Author Topic: seat pads  (Read 6176 times)

69280sl

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, IL, Elk Grove
  • Posts: 564
seat pads
« on: December 05, 2011, 03:17:16 »
Does anyone have experience or even opinions on horsehair vs. foam rubber seat and back pads?

Gus
Gus

68 280sl, signal red/ beige/black softtop. Car # 1084

114015

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Tecklenburg
  • Posts: 2075
Re: seat pads
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2011, 19:00:43 »
Hello Gus,

My "knowledge" here is that the Pagoda (W113) never had authentic horsehair back pads but only rubberised foam back (or whatever mix that is) but definitely without real horsehair.

I have seen seat covers from a W111 Coupé however, which had remaining bits of horsehair underneath ...

But not the Pagoda.

Just my 2 cents...

Achim

Achim
(Germany)

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4708
Re: seat pads
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2011, 20:07:35 »
I agree that the later 230SL cushions did not have any horse hair but they were made from a mixture of rubber glue and plant fibers - perhaps sisal or jute - but no foam as far as I can determine.
There were also different suppliers. Those for my 230SL were made/sold by Hauenschild in Hamburg whereas the ones in the 280SL came from a different company.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

114015

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Tecklenburg
  • Posts: 2075
Re: seat pads
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2011, 15:17:36 »
Quote
There were also different suppliers. Those for my 230SL were made/sold by Hauenschild in Hamburg whereas the ones in the 280SL came from a different company.


Yes, Alfred,

That's correct.
And the other one is Fehrer in Kitzingen near Wuerzburg (Germany), which is the still current supplier for the Pagoda's seat pads.

 ;)
Achim
Achim
(Germany)

thelews

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, WI, Mequon
  • Posts: 1936
Re: seat pads
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 16:06:49 »
Actually, it's coconut fiber.  You can read about my 190 SL seat rebuild if you like.  The 113 seats are MUCH easier.

http://forums.190slgroup.com/showthread.php?8534-What-s-in-YOUR-seat!&highlight=seat
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual #1543
1961 190 SL 23K miles
1964 Porsche 356
1970 Porsche 911E
1991 BMW 318is
1966 Jaguar XKE
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

rmmchl

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, WV, Charleston
  • Posts: 470
Re: seat pads
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2011, 04:12:50 »
from what I understand. our govt cracked down on importing  the plant fiber pads because they can harbor bugs that could be introduced to our country that are not indigenous to us. Therefore , the molded fiber pads have become the standard. I bought mine from GAHH. The only problem I had was that they are made for seats with headrests, so they are not real smooth on top of the seat, when the fabric cover is stretched on. The pad has the holes for the headrest rails.  My car  is a 1967 250sl which does not have headrests-------the 230 sl will have this problem also. I think they do sell the smaller, thinner  backs for the early 230sl's
« Last Edit: December 08, 2011, 00:16:38 by rmmchl »
michael romeo           
1967  250sl
signal red

69280sl

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, IL, Elk Grove
  • Posts: 564
Re: seat pads
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2011, 17:15:58 »
John: Your 190sl is gorgeous. What more is there to say.

Gus
Gus

68 280sl, signal red/ beige/black softtop. Car # 1084

thelews

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, WI, Mequon
  • Posts: 1936
Re: seat pads
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2011, 17:45:53 »
Thanks for the compliment.

The purpose of sharing the rebuild was to show the old "horsehair" pad and the new pad.  Also, how at least that type of seat is properly built.  The replacement covers for the seats are from GAHH and I've see excellent GAHH product for the 113 too, including pads.
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual #1543
1961 190 SL 23K miles
1964 Porsche 356
1970 Porsche 911E
1991 BMW 318is
1966 Jaguar XKE
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4708
Re: seat pads
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2011, 21:08:53 »
John,
thanks for sharing this report.
I agree the new GAHH seat and backrest cushions are well done and not that much different from the old OEM cushions. I have bought a set about 6 months ago and they are made from fibers glued together in a slurry of latex just as before. No foam that I can see.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

rmmchl

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, WV, Charleston
  • Posts: 470
Re: seat pads
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2011, 00:13:10 »
you are correct Alfred. The GAHH pads I purchased are a type of fiber. Mine were exactly like that. I purchased mine in June of this year. I never really looked at them closely. I kept thinking they were foam. They are exactly as you described
michael romeo           
1967  250sl
signal red