1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

can gsl-se seats be painted???

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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 10:15 PM
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can gsl-se seats be painted???

Hey guys, the title pretty much says it all. I have red "leather" gsl-se seats (i'm assuming it's not real leather) and they are in pretty good condition, but I want them to be black... Can I take them out and paint them with leather paint? or maybe some other type of paint? also, if anybody has done this, pix would be awesome.

and no, unfortunatly, I do not have the money to have them professionally reupholsterd which also means I do not have the money for new seats.
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 10:19 PM
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Well you need to find the paint thats made for it. The good ones are 2-3 part sprays. Seach the web, and be sure yours areant real leather.. I'm not sure about it, but I know theres stuf for vynal and it works.
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 10:24 PM
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were the stock 84 gsl-se seats real leather? or vynal? cause i have whatever the stock seats are. I will do plenty of research around the web, I just figured there would be somebody on here who has done it who could help me out
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 10:49 PM
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I believe they are REAL leather. They seem to hold up pretty good. Not something vinyl would do. If you ever look at the sides or backs of the cloth seats, those are vinyl and they seem to crack quite easily with old age.
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 11:01 PM
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hmmm, i was told they were real leather... does anybody have a fact sheet with the specs of the years/models (the one normally linked by the FAQ doesn't work...) I would like to start this process a.s.a.p. cuz i'm very impatient
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 11:05 PM
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I don't think SEs came with vinyl seats. Either cloth or leather. If they're original, they're probably real leather. You could dye them, but I wouldn't try to paint them.
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 11:20 PM
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well, it definitely is NOT cloth... so is it real leather? anybody have any proof? I only have one set so can't mess this up...
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Old Jul 4, 2004 | 11:53 PM
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I've tried to paint mine, but with not much luck... I've painted most the interior with a black vinyl paint, it seemed to work pretty good, so I figured to try the seats, which were out of an 82 gsl, I am guessing. The paint chips off pretty easily, and doesn't last more than a couple weeks, if you drive daily... I am still looking for a paint that will stick to the leather.
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Old Jul 5, 2004 | 12:47 AM
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All GSL-SE leather seats are real leather, but only on the faces. (Back cushion front and bottom cushion top) The sides and rears of the seats are made of vinyl. Re-dying them is something best left to professionals.

If yours are in good shape I'd buy them from you-then you could replace them with whatever you want.
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Old Jul 5, 2004 | 02:21 PM
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Re: can gsl-se seats be painted???

Check you e-mail and post the pic here please.


Originally posted by kiker14
Hey guys, the title pretty much says it all. I have red "leather" gsl-se seats (i'm assuming it's not real leather) and they are in pretty good condition, but I want them to be black... Can I take them out and paint them with leather paint? or maybe some other type of paint? also, if anybody has done this, pix would be awesome.

and no, unfortunatly, I do not have the money to have them professionally reupholsterd which also means I do not have the money for new seats.
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Old Jul 5, 2004 | 03:54 PM
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I thought the L in GSL-SE stood for leather?
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Old Jul 5, 2004 | 04:25 PM
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no, the gsl-se and the gsl were available with cloth so obviously l does not mean leather
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Old Jul 5, 2004 | 04:31 PM
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Most likely it's leather, unless someone reupholstered them before you got the car.
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