TheSamba.com :: View topic - 68 Beetle convertible with low back seats?

Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:38 pm

I have a 68 bug convertible project car. It has low back seats like from a pre-67. Is this correct, or did 68 convertibles come stock with the high back seats?
I need to order replacement covers and all the websites show high back seats for 68 and above.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:51 pm

I have heard reports that dealers would often replace the 68 seats with the 67 lowbacks per customer request. Given the look of a convertible, it would not be hard to imagine that a customer would try to wheel and deal a set of lowback seats instead of the wide headrest equipped seats from 68. If it's an early 68' it would be plausible that a dealer would have some 67's still on the lot to swap seats with.

I also read an article in a VW mag many years back about a guy that also had this done when he purchased his 68' brand new.

-j.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:59 pm

I would bet that somewhere, somehow the seats were changed. However, be glad. It is a huge improvement.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:14 pm

Thanks. I was thinking somewhere along the line, they swaped seats with a the old low back model. I guess I'll just order 67 seat covers and hope for the best.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:39 pm

substock wrote: I have heard reports that dealers would often replace the 68 seats with the 67 lowbacks per customer request. Given the look of a convertible, it would not be hard to imagine that a customer would try to wheel and deal a set of lowback seats instead of the wide headrest equipped seats from 68. If it's an early 68' it would be plausible that a dealer would have some 67's still on the lot to swap seats with.

I also read an article in a VW mag many years back about a guy that also had this done when he purchased his 68' brand new.

-j.

Another less known story, is that some dealers could not get rid of their remaining '67 Beetles, unless they put in the newer high backed seats, due to customer demand. I have read the Hot VW's mag story and it is interesting, but like so many stories, it only represents one point of view. Whiplash was a huge issue in the new automobile safety discussion back in the late '60's. Interesting that the '68 Beetle was the best selling year of all time in North America...

Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:04 pm

Guys get real.. I was there in 68 .. Do you really think a dealer,, would pull seats and install a lesser quality seat in a brand new car ? Think about the liability issues involved..

In those days the high backs just hit the market along with big bumpers,,,, Christ they were being stolen out of the cars .. low back seats where not the in thing..

Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:18 pm

towd wrote: Guys get real.. I was there in 68 .. Do you really think a dealer,, would pull seats and install a lesser quality seat in a brand new car ? Think about the liability issues involved..

In those days the high backs just hit the market along with big bumpers,,,, Christ they were being stolen out of the cars .. low back seats where not the in thing..

Dealers did not necessarily trade '67 seats for '68's in new vehicles, but they did sometimes put high-backs into their remaining '67's just to move inventory off the lot...then presumably ordered more highbacks. However, some '68's were sold with low back seats in some jurisdictions. My father's business used a fleet of Beetles and you would be amazed at the parts swapping. He used to have them swap seats and door cards, to avoid light colors that could get dirty too easily. Imagine some of these owners of original dealer Beetles today, trying to get someone to believe that their Beetle came with non-factory color schemes :wink:

You are bang on about the low back seats not being desirable...back in the '60's. Also, the '67 bumpers were not really appreciated back then...they were considered as a patchwork of pipes.

None of this should be taken as a knock on the '67 or earlier Beetles, I love them all and would love to find a nice oval again :)