Re: Rusty Nuts and Bolts

Posted by BH On 2011/1/2 14:27:32

Since I've never pursued recoloring the leather in any of my cars, I'm not sure about using Eastwood's interior paint for that. Though billed for "vinyl, leather, and plastic automotive interior and vinyl tops" (even carpet), I see that they also recommend the use of an "adhesion promoter", which I'd bet is geared to vinyl and other plastics.

While many trim shops here in the US offer spray-on dye services for leather interiors, they seem to specialize in reconditioning late-model used cars for remarketing. I don't know what they use, but suspect it's probably something like what Eastwood offers (but in bulk), as I've seen where the entire seat cover was sprayed, in some cases. Yet, the only place you'll find leather on the seats in vehicles of more recent years was directly under your butt and behind your back (the rest was vinyl).

The thing to keep in mind is that today's automotive leathers are NOT finished the same as those used in your Packard and other cars of that time.

I first became aware of this difference, back in the 1980s, with the acquisition of a Packard parts car - a '56 Four Hundred. The dried-out, sun-faded leather on its seats had a great expanse of swirling cracks running over the surface - something I'd never seen in leather of any other junkyard vehicle of more recent production. The condition reminded me of deteriorated nitrocellulose lacquer exterior paint.

After a little research, I found out that leather in the post-WWII era was actually top-coated in nitrocellulose lacquer, which allowed for a greater variety of colors than vat-dyeing, but with a flex agent added to keep the finish from being stiff/brittle. As such, those old leathers required frequent cleaning with saddle soap, Murphy's Oil Soap, or even Ivory bar soap, followed by application of a conditioner.

However, I learned that the use of lacquer top-coats later gave way to resin-based dyes in production. As such, I suspect that these modern interior paints are formulated with the latter in mind. My gut feeling is that you might not get good, long-lasting results from application of that Eastwood product over lacquered leather.

So, I can only suggest that you check with local trim shops in your country that deal with Rolls, M-B, and other similar marques of the same period as your car, to see what they recommend.

In the event that you need to have new covers sewn, know that modern leathers can be had in an incredible variety of colors - if you're willing to shop around.