Rear Seats (1968 to 1976)

[2002#3]

In which 2002 years (1968 to 1976) are rear seat bottom/back frames interchangeable functionally and "installationally"?  Same question for fully upholstered frames?

Of course, the upholstery designs and patterns were year-specific, e.g., 1974 rear seat upholstery had flat panels at the shoulder blade level; 1973 rear seat backs did not have the panels. 

 

I am thinking more along the lines of, for example...

• using 1973 frames to build 1974 rear seats (with 1974 upholstery, of course) or 
• installing fully upholstered 1976 seats into a 1973 (if someone wanted to do that for some reason)

Many of the years' frames might be sufficiently similar to be interchangeable...just add year-correct upholstery.  Maybe not.  Dunno.

 

Your thoughts and experience?

 

Thanks,

Larry

[Hodgepodge]

I have a '74 (old style front seats) and '75 (new style front seats) and swapped the upholstered rears between the two with no issues.  So 74-76 are the same, at least. 

[2002#3]

Good info, Hodgepodge.  Thank you.

Larry

[Conserv]

Seat Bottoms

The primary change had to do with the implementation of retracting rear seat belts. This required additional space at the outboard corners of the seat bottom. When did that happen? Not certain. Maybe just before January 1, 1972 (that’s when retracting front seat belts went into U.S.-spec cars). The square taillight cars also got a little “tang” protruding downward from the leading edge of the seat bottom, designed to capture  a bolt to hold the seat bottom in place.

 

Seat Backs

The seat backs got a bit more “bucket” to them, perhaps with the April 1971 Modell 71, and again with the 1975-76 seats — or did it happen in 1974? I seem to recall that the period bulletins Jim Gerock was reviewing made some mention of the enhanced seat back shaping.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Conserv

[LarsAlpina]

Didn't precisely measure yet and infos are not US but EURO spec. But for what I've seen over here in Germany, there have been three types of backseats concerning the framework (besides touring, targa and Vollcabrio).

 

Early up to about 1970 or 71. Quite box-stylish. And missing a kink in the rear corners of the bottom part the later ones have.

 

 

Next type got more "bucket-like" (as Steve said) mainly or exclusively on the backrest (plus mentioned kinks in the bottom part). FWIT came along with first facelift and was meant to create some more leg space for the rear passengers as that was always a point of criticism in the tests of the early models (didn't help too much though).

 

 

Last type got this "tang" on the bottom part Steve has already mentioned.

 

 

Plus for the "Lux" option in the squared backlights cars there was a special backrest with a center armrest.

 

 

As far as I've tested it, all rear seats fit in all cars. Just if latest type is to put in earlier cars the "tang" has to be cut off.

 

Best regards, Lars.

[2002#3]

Steve and Lars,

Thank you for the useful history, detailed info, and photos.  Such will improve the quality of our collective 2002 wisdom.

The info will help me as I build some new seats.

Larry

[Mike Self]

At least through the '69 US model year, the rear seat back was flat, not dished on both sides like the later ones.  However, a good upholstery shop can tweak a later cover to fit the flat back and make it look right...

 

mike

[BarrettN]

Is there any demand for the original fabric covered seats if they're in rough condition? My 76 parts car (hereafter referred to as "tetanus") has these rear seats. They are beyond rough, I won't post pics of them unless I clean them up, I'd be afraid someone might gouge their eyes out after seeing them the way they are. THEY ARE THE SAME STYLE SEATS AS THESE BELOW BUT THEY ARE NOT THESE SEATS. 

Edited March 21, 2019 by BarrettN