Technical Period-Looking Bucket Seats...Options?

Requesting ideas for period-looking (late-40's to early '50's) bucket seats for a Model A sedan that won't break the bank.

I'm aware of the minivan middle row bench seats, but would rather fins a pair of SIMPLE buckets that look the part.

What do you have in yours? Where do I start looking, and what for?

 

Seems like I remember a few little book cars with British buckets in early cars, but they might be small for an A.

 

Mine are out of an MG Midget, so maybe a little new for your era.

I also have a pair of original Model A buckets I'd like to get rid of @brett4christ .

 

Buy new ones from the Cobra kitcar market.

 

I've got these in my vicky...make getting in the back seat a breeze... not sure they are og but they fold up and tilt forward.. not bad to sit in...

 

Something like these? But they're not so "budget" friendly.

 

I am also going to suggest seats from an import car like an Anglia, Austin or VW. Early Econolines and other vintage vans had simple low back driver's seats that could work.

Most later model buckets from pony cars etc. look too squished together for my tastes so I'd avoid seats newer than the 60's.
I personally prefer a bench seat in smaller cars.

 

I put these in 2 of my RPU's they are jeep wrangler seats... 360 a set new...I've bought black and tan... might be other colors... they want more than both seats just to cover one at trim shops..

 

kinda bomber looking???

 

Corvair

 

Smittybuilt come to mind, cheap, but you get what you pay for. Corbeau Baja low back are nice but pricey, same thing though, you get what you pay for.

 

Stock A Tudor sedan seats are period-correct, they won't break the bank, they bolt in, and they tilt and fold forward for back seat access.

 

Boat seats

 

Morris minor buckets are small and tilt forward also.

 

Austin Healey

 

NAILED IT!!!
Those look fantastic.

 

Really like the Austin Healey seats, but I need seat backs that tilt forward.

I have some Sprite seats, but a rebuild would be $1000+.

Corvair would be too wide, I think.

Summit has a pair of Procar seats for $600 that are simple, but they look new and don’t match the patina of my sedan.

Model A seats (ie @D-Russ ) may work out if I can find the cushions and covers.

Still looking though….

 

@brett4christ Healey seat backs DO tilt forward, but do not latch upright. I had a 64.
The pivot point is at the chromed bolt right above the door sill in the pic.

 

I had saved these as a possibility if I wasn't going to re-use my A tudor buckets: https://www.ultrashieldrace.com/catalog/seats-hot-rod-cobra-bucket/

 

I have a pair of '53 MG seats to replace the 93 Grand Am seats in my 34 now. Can't wait to get them recovered.

 

60’s mustang are plain enough and can work, especially if you can find some black ones as the stitch pattern does a better job of hiding.
Pics are just for visual.




May need to trim some side material/foam from the sides near the front.

 

Hello,

We had a pair of adjustable bucket seats out of a foreign car that we found in one of the scrapyards near our old Westside of Long Beach house in 1959-60 time period. Those old yards had tons of sporty car adjustable seats. It may have been due to accident prone small sports cars that got in collisions a lot.

The low sporty cars were just picking up favor with young 20-30 folks and service men locally. Low, comfortable, in a convertible sporty car models and the advertisers always used blond long hair girls driving those cars in the open roads with palm trees lining the streets of So Cal.

As far as bucket seats go for sedans, one has to have folding seats if you have a two door. Plus, they are handy and comfortable. No one had fixed seats from the factory bucket seats as access to the rear was not good and they were usually too large. Fixed bomber seats are a fad and so uncomfortable with the “L” shape style and no amount of padding will fix that. And, one has to have a lift to lean it forward for rear seat access.

Jnaki

Our Willys Coupe had a pair of sporty car bucket seats. No rear access was necessary as we moved the seat mounts as far back as possible for two almost 6 foot tall teenagers. Plus, we had a Moon tank in front of the passenger side seat. As rules allowed at the time.

After September 1960, the Moon tanks were all eliminated inside of driver/passenger areas and required to move to the trunk or in front of the motor. (then the awful tank in front of the radiator style started…with insurance company nightmares…)

Note:
In those old days, the only new ones were the GM/Ford/Chrysler bucket seats that had no adjustable backs and one had to sit straight up. Don’t equate a fat seat for comfort. The adjustable ones are far superior to those that do not adjust in many degrees of tilt. The junk yards had tons of used seats.

But, today, one can order new, black seats or any color straight from a dealer/manufacturer. The above dealer is from So Cal. YRMV

 

GM vans late 60's up until mid 70's had low back buckets, they did not fold and are really lite.

 

I took out a foam squab in my A roadster (fglass) and used 2 vw bucket seats from the early 60's. They are sprung and give a much better ride, especially with our shitty roads down here, and if you drive any distance like I do. Best thing I ever did. Will use them again in my next project, cheers

 

I had 1958 T-Bird buckets in my 1930 Chevy coupe. Simple design and not too wide. Sorry I don't have a photo of them in my old car, but the internet should turn up plenty of images of the seats if you want some reference.

 

to bad your not in vegas... I have a set of rebuilt and upholstered model a folding seats you could try setting in there to see...

 

I put the Corbeau low backs in my model A woody.... nice seats for long drives...

 

MG just lose the headrest

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EAwGGhbvj/

 

Mid 70's Mustang bucket seats are still small and look great, but have removable headrests you can delete. I found a pair cheap and after removing the headrests I had them reupholstered and the guy cut off the headrest bases and padded the tops before covering them. They looked great in my old Falcon.

Before:


After:

 

I installed the Cobra kit car bucket seats in my roadster about 5 years ago. I like the look of them and they are fairly comfortable -

#16213 - Leather Roadster Seats - Black - Factory Five Parts Catalog