Seats

CJ'S VDUB · Post by **CJ'S VDUB** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:39 pm

Hello again,
my new question is I have a 66 beetle the interior consists of a drivers seat. I am having trouble finding seats locally. obviously I can get the carpets and such from catalogs. there is a 72 super beetle for sale locally for short cash as the owner only bought it for the powertrain anyway he says the interior is complete does anyone know if the seats etc. will fit before I bother buying it

bill hauck · Post by **bill hauck** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:35 pm

the seats from the new beetle should fit. I bought my 66 and it had newer high back seat in it when I got it. I gave them away and found some low backs locally. They are expensive to ship so local is the way to go if possible.

fatalifeaten · Post by **fatalifeaten** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:19 pm

70-72 had some funky seats though, and the standards and supers are different.

Can you borrow one and see if it'll fit?

Honestly I loathe highbacks. I'd rather find a set of junk yard lowbacks and rebuild them.

bill hauck · Post by **bill hauck** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:31 am

I agree about the high backs. rebuiliding the seat is a pretty simple job. Get the DVDs from Cal. Pacific/JBugs and they walk you right through the steps. I just did mine and they look great!

Post by **jmartini** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:57 pm

When I got my first 66 in 1975, some guys from California had tried to put some high back VW seats in there - guess how they fastened them down? With hose clamps

That explains why they all followed me through the windshield when I had my accident!

I wouldn't retro fit any seat in unless if fit perfectly and operated correctly in the existing track - but I am not a risk taker

SeeBlauKafer · Post by **SeeBlauKafer** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:02 pm

I remember VW having some sort of recall back in the late 70's or early 80's to install something that would prevent Beetle seats from coming loose like that in an accident.

At the time we had a '74 standard, and my Dad had to continue reassuring my Mom that our model had the more modern tripod style locking seat base/rails.

Post by **jmartini** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:06 pm

Probably wouldn't cover what those guys had done to it though (with hose clamps). Actually though it served a purpose, after the accident when I was unconscious, bystanders placed me in the drivers seat (out in a tobacco patch). Ah..memories!

CJ'S VDUB · Post by **CJ'S VDUB** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:35 pm

ok so i take it it's not an exact fit thank you for the help i still may purchase the super beetle for a project car down the road

Post by **jmartini** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:10 pm

Hi CJ: Seriously, I'm not sure if you can do a swap or not with those seats. Maybe it would work but the guys that did mine didn't do it right. Now in reality who knows what year they tried to force in there - I just have no idea. If you really want to make them work there is probably a way to do it and make it safe at the same time.

empiracer1966 · Post by **empiracer1966** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:34 pm

Im not sure...but I think 1973 was the first year for the "3 point mounting" system...I currently have a '73 for my daily driver and thats what is on it...if the seats that your looking at have the earlier rail mount then they will fit.

Brian

elkluvadore · Post by **elkluvadore** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:30 pm

I have a set of highbacks sitting in my scrap 66 beetle, I don't know they're year, but they seam to be about a perfect fit.

smccoy · Post by **smccoy** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:42 pm

Aesthetics aside- as an accident reconstructionist I would humble suggest trying to mount the high backed seats every time- especially if you are taking them from a donor car, heck- take the original seat tracks with them and have them welded in. The high backs really help in a collision if you are ever rear ended- they help support your entire spine instead of having a violent case of whiplash centered at the base of your neck. You'll walk away at 5mph- like Frankenstein for a week you'll be so stiff. Any impact from behind at over 35mph and you're in real trouble. (Serious dehabilitating, long lasting neck injury in a seat without a headrest).

I cheated. My lowbacks needed replaced, so I killed two birds with one stone and installed a set of racing seats- I know, I know- they look silly when my top speed is only 70mph- but now I have high backs(If some one rear ends us), side bolsters(if someone clips us), and 4 point racing harness seatbelts to help keep me out of the metal dash and flat glass windshield(If I am unfortunate enough to hit someone/something else!)

Likely overkill, but what the heck : )

Good Luck!

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 4:10 pm

bill hauck wrote:I agree about the high backs. rebuiliding the seat is a pretty simple job. Get the DVDs from Cal. Pacific/JBugs and they walk you right through the steps. I just did mine and they look great!

He said the interior consisted of a driver's seat only.

The '72 seats will fit the seat tracks in your '66, but the door panels are different due to the door handle redesign.

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