Al Knoch source for 67 dark saddle leather seat covers

[Neal K.]

From time to time members seek vendor recommendations for specific parts. I would like to recommend Al Knoch Interiors as a great source for 67 dark saddle leather seat covers. When I began the restoration of my 67 about 4 years ago I ordered dark saddle leather seat covers from Al Knoch after obtaining material swatches from all the usual vendors including Al Knoch. All the swatches appeared to be pretty much the same color and texture. The size of the swatches are small and looke correct me. After installing the covers on my seat frames I began to question the correctness of the color and the texture. They looked more like a solid brown color from a 72 Vette rather than the blotchy dark saddle I was expecting. After considerable research, looking at picture members sent me of their original 67 dark saddle seat covers and looking at many more swatches from vendors I determined that the vendors fiction of what was correct color was had become the acceptable truth for those who just didn't have knowledge of what the original color looked like. I forgot to mention that I had owned my 67 since 1969. I went to my warehouse and dug out the old covers that I had taken off the frames years earlier and reconfirmed my belief that the brown leather covers being offered by all vendors was wrong. I began working with the late Dale Robertson and then Al Knoch himself and then Melanie Furtado at Al Knoch. They located an original seat cover that they had and matched it up with my old cover. The blotchy dark saddle color was confirmed as being the correct color. Finding a tanner that would make the correct cover was time consuming but iI located one last summer and Al Knoch ordered a sample to be made which after I approved of it became the template for the hides that we're tanned to what I believe to be very close to the original blotchy dark saddle leather covers. Yesterday Al's 20 year employee Javier expertly installed the new covers on my frames at the winter meet in Lakeland. I am very happy with the result. I would like to give a big thanks to Al and his team for sticking with me on this project thru dozens of phone calls, pictures and letters. They could have blown me off and insisted that the covers they were selling were correct but instead they owned up to the problem and worked with me to make it right at no cost to me. I tip my hat to Al and his team on this one.
Anyone looking for correct 67 dark saddle leather seat covers should consider these covers and give Al a call.
Neal