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Original Seats...?

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by truckee4x4, Aug 18, 2021.

  1. Aug 18, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    I need to make a call on these seats - are they original to my 1966 Tux and worth refurbishing, or are they some 1970s aftermarket junk and I should start over from scratch?

    Passenger seat:
    QKIbxY3fS9CYCEEL14vbaQ_thumb_3181.jpg

    Rear bench
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_3187.jpg
    Driver Seat
    UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_3190.jpg

    Pax and rear UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_3188.jpg
     
  2. Aug 18, 2021
    Puddle Jumper

    Puddle Jumper Rattle Can Master Painter

    Camas, WA
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    Those look to be correct, what do the mounting brackets look like.
     
  3. Aug 18, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Agreed. Those look like originals.
     
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  4. Aug 18, 2021
    Puddle Jumper

    Puddle Jumper Rattle Can Master Painter

    Camas, WA
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    They don't look that bad I would recover them, new seats are pretty hard foam and you sit on the seat rather than in the seat, if I could find some originals I would be super happy. I would find the covers and do it yourself, upholstery work is not really that hard, but so few people do it they charge out the wazoo... (y)
     
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  5. Aug 18, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    Keep and rebuild those original seats!
    -Donny
     
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  6. Aug 18, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Thanks everyone!
     
  7. Aug 20, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Well I went to two places in Reno/Sparks, one guy quoted me $4000 with a mandatory $2,500 deposit (!), so then I found an old timer who does a lot of classic cars and said he could recover them and refresh the foam for way less - around $300 per seat. So I'm thinking of going with him.

    Question is which way should the pleats go to re-create the factory look - are they vertical or horizontal?

    I have pictures in my reference library on “original” or “correctly” restored jeeps that show both ways…
    82E108E7-D4FE-4A31-B29A-32065E6CE789.jpeg

    BF7E7E8B-BC34-483C-926D-381F50867BD5.jpeg

    56E7FDDC-E45D-4F02-828D-9B51DF053C46.jpeg

    6AD85AF6-8034-4889-84E0-E1913EAAC20A.jpeg

    DB3621CF-7B6C-45F1-BD9B-166E28416A19.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2021
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  8. Aug 20, 2021
    Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Northern Minnesota
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    Just an observation--
    The next to the last picture in post #7 above , the red Jeep w/column shift and vertical stitching is, I believe, a tux and my '66 tux 2/3 -1/3 seats have vertical stitching also.
     
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  9. Aug 20, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    The upholsterer said the he was 99% sure the pleats should be vertical in this era like the ones in the pic you pointed out, but I wanted to check with the experts.
     
  10. Aug 20, 2021
    Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Northern Minnesota
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    My only point is the 2/3-1/3 seats on at least some 1966 Tuxedos were vertical. A link to an original promotional brochure for the 1966 Tux with bucket front seats show horizontal seams. Vintage 1966 JEEP "Tuxedo Park Mark IV" Dealer BROCHURE booklet * 4x4 | #1863280225

    Regarding vertical and horizontal, a person could probably pick your favorite and be okay??? My small, small amount of research leans my vote toward horizontal for buckets.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2021
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  11. Aug 21, 2021
    timsresort

    timsresort Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
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    Your bucket looks original. Here is the 60-40 in my '65, (vertical ).
    [​IMG]
    And the buckets in my '67 (horizontal).
    [​IMG]
    Both have been recovered years ago, but followed what was original.
     
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  12. Aug 22, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Fabrics and pleats changed over the years. Likely your best source is the Jeep sales brochure from that year.
     
  13. Aug 22, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    The foam bucket seats ('66-up) had horizontal pleating. The 1/3-2/3 "bench" seat with coil springs (up thru '65) had vertical pleating. I think the 2 piece bench seat with foam cushions used horizontal pleats, but these seats were really rare.
    -Donny
     
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  14. Aug 25, 2021
    gromit

    gromit New Member

    harrisburg, pa
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    I've seen occasional reference to folks using '60's era Mustang seats in an old cj5. Is that really a thing? I may be able to pick up an original pair for about $200. Any comments on if it's a worthwhile pursuit? Thanks
     
  15. Aug 25, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Yup, very similar to the Jeep OE folding buckets.
     
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