69 Reclining Bucket Seat Wanted

Discussion in 'Parts wanted' started by 2manybuicks, Jul 22, 2006.

  1. oPh

    oPh Well-Known Member

    Ted,
    The seatbacks on passenger side '68, 69, & early '70 reclining bucket seat had the button on the side & matching '68 plastic seat backs from the factory. Never have had a reclining '67 strato bucket, but have sold several 68, 69 & 70 rh reclining strato buckets over the years. All were sun dried builder type bucket seat cores. All had original faded rear plastic shells & side button. On a few, had to replace lwr steel shells & springs, they were that rough & only reason they were still in yard cars. Have bought quite a few power seat tracks under similiar circumstances. Been buying strato buckets since the early 80's, & like most longtime vendors always seemed to have more passenger side buckets than driver sides.

    Reclining pass side strato seat availability... have a longtime GTO restorer buddy who restored his '70 Judge hardtop for GTOAA National Concours class. Absolute flawless car. It is one of the latest A-bodys I've ever ran across with this option factory installed. Fall of '70 built car out of Arlington plant. Hope this helps.

    Got Posi?
    :3gears:
    Roger
     
  2. wheelz

    wheelz 'B' is for Buick.

    Junkman, Roger, Steve, etc

    There has been a whole-lotta discussion and some is correct, some not so correct. I'm not claiming to be a know-it-all, but I am trying to make a point here. A few years ago, I bought a FACTORY installed recliner seat from a fello who was parting out an original 1969 GS coupe rusto-bucketo. This seat, FROM A 69 BUICK GS, DID NOT have the backing changed out to 68, as was suggested. It is factory original with the original coverings. Steve, the 1969 Poncho recliner seat you posted, was NOT changed out to a 68 seat back. It was built that way. Furthermore, you will probably NOT be able to move the "SIDE RELEASE" to the CENTER BACK because of the "recliner" mechanism. Think about it: This "recliner mechanism" allows the seat to GO BACK . . while the center button release on normal strato-buckets allows the seat to GO FORWARD. The mechanics are different alltogether. Until I am proven wrong on this theory, I would say that that poncho seat was definately factory installed into a Poncho and was not modified. FACT: I have owned two recliner seats in my lifetime of Buicks. One was in a LOADED 69 Stage 1, I owned back in 85. It also had the release button on the side. I still have the factory 69 GS recliner seat I bought from a California fello and it too, has the button on the side. AND now a 3rd seat, in Steves pix, attests to that theory. Thats all I'm gonna say about that. Except for this: Steve, go BUY that Poncho recliner, change out the tracks. . and install it into your Buick..GO FO IT!! Now, If this subject still requires debating, I think interior guru :Smarty: Duane Heckman needs to give us his input. :beer Whaa-choo-think-guys??? :TU: Wheelz, Tampa Bay
     
  3. oPh

    oPh Well-Known Member

    Totally agree with you wheelz :TU:

    FWIW, once I can come up with an A-body recliner mechanism, I have a pair of '68 A-body headrest buckets that will be restored.

    Roger
     
  4. 2manybuicks

    2manybuicks Founders Club Member

    Thanks guys. If the dude is realistic about price, I'll buy it. I guess that will free me up to sell my white non-reclining 69 passenger bucket (pretty good shape) and re-coupe (or re-convertible, as it is) some of what I have spent.

    -- Steve
     
  5. Junkman

    Junkman Well-Known Member

    Hey, that very well could be-the button on the side for the recliner option on 69-70 cars. It is such a rare option! The last time I saw one was on a '69 Riv with buckets and could have sworn that the button was in the back center, like it is supposed to be on a normal'69 seat. That has been a few years.The only thing I have with a recliner, is a '68 Olds 98 ragtop.But it is the bench version of the Strato seat. And we all know that the button is on the side for that year! :Smarty: Man, what confusing subject!! :Dou: Steve , I'm with everyone else! Use that '69 GP seat! :TU:
     
  6. GS44667

    GS44667 Worlds First Stage1 Conv

    someone should check the fisher assy manuals for reference :Dou:
     
  7. 2manybuicks

    2manybuicks Founders Club Member

    Finally taked to the guy with the seat I pictured. The guy is a pontiac expert / parts dealer.

    He said that yes, the big misconception on reclining seats for skylark / GS / GP / Cutlass / etc is that the bucket seat backs for 69-72 matched the bucket seat back for the non-reclining seats. He confirmed that the correct reclining seat set-up all the way up to 1972 uses the same side-release as 68 and earlier.

    Unfortunately, while I was busy trying to figure out applicability, someone else beat me to it. So I'm still looking.

