My '75 has plaid seats I think they are fairly cool, but am unsure if I want to get them reupholstered back to plaid, or just go with black. Can anyone give me a little history lesson?

I don't think they were particularly rare on the 75/76.

Original ones in useable condition, these days, are probably pretty rare.

I've always thought they were kinda cool.

If you were to get them redone, could you get the original fabric, or would you have to substitute something that just looks similar?

I have heard it is possible to get the original fabric (could be rumor). I have seen the same color and design for sale ....chances are it would end up being a lookalike job.

It is kinda funky retro, but I do like the uniqueness of it... (after all how many car owners can say their car has plaid seats) ...kinda like the Levi's interior on the AMC Gremlins.

Material is pretty readily available. They had red, yellow, blue & (Ithink) green plaid interiors in 75 & 76. My understanding is that all are still available, as aftermarket.

Keep it plaid, like it came!

I think it's cool & a period piece.

Pat

there is the Westy Camper plaid which has been remade available from several sources...not a prefect match and heavier cloth but such is life.

BusDepot.com

a little more

check out that various interiors were available with different exterior colours

Click to view attachmentMy yellow 75 came with red plaid seats. Under the vinyl when I bought it.

I looked for awhile, but not that hard, and didn't find any plaids origional to the 914 while I was looking. I went with a McCloud Yellow Tartan which was similar to a yellow plaid available see picture above. Not available in 75 IIRC. But shhhh! Don't tell anyone.

You can get custom tartans or plaids if you order enough and are willing to wait long enough. IIRC the guy I bought mine from said a Fairlane group had just placed an order matching one of the origional plaids for Ford.

Note that for every paint code in 1975 they had matched a specific plaid to it.
45 A1 L041 Black
40 B3 L13K Sun / Sunflower Yellow
43 B5 L11D Berber Yellow
45 B8 L80E Light Ivory
44 E5 L20C Nepal Orange
45 H3 L31M Scarlet / Ibiza Red
47 H5 L30C Malaga Red
48 J1 L50C Laguna / Lagoon Blue
40 M7 L64K Zambezi / Forest Green
81 W2 L99K Metallic Copper
80 X5 L97B Metallic Ancona Blue
42 Y1 L95K Metallic Palma Green
81 Z4 L97A Metallic Diamond Silver

If I am reading your list correctly the first 2 digits correspond to the plaid and the last 4 the paint then I wonder what the deal with my car.

My car is L13K ("Summer Yellow" in 1975 not "Sunflower Yellow") but I found red plaid seats under a crapy recover job that match color 45.

I thought it was a strange combination myself. I was pretty sure I have seen a brochure for 1975 that did not show the yellow plaid but had red and other plaids as an option. So I figured that was the answer. I will try and find that brochure it was probably on this site.

I am not trying to disagree. Just trying to collect knowledge.

Matt, yes the first column is the tartan type, the second is the paint code they used, the third is the paint code that is actually used on the Karmann badge, and the last column is the name of the paint. If the tartan in your car does not match the paint code, then there is a very high probability that the seats are not original to the car.

Tartan is cool. Not original but My next 914 will be Revenna with # 43 tartan.

Did you know there is a town in Ohio called Ravenna?
But the colour was named after a city in Italy of the same name.

That would be me!

Does anyone know of a source for the red tartan.
I can find any.
Would love to find some.
Thanks
Gary

Those who are replacing tartans, please try to save me a section big enough for a complete pattern. That way we can have some samples for use when trying to find a supplier. Contact me for shipping details.

I just purchased a 76 that has the red #47 seats, and driver has a small tear in it. I called George from Auto Atlanta and he said he has the original material $400.00 and is enough for two seats. He also added hed would redo for a cost of $150.00 each seat, if this helps!
John

Cool! Thant does help! Thanks John!

I found the correct tartan cloth for my 924 in Scotland Browse for scottish tartan and you should be able to find what you are looking for. In SA it was very expensive Abour R3000 which should translate to about $250 It was identical to the original My 924 turbo used tartan from the Mclauchlin clan.
Armand

South Africa...Wow !!

Thanks for the welcome
As far as I know only 30 914,s were sent to SA
Armand

Armand, do you know the VIN's of any of them? What years, what models? Did any survive? We are very happy to have you here with us. Dave

Just found this website that may provide some help ...
http://www.thescottishweaver.com/

I have contacted this site SMS and submitted my car info. They replied that they did have my "Porsche" yellow plaid in stock and could make the green plaid if I wanted.

Did they say anything about the price ?

Contributing to the cause! Just sent a swatch of the # 45 Bright Red Plaid with
Green Accent to SMS today, so they can do an exact color match on the yarn.
They already had the weave from a sample of the yellow provided by someone
earlier. Depending on how much demand they have initially, it should make a
difference in the price. Should be ~ $100 yard. Not sure how much each seat
needs, but probably 2-3 yards should do. I will find out from the guy that I use
for upholstery work and let all know. As soon as I have more details I will keep everyone posted. If we can find someone willing to give up a piece of the # 81
Grey, between the three color, that should cover almost half of the possible combinations! This could be a good long term source on the material.

