TheSamba.com :: View topic - 65 Convertible rear seat back rest cover install

Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:22 pm

I am finally back to finishing the '65 convertible that I started almost 18 months ago before I relocated. I got the rear seat bottom covered this morning, and now I am a little puzzled at the seat back rest.

I see where the bottom edge of the seat cover would pin to the bend over spikes on the back frame tubing.

I do not see any spikes or missing spikes down the sides or top. Those three sides have a plastic edging on the cover about 1/4" wide with a thick beaded edge.

Any ideas on how this is supposed to secure to the seat frame?

Also, is there a rear seat back cover - like the card board one on my '65 hardtop? I don't see any holes in the frame for nails or screws like the hardtop frame had.

Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:32 pm

My 60 vert had a cardboard back that was sewn to the vinyl. The TMI leatherett kit I got is a solid vinyl slip cover - vinyl on back instead of the board.

Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:35 pm

Thanks for the reply.

This is the WW cover, TMI does them I believe.

I figured the ends of the plastic tie or attach at the corners, then pull the cover tight securing the bottom edge - but not certain.

Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:03 pm

So Wolfy West says / confirmed that the rear convertible back rest frames had no spikes like my hardtop did on the top and sides of the to hook the cover on. They also do not offer the hard back cover.

He said I needed to hog ring the sides to the structure, but there is nothing that a hog ring will grab. They will never grab the large tube of the frame.

I guess it is supposed to sew or attach to the hard back cover like the previous post suggested.

I can probably make a reasonable shaped hard back cover. Not sure how I will attach the cover to it though.

Anyone have ANY original pics of a convertible rear seat back rest?

Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:09 pm

I see this early OG rear seat:

This is a later one, likely what I am going to do - IF I have enough material . . .

Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:51 pm

I got the same material that WW uses for their sedan rear seat backrest backing for $4.50 at the Depot. Made it in about 5 minutes. Beats $23 + shipping . . .

I'll finish covering in the morning and get better pics too :roll:

Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:18 pm

Did you get it all worked out? How did you attach the cover? I don't have to do it but I'm anxious to see what you did!

Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:33 am

I have not finished it yet, had to pack up and head south for Easter weekend and then a few weeks out for work travel.

I have been thinking through it however, and I am headed out to work on it now.

I'll post pics later today.

Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:00 am

gerg wrote: I got the same material that WW uses for their sedan rear seat backrest backing for $4.50 at the Depot. Made it in about 5 minutes. Beats $23 + shipping . . .

I'll finish covering in the morning and get better pics too :roll:

How does this attach to the frame? Same on sedans? Mine is missing and I want to do this soon.

Thanks and good luck!

Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:46 am

I was going to use the little carpet nails I had left over from my sedan resto. Can't find them, so I have some of the WW screws and washers for bus panels. Thought they would look good, eventually covered by carpet. Drilling the largest holes I can to still get bite and the screws break too easy :evil:

Also, the bottom rail is higher on this frame than the sides, so the bottom edge of this board lifts the board up about 1/4" along the bottom sides. May trim the bottom edge so the board lays flat on top and sides, and possibly add a bar on inside to keep it from flexing. Always something!

Not only does WW not offer this piece of backing, their carpet kits for convertibles is one less piece than the hardtops. Guess which piece is missing?

Also turns out I was able to pull the cover taught and hog ring the sides to the inner springs. That was a lot easier than my 'thought' out method :wink:

Pics to follow.

Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:13 pm

Here is how I pulled the cover around to the interior springs:

Here is the board installed:

Eventually this will have carpet over it . . . may replace screws with rivets at that time for the carpet to lay flat.

Not SUPER happy with the outcome, but it beats having no back at all. I spent days it seems like on the back seat of my '65 hardtop . . .

The top bar has since been painted anthracite and looks much better IMO . . .

Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:28 pm

Test fit the seat back this evening.

I need to remove it and clean up the bottom two corners - this seat back doesn't hide behind the bottom nearly as much as my hard top does.

The pleats in the covers line up perfectly back to bottom though - happy with that :wink:

Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:10 pm

Looks great!