original brocade cloth or not?

[rivstg1]

Want some opinions here please.... I have a '57 Sedan Deville  that needs some recovering of seats....its a factory blue leather and blue cloth combo.... do you think it hurts the value of the car if I don't recover them ( the cloth part) in factory type cloth? The original type material runs about $150/yard....gonna need 4 yards, probably too do it all...finding some other material would cost 1/3rd the cost of the real type stuff.  Would you spend the big bucks or not? fyi I will/can fix/restore the leather portion ( that's my profession). I've seen many for sale and some(caddy's with newer interiors) weren't original...but seemed to sell for a healthy amount

anxious to hear your thoughts

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

That is a decision that only you can make -- depending
to what degree you wish to restore the car.

If you are looking to create a national show winner
and be in contention for a first senior / wreath / crown
at a CLC Grand National  -- then the choice is obvious.
Go for the best reproduction material you can find. 
Hoewver, that also means that all the other areas of
the car have to be restored to the same level -- the paint,
chrome, engine compartment undercarriage, etc.

If this type of restoration is not your goal, then go with
the seat material that you can best afford. 

However, it's best to think this through and decide early
on with a keen eye to you finances which route you are
going to take.  Otherwise, you may risk doing some rework
along the way. If you start out doing a "driver" and decide
midstream to make a "show car" -- you will spend quite a
bit of extra money redoing various items.

Mike

[Caddy Wizard]

Spring for the extra cost of the original cloth.  It will increase the value of the car.  Well, more accurately, putting in the wrong fabric will decrease the value of the car.  Lots of folks won't even give a car with the wrong fabrics a second look.

My first (of 19!) old Cadillac's was a 1955 Series 62 sedan.  It was a low mileage car that was sold new here in Atlanta.  It had the original "V-crest" fabric on the seats.  There was a stain about the size of a baseball on the front seat bottom.  I loved it anyway and drove the car for 12 years, mostly as my daily transportation.  Eventually I sold the car after my daughter scratched the entire right side of my car, after I had put in hundreds of hours stripping the body and doing a masterpiece lacquer paint job.  The guy I sold it to ripped out the original fabrics and installed the cheapest plain leather you ever saw.  He turned an elegant (and original) factory interior into what looked like a taxicab.  His widow later offered to sell the car back to me, but the interior ruined it for me and I refused.

Don't be that guy...

[marty55cdv]

   My first Cadillac was and still is a 55 Coupe Deville, I drove it for a few years with the very worn original fabric, at that time with young children spending the money on original fabric was not an option. When I decided to get the seats redone I searched for something that was very similar in pattern and overall look and feel of the original .  My upholstery lady copied the button pattern and did a great job, that was almost 15 years ago I don't regret my decision one bit
but I just had the car painted and I would like to have the original fabric and leather put in now because of how nice the original stuff was. I also have a 60 Flattop which is a pretty nice original car, now that I can afford the original fabric I went ahead and ordered and paid for it from SMS in OCTOBER 2018. I still don't have the fabric and not sure when I will get it. So keep that in mind.  I don't really care whether the original fabric increases the value since by the time I sell that car I will be in diapers and the value will be the least of my concerns. It was just my preference this time. Unless you want to be judged in Grand Nationals or AACA events I would do what you can afford. I did see a 57 coupe with the original Brocade in it and it was gorgeous.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Spring for the extra cost of the original cloth.  It will increase the value of the car.  Well, more accurately, putting in the wrong fabric will decrease the value of the car.  Lots of folks won't even give a car with the wrong fabrics a second look.

I agree with Art. 

Any time I've been in the market for a car and open an ad and start going through the pictures, if I get to an interior pic with the wrong fabrics/carpet, I hit the back button immediately, and move on to the next one.

If you're concerned with value after the redo, go with original fabrics.  Your car will appeal to a wider audience.  A wider audience = competition.  Competition = more $

[Scot Minesinger]

Definitely spend the money.  The extra $400 to use the correct material will pay for itself in a resale if ever required (keeping your options open).  Plus you will be happier.  The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.  And I could not agree more with other posters, seeing wrong fabric in a car will cause folks to not take a second look.

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

I'm cheap. I will be the first to admit it--A close second to admit it  would be my wife and family.
With that being said, with the cost of the labor will $400 really make a difference? I think you would absolutely kick yourself everytime you got in it. And the next time you or your spouse spend $400 in something not important or foo-foo you would really kick yourself.
Jeff

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Mid-fifties to mid-sixties Cadillacs had some of the most beautiful interiors ever put into production cars.....'57 being among the best. If you go the economical route, you'll be disappointed the moment you're done because you'll know it's not correct. “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”

[Greg Powers]

I have to say I would definitely go with the original fabric. The fabric patterns of the 1950's and 1960"s were  so beautiful and exuded Cadiilac elegance. As others have said, when I'm looking at a Cadillac and I see the interior is not original I just keep on moving to another Cadillac.   

[INTMD8]

Would you spend the big bucks or not?

No question. Yes.

[rivstg1]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and experiences....this is what I wanted....ideas from Cadillac owners!!!