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**spyderwerks** · 03-05-2015, 06:34 AM

I owned a 1960 100% cabriolet about 6 years ago. Purchase from the granson of the original owner. It was purchased new in Albany Ca. From the dealership Berkeylee. It had a black benchseat, the date stamp on the rear hinge was dated 3/60 or something close to that.

**spyderwerks** · 03-05-2015, 06:35 AM

I owned a 1960 100% cabriolet about 6 years ago. Purchase from the granson of the original owner. It was purchased new in Albany Ca.l from the dealership Berkeylee. It had a black benchseat, the date stamp on the rear hinge was dated 3/60 or something close to that. The back verticle seat was fat like the earlier version, no headrests.

**356JAGER** · 03-05-2015, 07:47 AM

One has to wonder if they had all been used up prior to B cars, why would they go to the trouble of modifying the photo to show T-6 features and offer them as an option ? Would like to see the Kardex for the car shown on the previous pages to verify it as an original accessory. Obviously they can be fitted to the later cars.
Cheers,
Joel

**Jack Staggs** · 03-05-2015, 01:46 PM

A few points of notice. T0 and T1 cars, with shifter far forward on the tunnel, appear to have bench seats that have the forward edge straight across. T2 cars seem to have a slight relief at the forward edge, to accommodate the more rearward shifter. The car in Trevor's photos show a much deeper cut out to the forward edge of the seat to accommodate the even more rearward shifter for the T5, necessary for those shifts into 2nd & 4th gear when your sweetheart is next to you.

Also of note is that the bench seat disappeared from the option list in Oct 1962, according to info on Der White's excellent web site. One difficulty with fitting bench seats to T6 would be completely re-designing the seat to use T6 seat rails. However, bench seats do not use seat rails attached to the center tunnel, only the outer seat rails, one near each door opening. It would have been very easy to install outer T5 seat mounts on a T6 during a chassis build. Not so easy if a customer wanted a bench seat installed at the dealership level, or wanted to fit bucket seats at a later date. Perhaps that is one reason the "sweetheart " seat option was dropped early in T6 production.

**admin** · 03-05-2015, 06:13 PM

**Trevor** · 03-05-2015, 11:53 PM

Bench seat in a T2 with relief as Jack mentioned previously.

**356JAGER** · 03-07-2015, 12:53 AM

A couple of other thoughts per the bench seat. How much can it be adjusted fore and aft ? It would seem cumbersome to move it from the driving position with only two outer rails, binding would seem to be an issue. With no central support it must have a very stout frame to prevent sagging in the middle. Changing the shift rod bushings must be fun and removal of the seat might be a bit interesting. Does one have to remove the shift lever to facilitate removal ?
Other than having your sweetie sit closer to you sans seat belt, any other benefits offered by this rare option ? (bragging rights not included)

Cheers
Joel

**Trevor** · 03-07-2015, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by 356JAGER" post=25832

Other than having your sweetie sit closer to you sans seat belt, any other benefits offered by this rare option ? (bragging rights not included)

Um... I'm pretty sure that's the one and only reason needed.

Here's a pic that Greg from Vintage Warehouse posted on FB. Hopefully he won't mind me sharing it here with all this discussion about bench seats.

**Stormin** · 03-07-2015, 08:11 PM

Joel,
Interesting steering wheel.
Looks like it was designed for a MG B
I like that it has no upper spokes to block the instruments.
Norm

**356JAGER** · 03-07-2015, 10:47 PM

Norm,
Wheel is from a Jensen CV8, only about 500 built. Purchased it from a seller in Germany. You're right, view of the instruments is excellent and it provides me with a great driving position. Since I am a Jensen, it was the perfect touch.
Cheers,
Joel