Hi guys! My '57 Chevy is missing its seat. A quick walk of the swap meet or scan of craigslist turns up bare seats selling for $500 on up. Too rich for my blood. I don't want buckets... and I don't want a modern Chevy C1500 seat... I want a bench that I can cover that looks old. So, what are you using? 60's, 70's or 80's GM, Ford or Mopar seats? Out of what? Yank the head rests off, get them reupholstered and sit your happy-ass down. Pics welcome! Sam
I measured up a '74 Monte Carlo a few years ago, and a '56 Chev. Seat width was almost identical. I did not check track mounting locations - but that should be no big deal.
$500 for a bare frame '57 split seat is a steal! Please, I beg you, don't use anything from the 70's on up. It will look like shit, I promise. I had a '56 Olds seat in one once and it looked perfect. Got a '55 Pontiac one to go in my dad's 56 210, also fits very nice. I personally would shop around for a seat out of another mid to late 50's car. $100-$200 aught to buy you something workable.
I have a 68 Malibu bench in my 55. It's really plain, folds, and enexpensive. Once I get to the reupholstery part of the build ill try and make it look a little more period correct. Fits perfect width wise.
When I was a youngster I worked in a large junkyard. The boss was a thrifty German dude to put it mildly. However he would give me parts to off set the incredibly low pay! Worked for me!A 68 Baracuda came in that was totaled in the front. He gave me the black naugahyde split bench seat. It was really nice. However it was about 4 inches to narrow for my 55 Chevy two door sedan. No problem, I just off set it to the drivers side. My buddies would bitch about sliding off the edge on the passenger side, but I was guite comfortable! One day someone came in looking for just such a seat. The German dude said to come back the next day and he would have one! He had me pull the seat out of my 55 and make it available for his cutomer. He then gave me a set 64 Chevy SS black buckets. When I told him I would prefer a bench seat because my girlfriend did not like buckets, he said oh hell no! your getting buckets! I forgot my girlfriend was his brothers daughter! Man life was simple and fun then!
55-57 Pontiac seats are the same as 55-57 Chevrolet seats except for some minor differences in the seat covers and trim. I had a 57' Poncho seat in my 55 chevy.
maybe a 49-54 chevy seat will work. alot cheaper.. but then again, all vintage seating has gotten expensive.
I had one of these too and it's a decent looking seat if you get the one that doesn't have the center armrest, that would still look period-nice. Usually pretty cheap too, Chevelle guys all want buckets and console. There's a 64 Dart seat in my '57 right now but it's a bit too narrow to look really "right", I got a lucky score on a correct '57 seat that's waiting to be installed. I've got an extra 49-54 split bench I'd sell you if we weren't so far away. The first thing I did when I got my '52 Ford was toss the 80's velour power seats in the dumpster and replace it with an original split bench that I recovered in pleated vinyl. The right seat makes a world of difference.
I am using a split bench from a 78 Oldsmobile delta 88. I modified a stock glider to mount in factory holes on outside. It is full electric. When I do my interior I will tuck and roll it and give it a old school look. I get a lot of comments about them at shows. And they are ripped right now. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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