MTFCA Forum

Has anyone used a leather restore product to bring badly faded seat leather back to black?

Lexol cleaner, then Lexol conditioner.

John iaccino wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:34 am

Lexol cleaner, then Lexol conditioner.

Once re hydrated, I have used kiwi shoe polish as needed to re color. (leather motorcycle seats)

“Griot’s Leather Rejuvenator” is the best on the market. When applied, it makes your leather smell like a new pair of shoes. With it, I have restored an old dried out WWII leather flight jacket, and the dried out tooled leather of an 1812 Bible as well as many other leather projects. Jim Patrick

BarryCogan wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:36 am

Has anyone used a leather restore product to bring badly faded seat leather back to black?

Before you try something you need to identify if its leather or a simulated product. Model T seats were not leather but an oil cloth like product, repro seats may be a Naugahyde or similar type material. Be careful on what you use on car seats, had a friend that used a wax based product, couldn't help sliding around as he drove.
Here are your choices https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+ ... CA4&uact=5

Never put anything on upholstery that can transfer to your clothing.

You put some magical elixir on the upholstery, then you sit on the upholstery, it gets on your clothing, then you go inside the house and sit on the furniture and it transfers from your clothing to the furniture, then your wife yells at you, etc.

Model t open cars had leather upholstery up to 1912. Not sure if the break is at the end of 1912, but close to it. I use mink oil on my 1923 seats. Seams to work. Rear cushion is original. Mink oil is meant for leather.
Ar t Mirtes

About mid-1913 Ford went from all leather to a type of vinyl, on the seat backs. They may have called it "Leatherette" back then.
By late '14 it was all "fake leather", except for the so-called armrest. Not sure when or if that ever changed.

The vasoline looking product will NOT restore the blackness of the leather. I used "Harley Davidson black leather dye" for seats. After you dye the leather and it is dry then use the conditioner. bobt