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Many thanks for the kind comments everyone. Just guessing: Canon EOS 5D Mk II + EF 24-105 F4 L IS ? Exif data is a useful thing. I deliberatley leave mine on each photo, and find it really useful when others do too, although that tends to be very few people nowadays. Well your last couple of updates have pretty much nailed it for me. Retro ownership shouldn't revolve around a never ending slog trying to return a reluctant vehicle back to it's former glory, with just the radio for company. It's all about them being the reason to bring great friends together, but then being able to melt into the background to become just another part of what made the day just so great. Love it mate! Oh, I can't believe no-one else has brought this up yet - but who are all these mysterious people in the photo's? They look somehow familiar, but just strangely clean.... Cheers, Joe. Thanks Joe. I think it's a bit of a balance of both to be honest. Now that the Daimler is on the road, as it was 'supoposed' to be from the outset, I can enjoy little ventures and forays in it but also having the fun and challenge of locking myself away with a more involved project. I think having a bit of both is a good thing. The adverntures AND the joy of a build. I wanted the Land Rover to be my fun 'weekend thing' while I did the Lotus as a big project, but the Land Rover turned into an unexpected project itself. The Daimler was supposed to be something to use and enjoy while getting the LR sorted, but again, it turned into a bit of a project (although nowhere near as much and more delayed through lack of money than anything else) Now that it's on the road, I can still tinker with it, but enjoy it as a car at the same time, giving me those brilliant days out. I now feel refreshed and ready to get stuck back into the Land Rover. A new freshness that has been lacking since downing tools when Amanda's Dad died last year. *Using* the Daimler has been great at reigniting my love for wanting to work on my cars again. Fingers crossed, very soon, there will be some updates of progress on one of my fave cars of all time. Something I feel bad for shelving for over a year now. In the meantime, I've still got lots of fun things planned for trips in the Daimler. Happy days. Oh, and we can scrub up when the need arises. Recognising us is part of the problem though.
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Aug 15, 2013 10:01:29 GMT
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Yesterday I decided to start tackling a smaller issue. Well, a small issue I didn't realise was going to lead to a year or so's worth of work to *possibly* fix. I adore the patina on the leather seats, it matches perfectly with the exterior of the car. It tells a story, one of use but not abuse. Maybe not of being cherished and cosseted, but of age and experience. Just like the bodywork, it has a look that only time and use can create. Not faked or forced. Not immaculate or sterile. There is, however, a slight issue with the back seat. It all looks good at first appearance, much like the front seats: But look closer and you can see that not all is well The stitching has gone along the seams of the seat base which has allowed it to start coming apart. Not too drastic, but I figured it would be best to get it sorted before it gets any worse. I certainly don't want people jumping in and out of the rear seat while it's like this. I don't want to wreck it completely. The other issue and one which I assume is probably responsible, at least in part, for the stitching to break, is that the leather is generally very dry and hard. Almost like cardboard in places. The front seats are 'OK', but the back seats are certainly worse. Very dry and inflexible, certainly not like the soft supple leather we picture when we think of old classic cars like this. I head out to speak to a couple of guys with some authority on the subject.
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PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 859
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Aug 15, 2013 10:08:21 GMT
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It's James wearing jeans of an identifiable colour that really got me stumped.
Hints that the Land Rover may be next in line for attention makes me very happy- while I love the Daimler, my feelings for the Land Rover are unprintable. I woke up before everyone else one Sunday when it was in the next door unit and instead of doing the gentlemanly thing and sticking a brew on I just went and sat in the driver's seat and grinned to myself for a while...
