I saw a GTA a few years ago now that had awesome seat covers!

They were GTA seat specific and even had a seperate piece just for the headrest! Perfect for protecting the leather underneath from wear and weather.

I want a set in grey bad, like now!

Where can I get a seat of covers like this? Universal covers are just crap.

Thanks!

 

????

 

Car motorsports used to make repro leather seat covers but I dont see them on the site anymore. I think maybe because they were outrageously expensive they took them off the site. I have dealt with them a few times and they are excelent people to deal with. I too want to get GOOD repro set covers but I cant afford to right now and they are the only ones I have seen that make the correct covers for the notchback. Try calling them and see what they say ........ carmotorsports.com If you could let me know what they say, I dont get the email notifications for some reason

 

I hear what you are saying but I don't think we are on the same page here...

I'm not looking for repro seat covers, I'm looking for an aftermarket cotton seat COVER to protect my leather underneath from both wear and weather. I'm however looking for a "fitted" cover that's just for the Optima seats like that set I saw that even had a seperate fitted piece for the headrest. I also need the same for my rear.

Any ideas?

 

Yes, they are expensive, but they didn't take them off the site. I'd saved a link to that page along time ago, and that link still works.

But I see why you'd say that. The link for 'Leather Interiors' isn't listed in either the left or right margins on the homepage where all the other page-links are shown. But at the bottom of the page where the links to all the pages are shown again, the 'Leather Interiors' link is there.

But regarding the topic, the seat covers you saw were probably custom-made. If you have the money to spend, I'm sure you'd have no trouble finding an upholsterer who'll gladly make you some custom-fit covers out of any fabric you want. So...

Just get some repro medium dark grey pallex cloth(yes, it's available), and take it to an upholstery shop, along with one of your seats, and soon you'll have exactly what you're looking for.

 

I didnt see the bottom of the page with the links. I was still looking for the leather in the side margins like you said, thanks. I will have to go and look again.

 

Where can you get the Correct Pallex material???

Most of the aftermarket seatcover places use a material that they say resembles the OEM stuff, but IMHO, it looks like dirt, its too glossy, and it feels like short rabbit fur instead of cloth.

Classic Industries is wrong, I think Hawks stuff is wrong too , I have yet to find the right stuff...

John

 

This was reproduction Pallex material that I found through an online fabric supplier about a year-and-a-half ago. It was $15/yard. I purchased some other fabric from them, and I talked to them about their repro Pallex. I'd saved the link to their page for the Pallex, which was still good fairly recently. But after checking it again now, the link isn't good anymore(but the company is still there), and I won't have time to phone them until, probably, mid-week next week. If they've discontinued it, maybe they'll still have some in their warehouse.

They'd said they'd always had 'quality control' issues with it... not because of the style of the fabric, which really matched well, but because they got inconsistent color runs. The Medium Dark Grey often came out too greenish-looking. So perhaps they gave it up. When I know more, I'll post.

But I'll guess the material is still available from somewhere, because this company carried many automotive fabrics. And now they show none. So it's more likely that the materials are still being made, but that they just don't handle them anymore.

But two years ago, I had a local upholsterer track down some actual, GM Medium Dark Grey Pallex cloth. It was from "up north" somewhere. So if you've got a local upholsterer that you know, which I'd guess you do, have him look into that for you. That might still be available also... for about $100/yard.

 

I haven't talked to the company yet that I was talking about above, but I did a new websearch, and I found this. www.larrydennis.com It looks good, worth checking-out.

 

LAFireboyd, I am looking into recovering my GTA seats in cloth (not leather) so I am trying to learn about fabric and determine what I want to use. What is this "Pallex" you mention? Is that supposed to be the type of material that was used on those seats? Does Pallex denote the type and pattern of material. The guy I saw yersterday showed me Empress and I think Brandon (which he recomended). They each had a their own pattern and furryness but where avaiable in many colours. The pattern wasn't quite the same as the corderoy look material currently on the seats from GM and was a bit furry for my liking. Is Pallex supposed to be a better match??

thanks for any input,
eddie

 

Yes The name "Pallex" is in reference to the Fabric, It is what they called the the pattern of the cloth material that they used on many Firebirds from 1982-1992.
1982-1987 The Custom and Deluxe (Levels C & D) seats used "Pallex"
1982-1986 the base (level B) seats used a material called Genor
1987 the base (Level B) cloth was called "Ripple."
1988 & 1989 Base (Level B) cloth was "Palex"
1988 & 1989 the Custom & Deluxe (Level C & D) cloth was "Metrix"
1989 They also used a used material called on the Custom seats (Level C) "Shetland", but it was only in the Beechwood color.
1990 - 1992 I think they went to strictly "Pallex" for all cloth seating surfaces on the Firebirds.

As an FYI
Level "B" seats are the base seats in the Firebird.
Level "C" seats usually have the seat back pockets, often called "Custom" seats.
Level "D" seats are the Lear Sigler seats used from 1983 - 1986 and the Ultima seats Standard in the GTA from 1987 - 1992.

Level "A" I believe were the High Back buckets on the Camaro.

Now you know.

John

 

WOW! THanks for the info. So not all the GTA seats were the same then. I don't have leather but just curious how leather fits in to the mix as many GTA seats got that?

Also, so that site LAFireboyd mentions has Pallex listed. Is that supposed to be the genuine GM material that will cost an arm and a leg or a repro of it??

 

All the GTA front seats should be the same, including the TTA in 89. The rear seats are the only place where it varies a little as far as I know. In 88 the Notchback got special rear seats and in 89 the TTA used the same rear seats as the notch. And I am not sure which year they switched but my 91 GTA doesnt have a split rear seat

 

I meant the material as opposed to the design of the seat. It says in his post some gta seats got pallex and some got metrix.

 

Well, just called that larry dennis place and they do not have the pallex anymore, discontinued. Which I guess makes sense seeing as all the aftermarket covers say the original is not available so the covers are close to the original but not exact.

 

oops my fault, I didnt read it right. Sorry

 

No prob I previously didn't know that rear seats were different (other than the split option) so I learned something new anyway.

 

what is the differnce between pallex and metrix cloth I have an 87 gta with black interior and my cloth is different than 88 black. Mine looks like the dimonds or some people call it chicken wire. I need more info please and were can I get material Thanks

 

Good luck on the material... You should have Pallex

87: Firebird Interiors
Base - Ripple
Custom - Pallex
Deluxe (Articulating) - Pallex

88-89
Base - Pallex
Custom - Metrix
Deluxe - Metrix

90-92
All got the Pallex.

I do know that the Pallex was better than the ripple, as far as holding up. Almost all of the 87 Seats I have seen with the ripple have disintegrated. The Pallex has warn, but usually not rotted to the point of simply falling apart. ( I am sure some of it has by now as the material is 25 years old, just going off of my experience)

Not familiar with Metrix.

Also note I did not include Leather in my listing.

John