Rex; What I would have them do is leave the piping out but put a indented line either through quilting or hidden stitch in it's place. This won't dig into your back but will leave your seat with a similar visual look that most people will think was a trim variation. The seam should also not come apart unless the fabric rots or they use cheap thread as there is nothing mechanically there to help tear it apart. Is this a vertical or horizontal strip of piping? Best Regards Arran Foster 1954 Imperial Newport Needing A Left Side Tailight Bezel and other trim parts. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rex Crews" <rexcrews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 8:29 AM Subject: IML: Front Seat Upholstery in 1961 Custom Hello, All, I am redoing the front seat on my '61 Custom with n.o.s. materials, but a question has come up. For some reason there is a seam in the very middle of the driver's back rest. This welted seam is very uncomfortable to the back and is also where the original upholstery came apart. Is there any compelling reason to put this welted seam back in? None of the other seat back have the seam, although it is absolutely a factory thing. I am just afraid the n.o.s. material may be prone to splitting at this spot, so I would like to have a smooth seat back in the fabric covered area. Can anyone speak to this? Thanks, Rex Crews '59 and '60 Crowns and '61 Custom