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Aug 15, 2013 10:50:03 GMT
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I head over to Krych Trimming: www.krychtrimming.co.uk/I've known the guys there, Gary and Cyril, for a few years. They've done a few small jobs for me in the past and I just knew they would be the best people to speak to about the leather and the stitching. I didn't know what they would make of my car seeing as they deal, day in, day out, with highly finished classics. I guess when you're used to working on 'money no object' restorations, something like mine could be a bit of an embarrassment to have parked outside your workshop? Luckily, they loved it and totally 'got it', telling me not to ever think about restoring it. (like I could afford to even if I wanted to!) Cyril simply described it as "SO cool" and Gary said it was, "Really refreshing to see a car that wears its history with pride". They stood looking over the car for at least ten minutes, only stopping because it started chucking it down. I was chuffed to bits! Inside, the usual scenario of a concours classic in for a retrim. Their work is superb. Not just seat re-covering either, they will restore and retrim every part of an interior. This one was just about to get the floors felted before having new carpets after having done all the seats, headlining and side trims. Tools of the trade! A Lotus Cortina seat. Cyril was handed a bare metal frame and he had to construct the whole seat shape/form and detailing from a handful of photos. The rest of the seats (frames) will be arriving for the same treatment any day now that the owner is happy with this one. I turn around to find Jed has made himself at home. All over the workshop are signs of work in progress, or the remnants of seats that have been completely restored, leaving behind the stories of their past. Further into the workshop are roll upon roll of cloth, leather, vinyl, foam and all the other materials used to make up interiors. From many different textures and finishes... ...to the classic look (and smell) of fine leather. Then to the place where the magic happens. No hi-tech production here....these guys are strictly old-school. "We've got 74 years experience between the two of us" Cyril tells me. "These things are as reliable as they come and as sensitive as we could want them to be. You can make them work like they are an extension of your hands and mind...you just can't get that with modern machines" "I've tried other machines, but they just don't feel right. It's like wearing someone elses shoes" "Plus we're tight ba$tards and they've saved us a fortune over the years!" Chimes in Gary. We get onto the discussion of my seats and their condition. Gary tells me, in no uncertain terms, that my leather is dead. DEAD! Great. He pulls out a seat that is in for a refurb, it looks fine to me until he tells me to feel the leather. It's dry and rigid like the leather in my car. He then prods his finger into the leather and it punctures straight through without any effort as though it was old, thin card that had got damp, then dried out. "See? Dead" He can see the panic in my eyes and, luckily, he then proceeded to tell me that there is a chance of saving the seats. He knows I'm not here to ask about the price of a retrim and he knows that the seats in my car are as important to me as the exterior bodywork. It turns out that saddle soap, used for horseriding tack, is what's needed to try and revive my seats. It's along process where I need to feed them regularly over a long period of time in order to try and get them re-moisturised. It's not guaranteed to work, but if I can get enough moisuture and oils back into the fibres of the leather, they should become supple again. There is no way they can even consider re-stitching the seats as they are because they'll just tear to shreds as soon as they try and remove the covers from the frames. It's going to be a long slog, but hopefully worth it to get the leather reconditioned and flexible again. Not only should this mean they will last longer, but it should also enable the guys at Krych to eventurally re-stitch all the bits that have come apart. Conservation not restoration. In the meantime, NO ONE is to use the back seat. A real shame, but unless I want to risk trashing the seat beyond repair, that's the way it has to be. Before leaving I ask about any carpet they have that might match my existing carpet. The front footwells have no carpet at all, just a horrible modern rubber mat thrown in there over the felt sound proofing. Luckily they have some that's pretty much an exact match, and only £20 for enough to do both footwells. Something to buy and fix/fit at a later date - I need to spend what little money I have got on leather treatment. I say my goodbyes to the guys and head off in search of a tack shop. Gary & Cyril are awesome and I'm sure you'll be seeing them back in this story at a later date.
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Aug 15, 2013 11:08:37 GMT
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One of those moments where you really appreciate modern technology! After leaving Krych, I tapped in 'tack shops Bristol' and within seconds I'm being directed to a place I never knew existed - a tack shop tucked away that hopefully had what I was looking for? Suffice to say I returned to Area 52 with a bag of hope. Hope that this little lot could (eventually) sort the leather out in my car. Some leather cleaner, a sponge (well, not the sort of thing we keep at Area 52) and a tub of intensive conditioner. Still loving modern tech, I'd been able to look up the brand on my phone before buying and noted that it came highly recommended as one of the best for reviving dried out leather. The price was also competitive with anything I found online....that's almost unheard of. The guy in the shop even asked me if it was for a car! "We sell about 70% of this to car owners. I don't know why they don't market the stuff for automotive as well as equine use?" After the Gathering, the seats are going to be absolutely slathered in this stuff. Mission seat revival will begin in earnest. In other news, you may have seen me mention a small mod I made to the rear windcreen? Most people who come to the unit have Area 52 stickers on their cars. I just didn't feel it would suit the Daimler, so I made a different one for a change. A one off... Hard to photograph, it's made with chrome 'foil' vinyl and very fragile, hence why it's stuck on the inside of the screen. I thought it was a bit more in keeping with the look of the car than the usual Area 52 sticker? I'll probably change the design again before too long. I'm not 100% convinced because I think it looks like it's stuck somewhere between a wedding car logo and a scene sticker in style. Neither of which I'm trying to say about the car. Time will tell.... Right, that's me done for now. I'm off to finish off some stuff then pack and head off to the unit until we leave for the Gathering. If I don't see you there, I'll see you all after.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
Member is Online
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Aug 15, 2013 11:23:11 GMT
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I don't know if this is a good technique, but would it be worth absolutely loading the seats with conditioner, then wrapping with clingfilm and covering over with a heavy blanket to put a bit of pressure on and force it into the grain?
