Projects Need period correct seat ideas for old chopped 31 Ford coupe

I dont know any history on it other than my friend bought it in Ohio. It very well could be the same car you are talking about.

 

Hello,

Unless you are shorter than 5’10” tall, a chopped seat for a Model A coupe will need to be altered. My brother and I, as teens, did not fit in the stock seat that came with our old Model A coupe we bought. We got it running and the next thing was going to be to put in small foreign car bucket seats in place.

Why foreign car seats? Well due to the abundance of them in all sizes and shapes from medium/large sedans/coupes to small two seater sporty car types, we had our choice of comfortable seats. That stock seat was too tall for us to sit comfortably as we drove the 4 cylinder powered Model A down the street. We told ourselves that if we bought small sporty car bucket seat, there would be plenty of adjustability and could mount it lower to the floorboard.

By the time we were taking a break between doing more to the Model A coupe, one day I came home from school and the coupe was gone. My brother had sold it to a friend looking for a running 4 cylinder stock Model A and paid a good price to my brother. So, that was gone. Now, within days, the 51 Oldsmobile got sold to a neighbor friend for his first car and that was that. two cars for my own possible future were both sold and were gone.

What rolled up in our driveway was the new 58 Impala my brother had bought. The money he got from both sold cars helped pay for the new 58 Impala. But, my thoughts always went back to the Model A Coupe. a powerful centrifugal supercharged SBC motor and a LaSalle transmission plus a Chevy rear end was going to make a nice hot rod for daily use and make some noise at the local dragstrip. But, that scenario was gone forever.

Jnaki

The one thing we were going to do was to get those small foreign car bucket seats. Wait, those aren’t “period correct” seats. At the time, there was no such thing as “period correct” anything. If you bought or put something on a motor, it was your choice and ok with the build. That was the thing to do. No one standing around looking over your shoulder calling things period correct or not. Who the heck is the one calling things period correct?
a slight chop version
For your chopped top Model A coupe, you are in a quandary since your coupe is chopped. The stock seats are definitely too tall for anyone with some height above 5’6 or taller. So, those stock seats are or should be out of the question. Modifying those will not give you support when driving as there are no side bolsters.

By the time you modify the stock seats, it will be like riding uncomfortably in bomber seats with no support. But, as things go, it is your build, but perhaps, one should consider a different approach to more room inside of a chopped Model A coupe for comfort and drivability. As far as looking old, there are, I am sure, those seats that have been left outside for years and they would look old. Plus, even if they were under a cover of sorts, age would be apparent...YRMV

It is a fun project for an art drawing. As the radical, chopped look gives it some attitude.

 

Mines not a coupe but I did use a 20$ bus seat I cut down and re used the old brown fabric. It worked fine as I was on a time crunch and budget but I’m gonna change it eventually.

 

The middle seat from a Dodge Caravan fits well. You can cover it to look period-correct.

 

Slide the seat riser back, put a sheet of 3/4" plywood and then do 2" or 3" foam with a slight kickup under knees and then cover with rolls and pleats. I did one in my car using just fabric, spray glue, staples and foam. It gives me enough leg toom that my car is comfy for over 2 hour drives at height of 5'9"... If I was in a coupe itd be even easier to get more leg room.

 

Did you see this ad?
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1932-ford-bucket-seats.1328705/

 

Was watching an older episode of Stacey David’s Gearz show yesterday, and he found some cool looking bomber-like seats out of an old military truck. Go to just after the 12 min mark.

 

Thansk!

 

My Son bought these…with good foam bottom seat pads…they are really comfortable, with no padded seat backs. Not sure they are still being made/sold, but they sure are nice, and work out great in small interiors, like Model A Coupes.

 

It was built by @RoadBurner1 here in Omaha around 2002/2003.

 

Bought this one at a swap meet that came from an old Ford pickup for twenty bucks. I narrowed it and lowered it. Now I just got to cover it. Funny thing was the guy who sold it to me insisted it was from a Chevy and when I got to working on it there was a steel stamp Ford emblem on every part.

 

I know you said "period correct" but period looking works for me. I used a free 3rd row seat, narrowed and lowered from a Dodge Caravan. I customized it with sliders for 4 inches of fore and aft adjustment. The bottom lifts up for storage underneath and the back folds down for access behind (not shown in pic). You can make it look damn near stock after being reupholstered. Comfortable and the price was right.

 

My '31's chopped 3.5" and I am using some very nice, but not "period correct" seats in it. I even have speakers in the headrest. Since it's not HAMB friendly, I will cryptically say you can PM me if you want info or photos. Good luck.

 

Jaguar XJ6 seats are narrow and fit well in a model A. I used some out of a 1985.

 

Perhaps you’re looking for seats like this.they come out of mid 50’s Superior school buses. They are the drivers seat

 

I did use the stock Model A coupe seat in my '30 before and after it was channeled 4". It was OK but weighed probably close to 50 lbs more than the current modified 3rd row seat. The stock seat was a bit too high as well and didn't fit my butt as good. The 3rd row seat has a "sitting in it" feel and the stock seat was more of a "sitting on it" feel. I haven't re-upholstered it yet but just have a moving blanket wrapped and pinned to the original 3rd row seat foam which was narrowed to fit as well.

 

My roadster has 58 MGA seats in it. Gary[

 

I have this pair out of early Mustang, I’d consider selling. They need new upholstery.
Tracks are there but have been modified.
Yes, they’re dirty too. lol

 

what about something like these?

 

I recall lots of early hot rods utilizing European sports car bucket seats, such as MG, Triumph, Austin, etc). I think that I’ve got a pair of early Triumph seats stashed in the attic, which I picked up at Hershey swap meet about 30 years ago. Doesn’t look like I’m ever going to need them.

 

1985 dodge minivan center .no cutting just upohlstry.the mid 80s dont have all the folding crap on the sides.

 

Not period correct but I noticed seats in a late model truck that were buckets with shoulder harnesses and head rests built in. Probably Chevy but could be something else.

Charlie Stephens

 

I used a cut down school bus seat in my old 31 Pick up ( narrowed and cut down bac height)

 

Yes exactly! Are those for sale?

 

Most of the suggestions made so far are not period correct.

 

I think those are the seats used in Fred Allen's Devil Duce




The look very similar to what the Kenndey Brothers used when they recreated the car.