Tom Davies
New member
Thursday 26th May 2016 is a red letter day concerning the restoration of my 1975 911S Targa. I can tick another item off my "to do list”.
In late 2014 I started a quest to try and locate a quantity of the Red Madras (Part No: 999.551.031.40/000) this was specified between 1973-1975 as an option for the seat inserts in the 911.
None of the specialist suppliers/renovators I contacted worldwide had any stock and the vast majority of replies told me that pattern was not available, indeed the long standing re-upholstery experts told me that they had never seen the Red Madras version. The blue and brown versions were still available but not the red.
I then contacted Porsche who were unable to provide any specifications for the fabric or any additional pictures other than those in the Porsche Catalogues so all I had to go on was a sample of the blue and brown Madras fabric and some very limited colour sample pictures (about 2.5cm square) from the Porsche Part/Options catalogues of 1973-75.
I started a project to locate an individual or firm that could re-manufacture the Red for me. In itself this is a long story because in early 2015 a person running a well-known classic car re-upholstery business located in the North West of the USA advised he could make this fabric for me. They were duly contracted. In November 2015, having been previously told the fabric would be ready "late summer” I was told that "they were no longer prepared to make the fabric”.
I reported the company to the US Oregon State version of "Trading Standards” and I managed to get my money back. I am still waiting for this company to return the samples I sent them. I am NOT holding my breath! Terrible customer service.
So last November I had to restart the search, and luckily I found a company in the UK that had started making fabric for classic British cars that were prepared to make it for me.
I should also thank Alan Drayson and Scott McMurdie from Canford Classics (who are restoring my car) for their help, advice and assistance in this process. I am delighted to report that we now have a decent quantity (20 metres) of the Red fabric with plenty to spare, to re-cover the front seats of my car.
I have also had re-manufactured the Blue and Brown versions and if anyone wants to buy any of this and the Red please contact Alan and/or Scott at Canford Classics and they will sell you some. Attached are pictures of the Red Madras. ( I don't appear to upload a picture please PM and I will send you a copy)
As an afternote, the PCGB 2.7 Registrar published in April this year information from The AFN import/delivery records into UK for 1974/75 Carrera and Targa 911 models. I was fascinated to note that for my model year only 6 Targas were imported in 1975. At the time of writing mine is the only 1975 model on the Register. So if anyone knows of any other 1975 models please advise, I would dearly love to locate the other 5 Targas, if they still exist. To assist the chassis numbers will be in the 911531**** series.
In late 2014 I started a quest to try and locate a quantity of the Red Madras (Part No: 999.551.031.40/000) this was specified between 1973-1975 as an option for the seat inserts in the 911.
None of the specialist suppliers/renovators I contacted worldwide had any stock and the vast majority of replies told me that pattern was not available, indeed the long standing re-upholstery experts told me that they had never seen the Red Madras version. The blue and brown versions were still available but not the red.
I then contacted Porsche who were unable to provide any specifications for the fabric or any additional pictures other than those in the Porsche Catalogues so all I had to go on was a sample of the blue and brown Madras fabric and some very limited colour sample pictures (about 2.5cm square) from the Porsche Part/Options catalogues of 1973-75.
I started a project to locate an individual or firm that could re-manufacture the Red for me. In itself this is a long story because in early 2015 a person running a well-known classic car re-upholstery business located in the North West of the USA advised he could make this fabric for me. They were duly contracted. In November 2015, having been previously told the fabric would be ready "late summer” I was told that "they were no longer prepared to make the fabric”.
I reported the company to the US Oregon State version of "Trading Standards” and I managed to get my money back. I am still waiting for this company to return the samples I sent them. I am NOT holding my breath! Terrible customer service.
So last November I had to restart the search, and luckily I found a company in the UK that had started making fabric for classic British cars that were prepared to make it for me.
I should also thank Alan Drayson and Scott McMurdie from Canford Classics (who are restoring my car) for their help, advice and assistance in this process. I am delighted to report that we now have a decent quantity (20 metres) of the Red fabric with plenty to spare, to re-cover the front seats of my car.
I have also had re-manufactured the Blue and Brown versions and if anyone wants to buy any of this and the Red please contact Alan and/or Scott at Canford Classics and they will sell you some. Attached are pictures of the Red Madras. ( I don't appear to upload a picture please PM and I will send you a copy)
As an afternote, the PCGB 2.7 Registrar published in April this year information from The AFN import/delivery records into UK for 1974/75 Carrera and Targa 911 models. I was fascinated to note that for my model year only 6 Targas were imported in 1975. At the time of writing mine is the only 1975 model on the Register. So if anyone knows of any other 1975 models please advise, I would dearly love to locate the other 5 Targas, if they still exist. To assist the chassis numbers will be in the 911531**** series.
