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Leather Seat Covers For '70 'Cuda Question

Started by 70_440-6Cuda, April 18, 2025, 08:41:34 AM

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70_440-6Cuda

Hey all, since someone posted the sale for PG Classics, I was poking around looking for leather seat covers for my '70 'Cuda - it was optioned with leather seats and overhead console.  Before I knew that I had purchased the vinyl covers from PG.

PG doesn't offer leather, when I headed over to Legendary, they were also having an Easter sale so I thought "perfect!"....except they do not list anything for a '70 'Cuda when you filter.  I had to select "Barracuda" in the filter, and then everything came up.

Question is, is the Gran Coupe style seat cover correct for my car if it was optioned with leather?  I never really thought about whether or not the pattern style would be different from vinyl - picture attached of the leather option offered by Legendary
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy horsepower and that's kind of the same thing.....

JH27N0B

I'm pretty sure the leather seats are the same regardless of whether or not it's a gran coupe.  I vaguely remember gran coupes do have a unique seat cover option, but I think that's a cloth insert style.
You can compare to the leather seats in this 70 cuda ad.  My 71 Challenger has this style too as the leather seats in Challengers were the same for the first part of the model year, until sometime in December of 70 is my recollection.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-plymouth-cuda-71/

Skdmark

70 Plymouth e-body interior selector.
Pages 5 and 6 are the shared trim line leather interior.
https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/dealerships/1970ColorAndTrimPlymouth-01.shtml

@JH27N0B Gran Coupe had a cloth/vinyl with a "P5" prefix and a deluxe vinyl interior with a "P6" prefix besides the shared leather "PR" prefix
https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/OrderingInformation/1970/plymouth/P17%201970%20P%20Code%20List%20-%20color%20combinations%20(2).jpg
You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.
-Harlan Ellison

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cudaragtop

I love the look of the leather seat covers, and leather is definitely better to sit on than the old vinyl, but... the seat foam and shape of the vinyl seat is more comfortable and gives better lateral support than the leather because your butt sits lower in the well of the vinyl seats, and with the little bit of bolster on the sides. That little bit helps. I find the Cuda leather seats to be similar in comfort to 70 Challenger vinyl seats, kind of like sitting on top of a ball... I had extra foam added to the sides of the seat cushions, it helps a little but to me the vinyl seat shape is more comfortable and a bit mor supportive for driving. Just my 2¢ fwiw.
I think Gen 3 Viper seats would be my choice if I ever changed front seats again.

- Randy D. 1970 'Cuda 340 4-Speed Convertible
69 Barracuda G3 Hemi/8HP70 Resto-Mod Project Album: https://goo.gl/photos/XjsAsx4LDo7psimU8

70_440-6Cuda

Interesting, @Skdmark thanks for the reference - looks like that is what I need - Anyone have any experience with PG Classics vs. Legendary seat foams?

I already have the PG Classic foam, dont really want to buy another set
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy horsepower and that's kind of the same thing.....

JH27N0B

Quote from: cudaragtop on April 18, 2025, 12:06:36 PMI love the look of the leather seat covers, and leather is definitely better to sit on than the old vinyl, but... the seat foam and shape of the vinyl seat is more comfortable and gives better lateral support than the leather because your butt sits lower in the well of the vinyl seats, and with the little bit of bolster on the sides. That little bit helps. I find the Cuda leather seats to be similar in comfort to 70 Challenger vinyl seats, kind of like sitting on top of a ball... I had extra foam added to the sides of the seat cushions, it helps a little but to me the vinyl seat shape is more comfortable and a bit mor supportive for driving. Just my 2¢ fwiw.
I think Gen 3 Viper seats would be my choice if I ever changed front seats again.
I'm thinking when it comes to seats, there isn't necessarily a one size fits all as far as comfort and some of it depends on the individual's height and weight.
I have a '70 Challenger with vinyl seats and 4 speed I've had forever.  I'm tall and the car has never been that comfortable to drive imo.  I bang my left knee on the steering wheel when shifting for example.
In 2010 I bought my 71 with leather seats and 4 speed, and then thought WTH was I thinking, this car will be uncomfortable to drive! (Bought at an auction, no opportunity to test drive).
Lo and behold it was fairly comfortable to drive!  I don't bang my knee on the wheel either.
Other than the leather seats there isn't any difference between the two cars cockpits.
I have a 70 challenger convertible with vinyl seats and automatic and it's comfortable.
It has a 6 way seat though, so the seat position is different than my other 70.
So I can't make a blanket statement on Challenger seat options based on my 3 cars.
Though compared to modern seats, the seats in vintage cars rarely can hold a candle.  I doubt I could spend even 2 hours in a vintage Challenger without a break, my 09 Challenger R/T I had, and now my Scat Pack, I can sit in their seats 8 hours and still feel I could drive another 8!

