1967 Bench seat headrests ??

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M1A1Tanker

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Greetings all,

I'd like to ask, were headrests available on bench seats in 1967 (Darts, Barracudas, Valiants) ? I'm aware that headrests were available and somewhat rare on bucket seats in '67, I'm very interested to discover whether they were on bench seats. Thank you all for your input.

Regards,
Christopher
 
Head rests were optional for bucket seats only in 1967. No bench seat headrests were offered.
 
Head rests were optional for bucket seats only in 1967. No bench seat headrests were offered.
Do you know if anyone is still producing headrests for 68 bucket seats.
Thanks in advance
 
I believe these are '67 bench seat headrests.
Could be wrong. If @clair.davis checks in (probably rarely now), he'll know.
The post spacing is different from buck seat head rests.
upload_2020-2-17_12-9-53.png

1967 Valiant Headrests
 
I see its not listed as an option. Maybe something changed mid year (or again I'm just wrong). The bucket seat headrests generally are countoured to fit seat back. Not many examples from '67 to look at. Export cars to UK and maybe elsewhere usually have them.

edit: Clair took the ones pictured above out of a '67 Valiant with split bench seat.
 
This is a 1967 RHD export to UK Barracuda. From the Brookland books reprint of magazine reviews of Barracudas.
upload_2020-2-17_12-29-14.png


Notice how the headrest is shaped to fit the seatback.
 
Clair took the ones pictured above out of a '67 Valiant with split bench seat.

So that would be a yes for headrests in 67, no?

I actually got all the hardware/small parts pictured to add headrests to my 67 bench.
I either couldn't find headrests or didn't continue down that path, and upholstered my seat, but I keep thinking about adding them.
 
So that would be a yes for headrests in 67, no?

I actually got all the hardware/small parts pictured to add headrests to my 67 bench.
I either couldn't find headrests or didn't continue down that path, and upholstered my seat, but I keep thinking about adding them.
A definate maybe. :D
Clair should be able to provide more info.
My impression was the seats were original to the car.
I don't know if he had a build sheet for it, but might.
Another clue may be if the seats have a latch - most (all?) 67s don't.

If we can find some examples of '68 bench/split bench headrests, that would be another point of comparison.
 
67 Barracuda, headrests - bucket seats only

20200220_133604.jpg
 
A definate maybe. :D
Clair should be able to provide more info.
My impression was the seats were original to the car.
I don't know if he had a build sheet for it, but might.
Another clue may be if the seats have a latch - most (all?) 67s don't.

If we can find some examples of '68 bench/split bench headrests, that would be another point of comparison.
A definite probably not. No bench seats from that year had factory headrests. It’s either a replacement seat or someone added them.
 
A definite probably not. No bench seats from that year had factory headrests. It’s either a replacement seat or someone added them.
Obviously I don't think its simple.
Knowing Clair, he'ld be aware of the difference between an original '67 seat and a '68 or '69.
Archival evidence is good, but when there is archaeological evidence that appears to call it into question, its worth examining further. A reasonable possibility is that at the time of publication bench seat headrests were not available. At some point subsequent that may have changed. When Clair checks in he can fill in what he knows about the car.
 
Obviously I don't think its simple.
Knowing Clair, he'ld be aware of the difference between an original '67 seat and a '68 or '69.
Archival evidence is good, but when there is archaeological evidence that appears to call it into question, its worth examining further. A reasonable possibility is that at the time of publication bench seat headrests were not available. At some point subsequent that may have changed. When Clair checks in he can fill in what he knows about the car.
It’s simple history. In 1969, headrests became mandatory starting on Jan 1 1969. Mopar and all other manufacturers were gearing up for it and offered them as options on bench seats starting in late 1968 for 1969 models. Even my 1969 Dart GTS with bucket seats built in October of 1968 didn’t have them standard (but they were optional).

Bucket seats were a high trim option so they were offered for them a year earlier as a option starting in 1967. Back then, the Federal safety mandates were uncertain as to when they going into effect but no manufacturer wanted to be caught unprepared. So they developed them and offered them first on high option trim models to recoup the development costs before they were forced to put them on every seat.
 
Comment about headrests: About 5 years ago I was coming to an intersection in my Camry, and a fire engine came from the right with siren on. I slammed on my brakes, and my car stopped before the intersection. Everything was fine for about 2 seconds, when somebody slammed into me from behind. I went to the ER, but left with only a minor headache. Without those headrests, my neck would have been in bad shape.

I think retrofitting your car with headrests is a REALLY GOOD investment. I plan on doing it.
 
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