Front Seat identification

[Busdepot]

Question for present or former '74-75 Westy owners: Does the vinyl upholstery on the back of your passenger seat go all the way down to the bottom of the seat back, or just about 1/4 of the way down? It seems both styles were used. I am trying to identify a year break and/or whether this varied by market. Your info greatly appreciated. Please mention your year and the color of your plaid. (Also, if the seat back upholstery only goes 1/3 of the way down, is there any reason why full-back upholstery couldn't be used if reupholstering?)
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- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[Okie Adam]

Are the driver and passenger seat the same height in a westy with a passenger swivel?

Here's what I'm up against. I have a 76 with the passenger swivel. The seats that came with is had been poorly recovered with some black basket weave, headrests gone, etc. They both have the small rod lever for adjustment instead of the center flapper style. I have acquired other seats from friends and the two I currently have installed don't sit level with each other. Any info that could clear up for me what I need to be looking for?
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Oil Capital Air Cooled
55 Wolfsburg Kombi
60 Walkthrough Kombi
62 Single Cab
66 21window
67 so42
76 Westy
64 Karmann Ghia

[Sage79]

My '79 Westy with a swivel sits noticably higher than the non-swivel driver's side. I have replacement Vanagon seats though so I'm not sure about original.
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Dirk
'79 Westy 2.0FI
'73 Sportsmobile 1.7dual Solex 003Auto - now my daughter's
'77 delux 2.0FI 090Auto - now my son's

[71’ Single Cab]

Hi,

Could anyone help me identify what year this front drivers seat is?

Cheers

[busdaddy]

76+
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[AlanWesty]

Hi all,
I have a '70 Westy with Bulkhead so it has the 1/3 2/3 seat combination.
When I got the Bus it had BMW seats and I have been searching for original or close to VW seats.
I have eventually sourced a set from a Earlybay SC but am not sure of the seats. Besides the Bench let's look at the Drivers seat first.
It can be seen that there are no provisions for headrests and also it can be seen that the rear seat frame is merely a wire.

If anyone can date these I would be grateful. I tried with the various threads on this forum but am still at a loss.

This is the seat frame with early tracks, and adjustment knob. The base and backrest connect via a round tube pressed flat and a rivet.
As can be seen the base has s shape springs but the backrest has square springs.

The base is not an issue and the horsehair pads I imported fit perfectly.

The backrest however seems longer than the horsehair pad, which is odd.

Different view.

Horsehair for Backrest. '68- 74...?

Horsehair for base. Also '68-74 and perfect.

Regards,
Alan from RSA

[busdaddy]

The length of the pad isn't a problem, the lower part has to be short to clear the back of the seat bottom.

That look like a 73 seat, but it's missing part of the upper frame.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7460653#7460653
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[AlanWesty]

Thanks busdaddy,

I hear what you say but then why bother putting a hook on the horsehair if it's not going to catch on anything anyway.
Also I don't think anything is missing from my seat top.

[AlanWesty]

Do you still think this is a '73 seat?
Is there something missing at the top?

[busdaddy]

Ahhh..., I see a frame there now, it looked like a shadow in your other pic. But it's odd that it has the later springs yet no headrest mount structure, maybe a late 72?, or from a market that didn't use headrests?
I'm not sure what's going on with the horsehair, if it didn't have the provisions for the back adjuster I'd have said it's a much later seat, you might have to stretch burlap over it and then attach the horsehair to that to make it work.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[AlanWesty]

Thank you busdaddy,
So it seems there is yet another frame to add to the collection of front seats?
Burlap might be my only option.

[Ceckert64]

My 1972 Westfalia came with these seats that are definitely not originally from the bus. I think they are 1973 or 1974 seats. The head rest are the non-push button style meaning 1974 but since these seats have been reupholstered and swapped into a different year I don’t want to rely fully on just that. Then I was confused on the difference in upholstery as 74 is different. Is the 74 difference only different contour for the Westfalias and then just a different pattern on the rest of the 74s? Before I spend a lot on covers I want to make sure I have it correct. And then can I put 68-73 covers on if these are 74 seats if I just cut holes for the headrest?

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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Sierra Yellow Tin Top Westfalia Camper
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop

[busdaddy]

Those look like 73 seats, 74 is the same but use square weave pattern vinyl, opposed to the 68-73 basket weave.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[alman72]

[Ceckert64]

[onehappykombi]

[onehappykombi]

[onehappykombi]