I have the plaid interior my passenger seat is in relatively good shape. The driver seat is ripped where the vinyl and the plaid cloth intersect. I am looking for suggestions as to how to approach a fix. Thanks

 

Hi Paul. I have a similar issue with my red 1979. My vinyl is OK, but the plaid cloth is ripping due to old age.

A "cheaper" fix would be to get the Racing Beat seat covers. They replace the factory covering completely but do not have the cloth insert. Racing Beat does not have the orangish color of the sonic bronze interior. The Racing beta ones are close to $500
https://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1975-...tery-Kits.html

The other option would be to find a auto upholstery and an insert pattern that is close. I don't have any experience here in the KC area with any auto upholstery shops.

 

There was at least 4 different types of plaid used in 78. Two of which (White and red / orange) were used on North American import cars. The original poster does not indicate which color they are after.

Both the white and tan plaid cloth is available as reproduction thru Jack Pot Garage in Japan. They call it Kizami cloth.

https://jackpot.asj-hosting.net/KIZA...ami-cloth.html

I believe I had a friend of mine, tell me a while back that they had SMS out of Oregon make some of the red / orange plaid up for him from a sample. It wasn't cheap.

https://smsautofabrics.com/?srsltid=...XkZP4fcFWiCfM5

If its just coming apart where the vinyl meets the plaid insert, it might just be repairable. You need to vist an upholstry shop to see what they say. The vinyl is a lot easier to find / match than the plaid.

 

I don't remember which version he has but it's a nice car. I believe it's a September 1978 build date. I spent over a year rebuilding his car after it had sat for 30 years.

 

Thanks for the second link. I just ordered some free samples.

 

I found some previous threads and pictures of the car. It is Sonic Bronze w/the red-orange plaid interior. Built in Jun of 78.




Welcome, I've ordered from them before, they have a lot of different stuff. Let us know if you find a good match for the plaid. As I said, my friend provided them a sample and they wove a whole pattern from it. Just can't remember for sure if it was the Rx-7 red plaid or yellow tartan for an Rx-3 he had made.

 

So as a followup, the material my buddy had replicated was the yellow tartan for an RX-3. (He also has a bronze Rx-7) Anyway, according to him, you can get any fabric replicated from SMS Auto Fabrics in Canby Oregon.

"They offer a custom weaving service which I had the yellow tartan plaid duplicated for the RX3. They need a good 6 inch sample ( not faded or torn) to use. The lead time is quite long (about 18 months) and the minimum order is ten square yards which is enough to do maybe four or five cars. The cost is $100 per yard so with shipping your in it for $1100. To offset the cost you would have to resell the excess which would be pretty easy on the net.
Once the pattern is inputed into their computer, more can be made and color changes can be made to the existing pattern as well. The initial setup is the only drawback."

 

Did you order a sample that might match my interior

 

I ordered these. Two that might match my red 1979 (March 1978 build date)





And these that might match yours.





This one doesn't have the orange


If you see any other here, https://smsautofabrics.com/collections/plaid, I'm willing to order more.

 

Got the samples today. Here they are. They said the price is $169 per fabric yard. A yard should be enough to do two seat inserts.

I'll get a pic of the black sample against my seats.

 

The one on the lower left looks like it might work. I still think I will have to find someone to do the work