I've looked through most of the parts catalogs out there. The upholstery kits for the standard 1/2 ton 1955 2nd series are all solid seats. My seat is covered in a vinyl with "cloth" inserts where the driver and passenger sit. It is very similar to the pictures at www.chevyapache.com/gallery except my seat is black. Someone told me I have a seat cover over the solid. I have not looked under as one thing leads to another. I ordered the solid vinyl upholstery kit a few years back. Should I use the solid or try to locate something similar to what I have? The truck has been in the family since 1956 and very little was done until I restored it starting in 1990. Thanks for any information.
you should go with what you got i do not know of anyone making an original seat cover un less you take it to a upolstry shop.
The seat cover on my truck is the deluxe cab option. It is tu-tone green and has the imitation basket weave pattern on the bench top and inserts in the backrest. No one makes a cover kit in this style in any color. I have seen a kit for a cameo before, but from the illustration mine is different. I found the material I need thanks to Dave Cunningham (www.1955gmc.com)
Has anyone had a seat redone by an upholstery shop that could tell me what a fair price would be? I showed one local guy that has a pretty good reputation a picture of what I wanted the finished product to look like and he said if I brought him the basket weave material he would do all of the rest for $350. I did not get this in writing, but we were also going from a picture and he had not actually seen my seat frame yet. I just want to know if I am in the right price range.
I had my seat redone a couple of years ago and had a combination of vinyl and fabric. The guy did a primo job with the seat and also did my carpeting and headliner for a grand total of $300.00. I saw him a couple of weeks ago and asked him what his price was now to do a friend's '56 and he quoted me $300 If your guy is charging $350 and you are supplying the material yourself, I would try getting some other quotes. Dr Mike
Finally had my seat done. Paid $275. I provided the specialty fabric and they provided all other materials and fabric. Looks just like I wanted, like original.
I killed a calf for my freezer and tanned the hide and that is waht my new seat cover is on my 55, very tough and durable and it looks good , I call it my 1955 chevy King Ranch