With the new seats, I might be sufficiently motivated to put a new coat of black paint on the car.....

I spoke to a local weaver at the Scottish pavilion at http://www.folklorama.ca/folklorama.php

She said she could duplicate any tartan if she had a sample. Only problem is her phone number went thru the wash and I don't have a way to contact her now. Price was reasonable too.

I could possibly donate a small patch if needed for the cause.

SMS Auto Fabrics is looking forward to assisting the 914 Community with its Plaid Material needs. The pattern of the weave is set, and all that is needed is a match
for each of the color combinations.

Please send sample swatches to:

Doug Pollock
SMS Auto Fabrics
350 South Redwood St.
Canby, OR 97013
(503) 263-3535
info@smsautofabrics.com

SMS has the following samples to match for color.

# 40
# 45

Most cars that still have the plaid, should still have the true color material under
the seat cushions, or at the very bottom of the back pad on the seats.

Good Luck!

SMS informed me today that they will be starting the weave on the Red and Yellow late in June, and would like to see if they could get some of the other
color to weave while everything is set up for the pattern. If anyone plans on
sending a sample so that SMS can get a color match, now is the time

Looking forward to getting new material later this summer!

I am dealing directly with SMS Fabrics on site in Canby Oregon. Doug Pollack, owner needs original color samples taken from under the seat cushion. Yellow is on site which I supplied over a year ago, thanks to Camp 914 and Craig L. The repro's out there are not exact. Thin green band is missing. This can be done correctly with heat seams, just like the factory. Let's do it right, Looking for samples of original tartan plaid. Spent over one hour on May 28th, 2007 in the office with Doug. This project can happen realistically in August according to Doug. Update and comments? Duanne

I will cut a sample of my #45 and sent as well.
John

I have a message in to Doug at SMS, to make sure the sample of # 45 that he
confirmed receipt of is enough for him to do an exact match on for color. It
sounds like he needs a # 40 now for certain, and it would be great to get swatches
on the # 81, # 47, # 44, etc. at well. When I hear back, I will keep you updated.

Big thanks to Duanne for going by an paying a visit to SMS! This could actually
happen.....

Update - SMS finally has the material in the weaving process. Expect to see
something by early September. Fingers crossed.

I would love to get enough of the #44 (orange & black) for two sets of seats. I know it wouldn't be period correct for my 1970, but who cares? Any chance of that happening?

Spoke with SMS today, and the 914 Plaid project is in line to be put on
the weaving machine. No ETA at this time. If anyone can find other
samples to send in for color match, that would be helpful. The more
people that need the colors, the lower the price will be per color.

I intend to keep checking back with them and keeping you updated.

I am in for some material on my seats and door panels?

I have a 1976 914 with a factory two stage (clear coat/ base coat) green paint job. I was thinking to redo the seats and door panels, any advice? I have an in-house upholstery guy at our shop and he can do more than one set!

Marc-

Just received the sample material in from SMS Auto Fabrics. It looks to be
an exact match to the Red material! Will post a side by side comparison ASAP.

Hope someone with a Napal Orange car can send in a patch....#44. This was a very popular color for 75 and 76....

Did you ever get a sample of the red #47? That's the one I want.

The samples are shown below, and having seen a sample first hand, I can tell you
the work is outstanding. SMS got the material correct. The color, weight, and weave are
all true to the original. This is Auto Upholstery material, that even has a
coating applied to the back, just like current production. It is my expectation, that
the colorfastness will be much better than the original, so those bright colors will
last for a long time.

Currently, SMS Auto Fabrics has the # 45 Bright Red and the # 40 Yellow . The
production run of each material was 75 yards, and it takes 2 yards to do the seat
inserts in one 914. While supplies last, Doug has made us a deal for $125 per
yard. I called and placed my order today!

As soon as SMS has sold most or all of the two colors in this initial run, they will
work on the other colors. Based on inquiries so far, it looks like # 81 Grey,
# 47 Burgundy Red, # 42 Green, # 48 Sky Blue, and # 44 Orange, are all up for
consideration. Also, if the demand is strong for # 45 Bright Red and the
# 40 Yellow they will do another production run. SMS will need to see a non-faded
piece of your original material to get the colors correct. The larger the piece the better.

Don't miss this opportunity to get a very high quality reproduction.

To place your order, contact:

Doug Pollock
SMS Auto Fabrics
350 South Redwood St.
Canby, OR 97013
(503) 263-3535
info@smsautofabrics.com


#45 Bright Red
Click to view attachment
#40 Yellow

# 40 - Yellow
Click to view attachment

#48 Ski-Blue