Pigmented leather interiors are fashioned from natural rather than dyed hides. Pigmented leather is also referred to as protected or coated leather. If it appears to be suede leather, it’s likely faux suede, a synthetic alternative. Your leather upholstery will either be pigmented, semi-aniline, or aniline. You’ll want to match the cleaning mode with the type of leather in your vehicle. If you have a leather interior in your vehicle, it’s important to know how to clean it. Regular applications of a quality leather conditioner keep the material soft and supple. Aging leather also tends to stretch near seams and around folds. It is important to apply a conditioner to restore leather’s natural oils. As leather surfaces age, microscopic cracks often appear. While a neutral pH is 7, the oil secreted by human sebaceous glands is quite acidic, with a pH of 5.5.Ĭracking and stretching are other challenges. Over time, unprotected leather is vulnerable to abrasions and scratching. As you move in and out of your vehicle, sharp-edged particulates get dragged along. Think sandpaper, and then think about your beautiful leather seats. Heavy discoloration often follows.Ībrasion is another problem. At the same time, contaminants work their way into neglected leather. Car leathers tend to lose their natural oils over time. It is smart to maintain the leather surfaces to protect your investment as well. Your vehicle’s cabin is deserving of some TLC, even if it is not upholstered with that mythical material. He cheerfully confessed that the term actually referred to nothing at all! Leather Interiors: Challenges One day, Montalban appeared on the David Letterman Show. In the mid-1970s, actor Ricardo Montalban appeared in a series of now-iconic TV commercials. In a distinctive baritone voice, he hailed the virtues of the rich “ Corinthian Leather” found in the Chrysler Cordoba. There are many kinds of automotive leather, both real and imagined. The look and feel remain superior to common cloth and vinyl alternatives. Today’s leather interiors are far different, but one thing remains the same. They treated their car seats much like the horse saddles of the day. Owners experimented with various oils and greases to protect these leathers. Of course, manufacturers upholstered many early vehicles with a simpler option: vegetable-tanned cow leather. One classic example was the 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé Superprofilée and its ostrich leather interior. Automakers have long used distinctive leatherwork to distinguish their creations from the competition.

Automotive leather hides