1965 Valiant (4-door) Seat options?

[J Glenn]

I've got (and by *I* I mean "my wife has") a 1965 valiant with a bench seat in front. She REALLY does not like the idea of upgrading to, say, after market bucket seats... because she thinks that will look funny. (I disagree, but it's *her* car.) So here is my question: are there any bench seats with adjustable or fold-down back that would fit and look right? (I want the back-rest to adjust!)

 

[slantsixdan]

No.

But you might could get her onside with a bucket seat swap by pitching the (huge) increase in safety if you swap in Chrysler Sebring buckets with their built-in modern seatbelts, after having the seats re-covered in correct '65 Valiant materials.

 

[Valiant63]

That is, Chrysler Sebring convertible bucket seats that have the shoulder harness built-in, and if you can find a pair of them that are the same color as your car's interior, then it won't look so bad.

 

[slantsixdan]

See here.

 

[J Glenn]

Much to my surprise the safety argument is gaining traction with the wife! But if I put in bucket seats, there is no console... so what do people put there.

 

[Valiant63]

If using Sebring buckets, there is no room for a console. It is like a long bench seat as the bucket seats are so wide that they touch. Look at pictures of Sebring convertibles for sale.

 

[SSVDP]

The console was an option, many of these cars with bucket seats didn't have a console, just carpet.
Or you might be able to fit a '66 and up console.

 

[66Dvert]

If using Sebring buckets, there is no room for a console. It is like a long bench seat as the bucket seats are so wide that they touch. Look at pictures of Sebring convertibles for sale.

??? huh, my coffin console fits in there nicely. I have 96 Sebring seats front and rear in my 66 convertible. For some reason I just don't have a seat width view that I'd consider good. you can get a general idea of the width in one of the pic's though.

plenty of room even on our narrow 63-66's

I love the power option ...... oh yeah the seat-belts too!(done for my wife)

 

[drpreposterous]

For those who don't like the look of Sebring seats (or cannot find them), here is a list of cars and trucks with SIRS (seat integrated restraint systems). The study you will pull up shows no statistical significance in injuries or fatalities using a SIRS car vs regular restraint systems in modern cars. Appendix B at the end has the list:
Seat Integrated and Conventional Restraints: A Study of Crash Injury/Fatality Rates in Rollovers

I also attached a PDF that has just the list instead of the whole article. I'm eager to see what people think of a BMW M3 convertible seat or an F-150 seat compared to the looks of the Sebring.

 

[KosmicKuda]

My 64 Val vert currently is a bench seat. My console is a hunk of molded black plastic purchased from Auto Zone for $5. It'll hold a cell phone, GPS, 2 drinks, etc. It just sits on top of the carpeted floor hump so it can be thrown in the trunk if i want to appear "stock".
I have a pair of buckets from a 65 Barracuda that will go in sometime in the future without a console. The 64-65 mini console doesn't have much function. The 66 and newer coffins don't either and they are HEAVY. Anything I put in my cars have to earn their weight and a coffin is useless to me.

 

[loganscuda]

 

[loganscuda]

2005 bmw conv seats