70_440-6Cuda

I am not too worried about the comfort level, just don't want to end up with the Legendary seat covers not fitting snug on the PG Classics foam.  For whatever reason I assumed the leather option would be the same pattern as vinyl so when I went to order the leather was surprised to realize it is the Gran Coupe pattern.

Always learning something new - originally I was just going to use the vinyl, but having the broadcast sheet I want to do it right
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy horsepower and that's kind of the same thing.....


LS1K5

Quote from: 70_440-6Cuda on April 18, 2025, 12:43:26 PMI am not too worried about the comfort level, just don't want to end up with the Legendary seat covers not fitting snug on the PG Classics foam.  For whatever reason I assumed the leather option would be the same pattern as vinyl so when I went to order the leather was surprised to realize it is the Gran Coupe pattern.

Always learning something new - originally I was just going to use the vinyl, but having the broadcast sheet I want to do it right
I have a 71 Gran Coupe and got the legendary leather seat covers AA70CBL0010100 or ME711100 but was able to use my original foam so they fit great, I think you have to do some foam trimming no matter which aftermarket foam you get. It's still took quite a bit of stretching to get the covers on, my seats look identical to the picture you posted.

jlemler

I too have a Cuda with the Gran Coupe options (as I call them).  Overhead console, woodgrain inlay on the interior doors and backseat panels, black leather seats, and fiberboard headliner.  I replaced with a fiberglass one with the material already on it.

The only other thing I could offer is if it had houndstooth inserts on the cloth front seats it will have red inlays on the door.

70_440-6Cuda

OK, this brings up an interesting question - maybe asked and answered but here it goes - I did not find a definitive answer in my search

So my car is built June of '70, is BS23V0H, and has PRX9 trim code: Premium Trim, Leather buckets in black.

Would the door panels be Gran Coupe style with wood trim insert, or just standard?  1 of the panels looks original, and does not have wood trim.
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy horsepower and that's kind of the same thing.....

Mr Cuda

If it has leather, it has door panel inserts. Wood, as houndstooth got red to match the seat piping.


jlemler

The PRX9 code means the black leather seats. It will also trigger woodgrain inlays in the doors and backseat panels, a hardboard headliner with overhead console. Cloth seats with houndstooth and salt and pepper inserts on them will be the same as above; however, the door inlays will be red.  I have never seen pictures of these options in a car.  I would like to see them though.

70_440-6Cuda

Quote from: Mr Cuda on April 30, 2025, 04:49:30 PMIf it has leather, it has door panel inserts. Wood, as houndstooth got red to match the seat piping.

I did some searching and found another thread claiming some cars with leather had the wood inserts and some didn't depending on production dates and assembly line inconsistencies.  Interesting to note, I will cross that bridge when I get to it, but the wood insert is likely correct
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy horsepower and that's kind of the same thing.....

jlemler

Quote from: 70_440-6Cuda on May 02, 2025, 08:45:52 PM
Quote from: Mr Cuda on April 30, 2025, 04:49:30 PMIf it has leather, it has door panel inserts. Wood, as houndstooth got red to match the seat piping.

I did some searching and found another thread claiming some cars with leather had the wood inserts and some didn't, depending on production dates and assembly line inconsistencies.  Interesting to note, I will cross that bridge when I get to it, but the wood insert is likely correct

Interesting. I never heard that, but at Chrysler in the 1970s, anything was possible. I have heard of people using off-the-shelf woodgrain trim and making a reasonable replacement.  Good luck