Hot Rods Model A Roadster pickup - Seating

28 Model A Roadster Pickup, anyone got any great suggestions for a bench seat ? or am I better off just biting the bullet and purchasing a Glide Frame - (or other Brands ?)

 

Find a stock seat?

 

Middle row, Dodge Caravan will fit. A couple of threads running about it now. Check out finessguy 30 coupe build thread, he shows the whole process.


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I removed the wooden support pieces that went up to the top edge of the bucket. Not needed. That got me a few inches. Had a 100% foam cushion as part of a LeBaron-Bonney interior kit. Worked for me but I could have sliced a piece off of the cushion to make it thinner. Didn't need to.

 

save your $, Glide not the answer - usually helps to have the leading edge of seat a bit taller than rest of seat bottom - gives more support to legs

 

Plywood and foam on the stock seat riser.....build a minimal seat, or you will never fit in it comfortably. If you are a midget, a stock seat might work.

 

Spend the $ and get real upholstery foam! Don't need it very thick. If you aren't to boney maybe 2" on the bottom and 1" on the back. If that is to soft and you are bouncing on the plywood just glue another layer on until you are happy!

 

What ModelASteve said, stock riser and a good hand made seat, most upholstery shops can build a good one!

 

I second that. In my current RPU that's what I did. Really wanted to run Austin Healey buckets, like I had in my first RPU, but in 1960 they were $25 each, now they are 3 grand a pair.

 

Model A roadster pickups have precious little room to start with, and if you have any kind of firewall set back to accomodate a later V8 engine, it really gets cramped. I have a Dodge Caravan seat in my 30 Model A coupe, and it fits like it was made for the car, but I don't think it would be the best choice for the RPU. Like everyone's been saying, a fabricated seat made from plywood and foam is the way to go, whether you use the stock seat riser or cut the stock one out as mine is and fabricate a shorter one. By doing a fabricated seat, you can better fit it so that it fills up all the space between the sides of the cab for a more finished look without costing you any interior space that you really need. Any upholstery shop should be able to come up with a plywood base and the foam, as others have suggested. Here're pictures of the interior in my 29 RPU. The seat is pretty minimal, and interior space is still tight.

 

Nice interior Craig. Like to see the rest of the RPU. Who's lap belts are those?

 

Caravan seats ( center one from a Grand Caravan) fits all the A's and '32's perfect. I've used them on coupes, roadsters, a Tudor and my friends '32 roadster. Around 50 bucks at a junk yard.
Pic is a '30 Roadster

 

Do the Caravan seatbacks fold forward??
Would like that feature to access area behind seat in my '31 A coupe project


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Does it matter which year caravan?

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The seat belts are from Rich Design...you'll have to do an internet search, but they use vintage hardware and new belt webbing. Very nice belts...expensive, but nice. Here's what my truck looks like now. Incidentally, after seeing the picture someone posted of a Caravan seat in a roadster pickup, I have to admit, it is a good fit.

 

I think it's in the post someplace- I wrote down mid to late 90's Grand Caravan in the garage. There may be others that work- key is the width. The rear seat is 2" too wide. Middle is 42 1/2"

 

Craig, I like to think I have enough experience to know a good looking RPU when I see one. Yours is very cool! You nailed the stance, your a man after my own heart, you kept the fenders! I will check into the belts, thanks.

 

To attain maximum legroom you are going to need to build your own seat frame. Depends on how low you want to sit. I had Bugeye seat frames in mind with pads. I just had to sell it due to lack of legroom with a bad knee. I know a thing or two about the cramped confines of an rpu. Try to make it as comfortable as you can.

 

Mine is a 2000 caravan middle seat as mentioned. Yes the seat folds down. I had to cut the folding handle down and re weld as it was tight against the body. Fits perfect in my opinion. Try and get a seat that the foam is in good shape on like this one as it will be easy to get recovered.



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Yes, you nailed the stance! Killer RPU.

 

Rear seat out of a 1997-2002 Jeep Wrangler! It folds f


1 of 2
orward!

 

Here's one in my roadster!


51 mercules, Dec 26, 2016 Report

 

I can post up some pics of mine. Have the stock seat frame with seat made from plywood and foam and upolsterd. I'm 5 10 and I barely fit. Working the clutch and breaks I have to litilerly pull my feet back as far as I can to get them on the pedals. This winter I'm going to see if I can move the pedals forward a little and pull the wood braces out from behind the seat. But every half inch here and there really does help.

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lots of great feedback here - thanks everyone

 

thanks' for sharing everyone ,l am also after a seat or seats for my RPU what are the most popular seat options in Australia ?..

 

Hello,

When we started our 40 Willys Coupe build, we knew we were going to move the motor back 10%. The SBC motor cleared everything and now we had to create a custom firewall.

By moving the SBC 10 % back, the firewall was moved, but it cramped the interior a little. To compensate for any tight squeezes, we decided to get some small foreign car adjustable bucket seats. Why adjustable? We knew what our teenage backs felt when driving our dad’s big Buick sedans. Upright and one position. Yes, they moved forward and back like our other cars, but no back adjustable motion.

We found a set of black bucket seats out of a Triumph or MG. They were in good condition and we moved the seat frame location back as far as possible in the coupe. Since we moved the seat location back, we made sure the adjustable track and back would clear the back wall of the coupe. It gave a couple of big teenagers plenty of room for comfortable seating. The steering wheel was not in our faces and the adjustable back supports gave us different fit to the wheel.


Jnaki

An RPU is a different story as the back wall is closer and limiting as to adjustable seating. But, the smaller foreign car seats can be moved to accommodate the adjustments. They are more comfortable than fixed back seats that are in most older hot rods. Bench seats are usually one level and ok, but the back rest is the limiting factor.

If we were to build another Model A Coupe or RPU, it would definitely have bucket seats. The choices are limitless as there are companies that make good looking low back bucket seats that will fit...YRMV

 

Ford and Mazda 2WD utes from the 70's and 80's have a simple bench seat which tilts forward. I used one in my 32-5W and had to narrow it I think 8". An extra inch would make it easier to access the clips to allow the seat to go forward.

 

Used a very long piano hinge connecting the horizontal and vertical pieces of the plywood seat. It folds forward just enough to be able to store miscellaneous junk in the otherwise wasted space.

 

Hi Gleno
after much looking at the Glides, mini van seats etc etc - I ended up getting a custom built seat frame from "BENCH N BUCKET" here in Brisbane, and very pleased with it.