat restorer (Collingburn) this morning, who has my seat frames, and it sounded like the expected (?) delivery in Spring is not going to happen. Maybe another year! Sounds crazy, but true. Meanwhile, when I complete everything else in a couple of months or so, I'll want to use the car, so a set of temporary seats are needed. Space in these cars is fairly limited so I'm going to be careful what I choose. As they are to be temporary I don't want to spend a fortune either. A pair of classic / vintage bucket seats woukd look best but maybe a couple of seats out of a later MG midget or AH Sprite woukd do. However if anyone else has done this and found any pitfalls, I'd be glad to know. Thanks.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Dave, why so long to get two seats covered? I bought my TF seat covers from Moss and will cover them myself. Their not that hard to do, just time consuming. Sounds like your upholsterer just isn't that interested. I'd be searching else ware. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Yes I agree - if starting again that's what would do. However am now stuck, as I've already received and started fitting the door panels and interior. I need it all to match.
An also looking at the options on hood / top materials now that I have repaired the hood frame (made a new bow). Moss offer Double Duck, but most other suppliers here seem to suggest that Mohair is better. Have ruled out PVC because it looks nothing like the original beige Single Duck.
Dave H
Dave Hill

My guy did a total rebuild in 1 day! Get your frames back and find another guy! Search the archives here. There are lots of seat alternatives.
Good luck,
Ed
efh Haskell

I have Mohair on our MGB from Prestige in the UK and discovered that it makes the car a little quieter inside as it deadens some of the outside noise. I'm not at that point on the TF, so I'm in limbo as to what fabric I'll use. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Dave et al,
The TF seats were not made with comfort or tall people in mind. I'm close to rebulding the TF seats and will do both to spec; however, I would also like an alternate driver's seat for me that has less material in the seat cushion and seat back that will also take the TF slide mechanism so it's an easy changeover.

Please let me know of any ideas for a seat to modify.

thanks,
Tyler
Tyler Irwin

Why not try ones from a MX5 or modern MG F/TF. They will be quite small and Scrapyard's are littered with them.


Jan T
J Targosz

Yes I agree, modern TF seats are sold by the dozen. I just wonder if height (of the base) and width are an issue. The look wouldn't be great either. Some of the classic bucket seats - not the modern ones - look more in keeping.
For others wondering why I am stuck with such a slow supplier. Well they have the reputation of being the best (over here - see Malcolm Green's restoration guide) but are pathetically slow. They did warn me, but its worse than I planned.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Covering seats is not rocket science and any competent upholsterer should be able to do the job. Check with local clubs and see who they recommend as a second choice.
W. A. Chasser Jr

Dave

Plenty of resources available here to inform you how to rebuild your seats. It is not rocket science and anyone with basic skills can accomplish the task using an upholstery kit, a few basic tools, foam rubber and the correct adhesives that are readily obtainable. Unless you have already used a non standard coloured material on your panels this should be achievable.

The satisfaction in doing tasks like this yourself makes the ownership of these vehicles worthwhile.

Graeme
G Evans

Thanks for you comments guys, but I've burned my boats. I want the seats to match the interior and I've already started to install that from the same supplier. I could have covered the seats myself but chose not to - mainly because of lack of space. I had bits of car all over the house and well, you know the rest. Big mistake but I made it. Now I need to find some alternative seats to keep me going.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Dave,

Stick with the wait on the Collingburn TF seats.
May be a pain in the long term wait,however unlike other
suppliers in the market,their seats are pleat piped correctly and fit beautifully.When you see 'others',they look decidedly flat in more ways than one!

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
R GRANTHAM

Dave H. If I were you, I would ask Collingburn to sell you some material for the seats that match the upholstery they apparently have already supplied. If they are any kind of reputable organization, they should be willing to do that in view of their ridiculous time to produce. As was stated above, any professional upholstery shop could get you back on schedule. You are an amazingly patient person!!
Jim Merz

Dave Hill,

I have been on the waiting list for TF interior from Collingburn since 2013. I would send an email every three months to find out where I was on the queue. My last email this past month he said he could not guarantee this year if or when he would have red leather stock or to have any kits made for any TF regardless of the color choice. He suggested I contact Heritage Trim in Vancouver, British Columbia.

My understanding he is overwhelmed with work and one email he sent last year said his father was having health issues.

I would think about contacting someone else, order the seat covers and have an upholster do the work for you. It's a shame since I've heard great things about his work. The samples of leather I got from him comparing Moss and Abingdon Spares was outstanding.

I have leather / vinyl samples on the way from Heritage.

Good luck,

Frank



Frank Cronin

Ok thanks all. I did wonder if Mike was not well and talking to his son is hard work. Its only a 3 man band (actually two men and one woman), so the loss of one is critical, and the guiding light too, i took the seat frames there last year and saw the set-up. I'll hang on and fit temporary seats as planned. Am warming to the idea of a pair of classic bucket seats as they are compact enough to fit, and will look less out of place than modern seats. If I am not mistaken they will need lifting up with a wooden frame underneath.
Anybody care to comment on the merits of Mohair against Double Duck for the hood cover / top?
Dave H
Dave Hill

Find a pair of early Spriget buckets. Same for you Tyler. They should fit in the car and look the part. Won't have a protruding head rest to interfere with a full toneau. I can't think of anything that will match up with the stock seat rails but the Spridget fasteners wouldn't that big a deal to me. Just my two cents.
MG LaVerne

I think there is unfounded concern about reupholstery work. There are a number of car restoration programmes on UK TV and frequently upholstery work is required. One restorer has used Aldridge Trimming a few times and their work appeared to be excellent. They looked to have a number of staff and the turnaround was days. However other programmes have used small, one man outfits, working from units on industrial estates. Again the work appeared to first class. I have used and am using a self employed car trimmer in Glasgow. He totally reupholstered my MG M Type including recovering the fabric body. His "bread and butter" work is making hoods and repairing upholstery for Porsches and Mercedes but he has worked on virtually all the classic cars in the area. He has just given me a quotation for totally retrimming my TF. To do the seats in red leather exactly as original he wants £500, for the panels and crash rain in matching vinyl £300, a full set of bound Wilton carpets £200, a hood in mohair £500, matching side screens £300 and a full tonneau in mohair £300. The prices include fitting everything to the car. He has advised against purchasing a trimming kit since he has previously had to modify ones to fit properly. The only work he has asked me to do is to blast and coat the seat frames have the runners replated. His lead time to start is one month and the work will take two weeks. I can visit his workshop to check on progress and examine all parts before they are fitted to the car. I am certain there will be similar trimmers in most areas.

Jan T
J Targosz

Dave.
Last year I had new sidescreen (curtains) covers and a half and full tonneau made for my car. During discussion about material to use the classic car upholsterer stated that double duck was far better than mohair (and mohair should be cheaper, too, but often isn't). I asked why, and he said that mohair was difficult to clean (especially bird droppings) without any damage to the surface. His unequivocal advice was go for double duck, so I did. Got a perfect match with the existing double duck tan hood. Nine months on still very pleased with the outcome.
Neil, Chester.
1955 MG TF1500
N D Wallace

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2015 and 31/01/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.