Spoke with a long-time friend with a VTCA Senior '60 SR in KC tonight (it's the red '60 in "Thunderbird 50 Years" and also pictured in VTCI's '58-'60 OFS manual) about a problem he's having with new leather seat covers from Thunderbird Headquarters, and I want to get others' input for him. He got a set of leather covers and foam for his car - upholstery shop attempted to fit front seat back covers and found out that the material between the insert and the edge of the seat back is not uniform in width on both of them. When the cover is pulled over the seat the seam at the edge of the seat back is 3/4" lower on one side, meaning the seam at the edge of the cushion does not follow the frame/cushion properly, with all other positioning for the bottom of the cushion and insert being centered on the cushion. In looking at pictures it's hard to tell if the surround/"Horseshoe" is incorrect or if the insert is not positioned properly. (Pictures are posted in a photo album at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/squarebirds in the folder Mis-fitting '60 Leather Covers (or something to that effect.)

They called Mike at TBHQ and his response was that the right and left front seat backs are different, and that he probably needed the other side's cover for a matching set. In looking through my copy of the '60 Soft Trim Catalog there is no distinction between a LH and RH front seat back cover. From pictures he sent it looks like the "horseshoe" (for lack of a better phrase) is shorter on one side than the other - in short it doesn't look right!

Questions to all:
1. Those with leather seats, esp. originals, what is the measurement from the seam at the edge of the seat frame/cushion to the seat insert at the sides, upper corners and upper middle? And what is the measurement between the seams for the panel that forms the side/top of the cover at the seat hinge/bottom, upper corners and top center?
2. Those who have gotten replacement leather covers from TBHQ - have you also had this problem, and how did TBHQ resolve it?