Early Series I seats

[Aaron IIA]

My '49 is missing it's seats. I am looking at getting either second hand seats or re-makes. Does anybody have any ideas where I could get them from?
Aaron.

[Sleepy]

Exmoor Trim & Trakkers - Land Rover Interior Trim, Hood and Seat Specialists is a start. Not sure if we have a local supplier.

[Mick-Kelly]

Aaron, put your location up, might help with sourcing parts.
cheers
Mick

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Aaron

It depends on how authentic you want to be, Exmoor seats have a good reputation, although the vinyl is not exact when compared to original. They are a good source for the fittings.

If you get them made, the originals were made with Dunlopillow which is quite hard to find. Lots of repro stuff is made with foam and you can tell by the weight and how long it lasts before it sags.

The big problem with the original design is that it was made with hessian stretched over a wooden frame and was not durable in the long term. So if you intend to use the vehicle as intended you may be better going for a look alike shape but using a solid base of something like marine ply.

Others look like they are offering plans so will leave it to them.

Diana

[Aaron IIA]

I am in Adelaide. The prices from Exmoor Trim are a bit expensive for me at the moment. I am not restoring it at this stage, just getting it onto the road. Second hand parts, of any style that will fit, will do at this stage. The lack of seats is the only thing stopping me from registering it. I will be restoring it in a few years time, once I have finished my Ford Blitz, which is currently stripped down to a bare chasis.
Aaron.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The seat bases can be made very easily, it is just a latex foam basically square cushion on a wooden frame covered in vinyl. Any motor trimmer or someone with an industrial sewing machine can do it.

The back is more difficult because the frame is made from metal. The good thing about the 1948 to early 1950 ones is that they are made from something like 3mm aluminium sheet which is rolled into a curve. They don't rust like the later ones and once again they can be re-covered by your local motor trimmer etc. using available vinyls. The mountings are just a couple of cut flat bar bent into shape, drilled and galvanised.

If you don't have any of the seats, keep a look out for the aluminium "shovel shaped" backs. Early cars only had 2 seats (or sometimes only 1 seat). Additional seats after the drivers were optional extras.

Diana

[series1buff]

Hi Aaron

I am doing my seats at the moment, the early style . I am not overly fussy about getting it as per factory . I have some original seat backs in good shape , with the original vinyl still there . They used a covering of black felt over the back side , about 1/8" thick , this felt is folded over into the front side by about 3/4" , it folds over the edge all round . The front face is padded with white fluffy cotton filling, about 1" thick , it looks a bit like cotton wool . Over this fluffy layer is a thin layer of cotton sheet . The fluffy stuff appears to be stuck down onto the aluminium with an adhesive , it gets thinner as it gets closer to the lower edge, sort of tapers down. There is a brand name inside the vinyl covering VINYD ??? The cotton sheet actually folds around the edge too. Its all sewn together , with a piping seam . The piping is actually just a bit of string , sewn into a section of vinyl and its all sewn together in 3 parts. rear - piping -front. You could use a layer or two of carpet underlay or something , for the padding

The local motor trimmer quoted me 50 bucks each to recover them.

The seat bases .. I went down to the hardware and bought some hobby board , about 12mm stuff . Got some flat Jarrah sections , about 3/8" thick, cut it to width.. very cheap . Glued and nailed it together .. easy . For the locators , I used rubber door stops , turned down slightly to fit the holes in the lids etc.

I'm going to make the covers myself... buy some vinyl and go for it . Most domestic sewing machines will sew the vinyl effectively , it's only fairly thin stuff. An industrial machine is better of course, with a walking foot , it pulls the work through , professional trimmers use them. I would love a walking foot machine ..but your looking at around 1000 bucks for second hand example .

BTW are you the Aaron I know from Corowa.. friend of VK5WT radio van Blitz man in Edwardstown .. It's Mike here VK3CZ

Mike

[Aaron IIA]

Yeah, its me Mike. I have a F60L aswell now, so there are a few of us with Series I's and Blitzes. I hope to have mine in Corowa next year. I might even put the '49 on the back of the Blitz when I take it over there!
Aaron.