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Aug 15, 2013 11:30:25 GMT
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Clingfilm would probably be a good call as it would keep it warm and moist (fnar!) so soak in better. I doubt pressure on it would be of any benefit though.
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...proper medallion man chest wig motoring.
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Aug 15, 2013 11:52:10 GMT
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Thanks guys and a great idea Matt but I've just rung Krych to ask them what they thought and they've said not to. The leather needs to breathe at all times ideally. Also, the conditioner has oils in it and some of them need to be allowed to evaporate.
I guess it's just going to be a slow progress thing but hopefully worth it in the end?
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Aug 15, 2013 11:57:48 GMT
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Will be a long process but should come out great.
And I agree with the whole 'conservation not restoration' idea!
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nutter81
Part of things
I joined facebook so i could talk to the missus
Posts: 928
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Aug 15, 2013 12:10:28 GMT
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First there was the delica build (first big too) and now this Bruce you need to stop it really. I'm embarresed by my lack of threds on my cars and the total lack of skill.
Awsome gutted I'm not going to see this at RRG13.
I do need to find a gem like this to work on in my new garage
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,993
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Aug 15, 2013 12:11:41 GMT
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Loving the progress on it Bruce Would it be worth trying to get another back seat to tide you over whilst you conserve the current one, even if its not a match and in a worse state, would mean that the currentdoesent get any worse and perhaps keep it in the warm/ somewere you can give it another treatment with ease?
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,256
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Aug 15, 2013 12:41:10 GMT
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Loving the progress on it Bruce Would it be worth trying to get another back seat to tide you over whilst you conserve the current one, even if its not a match and in a worse state, would mean that the currentdoesent get any worse and perhaps keep it in the warm/ somewere you can give it another treatment with ease? We spoke about this the other day and it seems to be to cost prohibitive. Problem being its not a common enough car for old interiors to be rife.
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Aug 15, 2013 12:46:55 GMT
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Loving the progress on it Bruce Would it be worth trying to get another back seat to tide you over whilst you conserve the current one, even if its not a match and in a worse state, would mean that the currentdoesent get any worse and perhaps keep it in the warm/ somewere you can give it another treatment with ease? We spoke about this the other day and it seems to be to cost prohibitive. Problem being its not a common enough car for old interiors to be rife. Yeah, as Rich says, the ones I've seen have been the sort of money I'd rather divert into other area of the car, or other cars. I guess if it's going to take me a year, then rear seat passengers are jsut going to have to be patient. At least I get to still enjoy using it in the meantime (I'll also be treating the front seats...I don't want them going the same way)
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Aug 15, 2013 13:01:54 GMT
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The hallmarks of a great build thread - awesome story telling and photography. It's always good to catch up on where you are up to!
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,993
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Aug 15, 2013 13:03:15 GMT
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true, cost is always an issue. I take ut the chap you brought it from hasn't got one you could borrow for a bit?
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Aug 15, 2013 13:39:32 GMT
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I've brought a couple of dried leather seats back from the "dead" with leather oil & saddle soap. most leather is savable as long as there are no splits etc. was a daily coat of oil for a couple of months then a couple of doses of the soap to polish/seal.
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Aug 15, 2013 15:34:56 GMT
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Great to see this on the road! Btw, is it still the plan to fit full spats at the rear? I'll probably change the design again before too long. I'm not 100% convinced because I think it looks like it's stuck somewhere between a wedding car logo and a scene sticker in style. Neither of which I'm trying to say about the car. Time will tell.... How about something that at first glance appears to be the original dealer sticker? That would also fit with your conservation rather than restoration ethos.
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Last Edit: Aug 15, 2013 15:36:23 GMT by Paul H
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Aug 15, 2013 16:13:20 GMT
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Last Edit: Aug 15, 2013 16:14:06 GMT by Deleted
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,963
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Aug 15, 2013 17:47:28 GMT
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My wife must be one of the 30% she uses that Belvoir stuff for her tack (as in horse). Must be good if she uses it, nothing's too good for her pony just ask my bank account!
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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The leather oil I mentioned is called neatsfoot. If you get the synthetic stuff it doesn't rot the stitching. I think Belvoir sell it too....it very common in rescuing old saddles
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