Dear members,
My '87 mk1 Espace is in constant use and the most reliable, driver friendly, enjoyable car I have ever owned. Consequently, the seats are now wearing out and Renault are unable to locate a stock of the original fabric. Karl Churchill, Renault's Customer Relations Consultant wrote a very helpful letter explaining the history of the involvement of Renault at the time and suggests that I approach those in the know via this Matra forum for help in locating and acquiring some original material to reupholster the front seats. I would be very grateful if any readers would let me know if such a stock of material, or even ready-made seat covers exists and who I may contact. With thanks, Derryck.
Hello Derryck, I did email you on the 22nd November, after Lennart had forwarded your email to him, to me. I asked you a few questions but so far haven't received any reply. However now I have had the time to check in here, I can see from your photos that you have the original Espace in Stratos Blue (paint code 436) and from the seat style it is the 2000 TSE version. It has the grey interior trim which the brochure calls grey pattern weave upholstery. However, no where does any of the Matra literature give any trim material code.
There would appear to have been four possible trim materials on these early Espace - the GTS had either a Grey or Beige pattern cloth depending on body colour, and the TSE had a Grey or Beige pattern weave, again depending on body colour. (The Meteor Red body colour had the Beige interiors. All others had the Grey interior)
On checking the Dialogys, there are four Renault part numbers for the trim materials - 6025090958, 6025090961, 6025091438 and 6025090512. However I can't tell which number relates to which material as they all have another code - 7A0, 7A5, 5T0 and 5T5 respectively. There is another Renault document (PR101) which might tell us which number or code relates to which material, but unfortunately I don't have that document at this moment.
You would have to go directly to Renault France to try to find if they have any of these materials (by these part numbers) as I'm certain Renault UK would just say they are not available.
Roy