Elan S3 seat cover source (proper fitting and materials)

[lotustastic]

Hello,

For those who are looking for a great source for replacement S3 seat covers (without headrests), I highly recommend Paul West (westtotnes at hotmail.com. I am just a happy customer. I am based in the U.S. and searched for quite a while to find replacement covers that used proper basket weave and vinyl. He is based in Devon, UK and is great to deal with. He is very reasonably priced for his work as I purchased a set of seat covers for around 300 GBP. There are no instructions, but It was not too difficult once you start assembling and he provided cut lines where the covers are to be fit near seams. My work is not perfect but as I just fitted my passenger seat, I am very pleased with the quality and look especially given that my upholstery skills are amateur and this is my first go at it.

Thanks,

David D.

[gherlt]

Hello
for all who want to contact him, you have to use this email westward380 hotmail co uk or phone him at (+44) 07876471754

Regards

Guillermo

[pharriso]

I have used Paul to make some custom Door panels (with correct Buffalo vinyl), great guy!! Honest, lives up to his commitments & very very good prices.

The only thing I would say against Paul is that he cannot do welded seams in the basket weave, he has to stitch them.

[mark030358]

Hi. All
Was Buffalo vinyl fitted on all elans?
Thanks

[Mazzini]

Hi. All
Was Buffalo vinyl fitted on all elans?
Thanks

Just S4's and Sprints, but I stand to be corrected.

[pharriso]

Hi. All
Was Buffalo vinyl fitted on all elans?
Thanks

Just S4's and Sprints, but I stand to be corrected.

Well this is typically Lotus...

Certainly all late S4's & Sprints have "Buffalo" vinyl, but Richard Hawkins sent me a sample of vinyl from his 1968 S3 FHC & it is the same. I have seen plenty of earlier (68/69) S4s with regular vinyl so Lotus oscillated between the two & later completely changed over to the Buffalo.

BTW Here is a photo of a large section of Buffalo vinyl:

This piece is about 12" across...

what makes it unique is the relatively coarse grain & the that the grain size varies from very small to large