The Leather Dilemma

I was under the impression that the cars that came out with real leather interior (versus the "MB Tex" vinyl) had seats with perforated panels, like the more modern Mercedes cars. This car, however, has a real blue leather interior that uses solid panels. It is, however, the original interior, and research has led me to believe that other people have seen this configuration as well.

This is the donor car before disassembly:


The seats (made of the most incredibly-thick blue leather) only show typical wear. The leather is not torn or punctured anywhere, but there are two challenges:

• In places (such as the top of the rear seat) the leather has completely hardened from the sun, like carboard.
• The stitching that holds the panels together is completely brittle, and breaks even if you sit on it.

A local leather trimmer said that he "can't restore the seats, but he has some great imitation-leather to sell me" but from what I've seen that other people have restored, I am adamant that it can be done, and, furthermore, that we will do this ourselves (what's life without a challenge).

With careful disassembly, softening (re-humidifying) of the leather (likely using instructions I found in a very informative document produced for the Australian museum society), and hand-stitching them through the original stitching holes, I believe we will turn this interior into a beautiful one, without losing the charm of the original materials. This will be done after we refinish the wood, and I will document this in detail (hopefully helping somebody going through the same dilemma).