OEM Interior Replacement Covers from Thunderbird Specialities

[wcoates]

tanya1.jpg

Pictures?

[wcoates]

tanya3.jpg

[007Cruiser]

They do look good but 18 months? I could be dead by then. Maybe she had to wait for the cattle to be bred. It’s tough getting the blue ones.

[RBIRD]

Maybe she had to wait for the cattle to be bred. It’s tough getting the blue ones.

[wcoates]

From Phil:

Yes, it did take a long time and many tens of thousands of dollars to recreate the 2002 Thunderbird seats; patterning, material sourcing, dyeing of custom colors, perforation of the leather and tooling for the seat bottom foam cushions, was a very long and complex process. Then there was the issue of the 'Thunderbird' logo in the upper seat back. That required a special die that cost thousands to create, AND a special license from Ford to reproduce the image. The licensing process requires a lot of documentation and multiple department approvals, and on top of that, a substantial license fee, payable to Ford IN ADVANCE of ANY sales!

So from beginning the project through to final production, it did take 15-18 months. But once all the materials, patterns, and licensing were resolved, production only took about 8 weeks. Future orders will also take 8-10 weeks, as additional material must be sourced, dyed and perforated and then sewn together. We did have a few sets remaining after all the initial orders were filled, but they have since sold out.

From Tanya:
Worth the wait.

[007Cruiser]

Seems he should have had all those ducks in a row before offering the item for sale.

[Quickdraw]

From Phil:

Yes, it did take a long time and many tens of thousands of dollars to recreate the 2002 Thunderbird seats; patterning, material sourcing, dyeing of custom colors, perforation of the leather and tooling for the seat bottom foam cushions, was a very long and complex process. Then there was the issue of the 'Thunderbird' logo in the upper seat back. That required a special die that cost thousands to create, AND a special license from Ford to reproduce the image. The licensing process requires a lot of documentation and multiple department approvals, and on top of that, a substantial license fee, payable to Ford IN ADVANCE of ANY sales!

So from beginning the project through to final production, it did take 15-18 months. But once all the materials, patterns, and licensing were resolved, production only took about 8 weeks. Future orders will also take 8-10 weeks, as additional material must be sourced, dyed and perforated and then sewn together. We did have a few sets remaining after all the initial orders were filled, but they have since sold out.

From Tanya:
Worth the wait.

Yes, that is Phil's standard excuse to triple-charge for anything he sells - he has to recreate the parts beginning at the molecule level. Of course that's B.S. - ANY trim shop could remove an existing seat cover, pull out the stitches and WOW, there's your pattern!!! ...sourcing the material? Aren't these advertised as OEM? Wouldn't that mean they were made by the original factories that made them by the tens of thousands? Otherwise they are COPIES of OEM seats.

[65TBSTEVE]

Tanya did go to an upholsterer here in the Sarasota area, the same one who recovered my boot, and he could not find a leather without grain to replicate the non-grain Nudo? leather on her 2002. So I am the one who suggested she look into the reproductions being offered at Thunderbird Specialties. The leather looks just like the original. And the turquoise color is great.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

You're happy..that's good

[Quickdraw]

Tanya did go to an upholsterer here in the Sarasota area, the same one who recovered my boot, and he could not find a leather without grain to replicate the non-grain Nudo? leather on her 2002. So I am the one who suggested she look into the reproductions being offered at Thunderbird Specialties. The leather looks just like the original. And the turquoise color is great.

I'm just wondering how many extra thousands of dollars I would spend to have a non-grain leather, perforated holes just exactly as far apart as the original, the exact color tint of blue of the original 2002, or the embossed Tbird logo when chances are no one outside of the Thunderbird community would know the difference. But that's just me...

[RustyFrye]

They do look good but 18 months? I could be dead by then. Maybe she had to wait for the cattle to be bred. It’s tough getting the blue ones.

Those needing yellow inserts might do better, but there may be an issue getting the cows from India....

Capture.JPG

[2K2BIRD]

I'm just wondering how many extra thousands of dollars I would spend to have a non-grain leather, perforated holes just exactly as far apart as the original, the exact color tint of blue of the original 2002, or the embossed Tbird logo when chances are no one outside of the Thunderbird community would know the difference. But that's just me...

Harry, it falls into the same category as worrying about whether there is a Thunderbird emblem at the bottom of the windshield. Some do, some don't.

[wcoates]

I posted about getting my seat repaired in Columbus Ohio and providing the material to get my seat and another sitting there waiting for material the owner couldn't find anywhere in the country through her many contacts.

I have sent her the material and she has sent it out to be perforated. I can not believe the cost of getting a 15" x 15" piece of material perforated.

[MikeB6]

I'm just wondering how many extra thousands of dollars I would spend to have a non-grain leather, perforated holes just exactly as far apart as the original, the exact color tint of blue of the original 2002, or the embossed Tbird logo when chances are no one outside of the Thunderbird community would know the difference. But that's just me...

It's not just you, Harry! I feel exactly the same.

[Quickdraw]

I posted about getting my seat repaired in Columbus Ohio and providing the material to get my seat and another sitting there waiting for material the owner couldn't find anywhere in the country through her many contacts.

I have sent her the material and she has sent it out to be perforated. I can not believe the cost of getting a 15" x 15" piece of material perforated.

How much to perforate the 1.5 sq ft of material? Will it match the original perfs?