    -- Steve
     
  8. Junkman

    Junkman Well-Known Member

    Man, that's lousy, that you missed out on the seat. I'll keep my eyes peeled for you.I always run across stuff on my internet searching. At least we all learned about the details of the recliner option. This thread really jogged my memory of the '69 Riv /bucket seat recliner option I saw several years ago. I did recall that the driver seat had a button in the usual place,but the passenger seat had the button on the side,like a '67,'68 seat would have ,and remember that being odd and thinking that someone had switched the seat at one time. But, also noticing that the upholstery and other details looked original to the car. You hardly ever see this option.
     
  9. 2manybuicks

    2manybuicks Founders Club Member

    Im gonna hold off on my interior until i find a reclining seat. So if any of y'all find one, let me know.

    -- Steve
     
  10. 2manybuicks

    2manybuicks Founders Club Member

    Hey, found two on e-bay.

    Reclining Buckets

    Unfortunately, the seller is, uh, somewhat delusional. :puzzled:

    -- Steve
     
  11. oPh

    oPh Well-Known Member

    The '66-67 headrests are different shape than later versions, & much harder to find. Reading this fellows ad, I bet he has $300 in having Just Dashes revac form his original headrests

    Believe Performance Years & Ames were selling a kit allowing original '66 & 67 headrest asm's to be fitted to "standard" '66 & 67 strato buckets. That still doesn't get one the recliner assembly pieces :(

    Four years ago a local Chevelle vendor friend sold a rusty recliner assembly on e-Bay for close to $150. Kick myself for not buying it as, working on more & more buckets.

    Got posi?
    :3gears:
    Roger
     
  12. 2manybuicks

    2manybuicks Founders Club Member

    Found a matching set of reclining buckets out of a 69 gran prix SJ (?). Gonna fully re-do them with 69 GS covers and slap them in, whether they are 100% factory-correct or not.

    (Only reason I want the driver's side reclining seat is to make Wheelz jealous. :laugh: )

    Note: Gonna send the whole kit and caboodle to Legendary and let them do it.

    -- Steve
     

    Attached Files:

  13. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    Bringing up this old thread as I just bought a project 69 GS350 with a reclining passenger seat. Also has a power driver's seat. So then, is it correct that both the driver and passenger side should have the side seat release (68 style) rather than the release in the center of the seat? That is what mine have, and they look to be original. Before I found this thread, I assumed someone had put 68 backs on them, which I thought was strange........

    p.s., the pictures were before they were cleaned. :eek2:
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Bob Lorenz Jr.

    Bob Lorenz Jr. Well-Known Member

    Re: Junkman, Roger, Steve, etc

    I converted a side release to a rear release on a recliner for my 72 about 20 years ago. Don't remember what was involved but it can be done and it does work correctly.

    Bob
     
  15. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar


    Chris look authentic to me. The theory is if the seat is fully reclined it would be difficult to reach the back release. Therefore it is on the side.

    PS last set I saw was 20 years ago. Congrats on your parts. :TU:


    DL
     
  16. 2manybuicks

    2manybuicks Founders Club Member

    I think it is agreed that the side release on the passenger recliner is correct, for essentially the reason you describe.

    The issue is more the side release on the driver's seat, which should have been a back release for a 1969 car, from what I've heard.

    Maybe a side release driver's seat could be ordered from the factory so that the seats matched. Anyone know for sure? (I'd love to hear from someone with a true documented factory set-up.)

    Chris -- you got a build sheet that may show what the car actually came with?

    -- Steve
     
  17. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    Yes, that is what I would like to know too, is the driver's seat side release correct? It makes sense to me that it would be, as it would look funny to have one seat be side release and one back release.

    I don't have a build sheet, I guess it could be on top of the gas tank, but I am not inclined to drop it to find it. The seats and door panels were removed from the car so it may have turned up then, but if so probably lost now.

    The car is super loaded for a GS350. PDB, PS, power front bucket, reclining passenger bucket, console, tilt, A/C, tinted power windows, power antenna, vinyl top, front and rear sway bar, 3.23 posi, I think I got them all. So I am guessing it came with all of those options, but I don't know for sure.
     
  18. Junkman

    Junkman Well-Known Member

    Hey! I have TWO pass. recliner bucket seats at my place now:laugh:









    Wish they were mine!
     
  19. racenu

    racenu Well-Known Member

    my dad had ordered his 69 2 door wildcat with a reclining bucket pass seat. From what i can remember reclining the seat had nothing to do with the seat going forward. As a teenager i found this option very handy as the seat layed almost perfectly flat in case you wanted to have little rest with the girlfriend:Brow: ..

    Seeing as you where discussing the release buttons I just got a 69 wildcat with original bucket seats (non reclining) and the release button is in the center of on the seat back. I have the build sheet and it came with the buckets is it possible some center release seats got installed in some 69's?
    Gord
     
  20. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    Gord,

    The 69's came with the seat button in the middle. On the reclining passenger seat, even in a 69, the seat button is on the side. So the question is, on a 69 driver seat, for a car with a passenger reclining seat, would the seat button also be on the side so that it would match the passenger seat? Seems logical, not that that really matters though. :laugh:
     

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