Seat Upholstery Replacement with Vinyl (Classic Range Rover)

Introduction
Why Replace with Vinyl?
Colors and Materials
Removing the Old Upholstery
Ordering Information
Related Info

Introduction

Many Classic Range Rovers are now getting to the age where the seats are looking pretty worn and tatty. Some can even be ripped and torn. Conventional replacement options are extremely expensive if you can even find them (if you can, please email me). Never fear -- Mark Pasieka from Arizona comes to the rescue with a report that his his wife makes high quality replacement vinyl seat membranes for the Classic Range Rover seats. Details of the Pasieka's vinyl replacements, including how to remove your old upholstery, appear below.

Why Replace with Vinyl?

Mark reports that the first thing he wanted to do when he inherited is father’s Rover was replace the seats. After about 20 listings on eBay ending in seats that would have cost him $500 or more after shipping, Mark gave up looking for them.

One day when he was trying to find a valve tick in the engine (actually it turned out to be a cracked exaust manifold) his wife suggested "Why don't you have me re-upholster your seats while the engine is disassembled and the car is unusable?" At first Mark was skeptical but the finished result was so good that the Pasiekas are now making their seat upholstery replacements available to other Range Rover Owners.  The vinyl material is not only far less expensive than leather, it is good looking and hard wearing, and is also easier to keep clean. Replacing the upholstery is not all that difficult, and shipping of just the membrane sure beats the cost of shipping a whole seat!  And, as Mark points out, these replacements are proudly MADE IN THE USA!!


Colors and Materials

The Pasiekas take the vinyl you want them to buy (they buy from JoAnns fabrics -- just go to your local store and tell the Pasiekas which color and durability you want them to use). Some have different patterns and textures -- matching to your existing color needs a skilful eye! Then from the patterns she created from their own old seats, Mark's wife sews new seat membranes that fit the Range Rover Classic seats. If your Rover has a different pattern, let her know and you may be able to send your old upholstery to her to make new patterns from.


Removing the Old Upholstery

Mark reports that it took less than an hour to remover the old membranes and 2 hours (including time for the consumption of a few beers!) to install the new ones. You can use wire cutters for the pig nose staples when removing the old seat membrane, and a flat screw driver to pull back tabs holding the membrane on the lower part of the seat. A firm grip is needed for the head rest membrane, and maybe a flathead to pry the plastic apart. A rubber mallet is helpful for knocking the plastic headrest guides out, and a Philips screwdriver for the 2 seat control screws and 5 screws of the back of the seat cover (2 are hidden under the material).

The armrests (believe it or not) are just staple gunned into a 5 layer pielce of plywood... you can remove the staples with a flathead screwdriver ofr needlenose pliers. If all you need is just to replace an armrest thats EASY TO DO... and cheap!

If you order a new set of upholstery from the Pasiekas they will send you more detailed instructions to walk you through the removal and replacement procedure.


Ordering Information

The Pasiekas have only recently begun making this service available to other owners, so currently the cost is on a case by case basis, depending on the materials you prefer and how fast you need it. "Select an easy to sew material and give us as much time as we need, and the cost will be less!." If you are intereted in finding out more, email the Pasieks for quotes and more detailed information.