Seat pads and trim recommendations please

Hey all,
I have had my SIII for a while now and the intention is to do a full body off restoration but I have a couple of other projects to finish up first so I'm going to put it back on the road.

To make my drive a little more pleasant I'm going to do a cleanup of my interior. I have deluxe seats and both the driver and lhs passenger base and backs are tatty. It looks like most people just buy complete units rather than retrim.

Britpart look to be around £40. The exmoor version is £57 but looks to be much better quality with double stitching and a less shiney finish.

Also, I am well sick of belting my elbow off the sharp edge of the door and want to fit something with a bit of padding. Exmoor door cards are pretty darned expensive. Can't seem to find alternatives?

Finally, I'd like to fit some rubber mats in the footwells. The Autograph ones look OK and I like that they go up the slope/behind the pedals. Any comments on fit or better alternatives? The Exmoor mats look like they only do the horizontal floor.

Thanks all,

Al.

Anyone tried these? Might look a bit modern in a '75?

https://www.mudstuff.co.uk/products/half-door-trim

Al.

My station wagon had door trims but they were tatty so I got some hardboard and thick vinyl and made my own. They look much better than the original, I'm pretty crack handed but they turned out OK. I put some dense, closed cell foam behind the cards to help with soundproofing. I bought my footwell rubber mats off eBay but they hold water when the rain gets in so I'm in two minds about them.

Col

Flat 6 said:

Britpart look to be around £40. The exmoor version is £57 but looks to be much better quality with double stitching and a less shiney finish.

Click to expand...

I would go with the exmoor trim, I replaced my drivers base (britpart) with an exmoor unit and the difference in foam comfort was huge. I am not going to go so far as to say it is now comfortable but it took it from sitting on a pile of bricks to sitting on a church pew levels of comfort. For the price I would also just buy a complete unit, but I can confirm these is no difference, or at least not enough to be obvious in the finish colours/shine if you did want to mix and match because the passenger is not important and should feel privileged enough with the honour of being allowed to ride in the vehicle without having a comfy seat as well.

Colthebrummie said:

My station wagon had door trims but they were tatty so I got some hardboard and thick vinyl and made my own. They look much better than the original, I'm pretty crack handed but they turned out OK. I put some dense, closed cell foam behind the cards to help with soundproofing. I bought my footwell rubber mats off eBay but they hold water when the rain gets in so I'm in two minds about them.

Click to expand...

Flat 6 said:

Also, I am well sick of belting my elbow off the sharp edge of the door and want to fit something with a bit of padding. Exmoor door cards are pretty darned expensive. Can't seem to find alternatives?

Click to expand...

Mine originally came with some fabric covered hardboard door cards which were attached to the fame with self tappers, and the first set of second hand series doors I fitted to my 110 came with something similar. Not sure if home made or bought back when they were current vehicles. I removed them as they got damp and took up space (it is surprising how much extra room having the door frame open gives you). I am also going to suggest, and please don't take it personally, that if you keep banging you elbow then it is you driving style that is the problem rather than the interior design. You have not yet adopted one of the two the land rover approved driving positions to avoid the problem:

1. Position 1 is with the window open and your elbow resting nicely one the window ledge, this give lots of room and nothing to bang you elbow on, clothing worn is then weather dependent.
2. Position 2 is to be employed when you are driving in arctic conditions and position 1 is no longer viable because the inside of the windscreen begins to freeze with the window open. This is then window closed with elbows tucked in against you sides at all times, you very quickly adjust to this position and even slow speed maneuvering is possible without power steering and an elbow still glues to your rib cage.

Like it!

I believe Paddocks sell a sort of straight jacket that 'trains' your elbows to stay glued to your rib cage in all circumstances...but one reviewer has complained that he can't reach the touch screen controls on his dashboard. A modern Defender driver I suspect...

I will buy the Exmoor seats but persevere with the doors for the mo!

Happy New Year!
Al.

I hope your not in a hurry for your Exmoor seats I ordered some six weeks delivery at six weeks they sent a message another two weeks two days later that was changed to another six weeks . Requested and got a full refund.