cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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Apr 21, 2012 18:15:43 GMT
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So I was driving around the other day and thought how much more relaxing it would be if my car had a bench seat and was automatic. Obviously that was never an option for a ford focus... but i mentioned it to some friends who all agreed and thought the same thing, so whos got a car with one or had one? just had a search for some examples. Found a great Cortina mk1 on car and classic. www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C133031#I know a lot of 50s cars had them, but ive always fancied a 70s yank tank with one, but i duno what models had em. a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/12/67269fecb4a1427d876b5c503cc821ef/l.jpg |
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Apr 21, 2012 18:23:22 GMT
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Most mid-sized family cars here and large semi-posh ones have them too. So Vauxhall Victor but not Viva. Cresta and the like, Zodiacs, etc. But the Rovers and other proper posh stuff had arm chairs
See the thing with a bench seat is its designed to occasionally accomodate a 3rd person rather than a luxury feature. Look at all the yank stuff and bench is the base option and separate seats, buckets or arm chairs are the options you paid extra for.
Bench seats usually are fixed back and some of them I've had have been far from comfortable for long runs etc.
Some of the later model yank stuff has a split bench which is basically a bench base with 2 separate backs and a filler, and even I had a Chrysler where it was a big and little seat next to each other so it was a sort of bench like arrangement with individual adjustment
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Apr 21, 2012 18:28:06 GMT
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my corsairs got one not as comfy as they look bit slippy, but worth it for the cool factor !
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Apr 21, 2012 18:29:24 GMT
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If you speak to Glide and someone like Neil Tadman you could get a custom bench seat built for your focus trimmed up like factory. That would be a proper "WTF?" mod...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,832
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Apr 21, 2012 18:30:53 GMT
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I had a split bench on a mk1 cortina 2 door once, quite a rare animal now,
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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Apr 21, 2012 18:33:16 GMT
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2 doors with a bench usually have some form of split arrangement to allow access to the rear seat but its not always also individually adjustable
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Apr 21, 2012 18:34:55 GMT
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I really want a bench seat for my Hilux, common in every country but the UK  |
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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Apr 21, 2012 18:36:56 GMT
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yeah i thought you might slip about a bit on one. i think i thought of them as a leather sofa which is why i thought it might be comfy but i guess its more of a harder bench really like you say. pretty cool though. Didn't realise it was a base spec thing
haha could you imagine one in the focus! i'd have to do some serious mods with the gear stick and handbrake. i guess if it was done right it could look... in place maybe? its an estate. i bet something more square like an Escort or late Cortina would look ok with one.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Cars with Bench SeatsDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 21, 2012 18:47:30 GMT
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one of my two victors has a bench, after i downgraded it to one= like AK says, a bench was the base option, separate seats were classed as 'upmarket' and often partnered with a '4 speed stick' as opposed to a 'three on the tree'. the best one ive had had to be my parisienne. it was just so bloody wide, i remember crawling round bugjam in it a few years back half-cut, 10-up, passing the switchbox for the hydros round the car between the passengers  my falcon had split-fold bench in it too, as it was a 2-door wagon. it really was mega practical to be honest, a much missed car. |
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Apr 21, 2012 19:39:36 GMT
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My Passats got a bench seat.
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Apr 21, 2012 19:57:53 GMT
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Series landys have 3 seperate front seats so do the job of a bench. But they are not exactly comfy ;D
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44
1974 VW Beetle 1303s
1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
1988 VW LT45 Beavertail
1998 Volvo V70 2.5
1959 Fordson Dexta
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Apr 21, 2012 20:14:53 GMT
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my superminx has a bench seat and 4 on floor(make that 5 now!!!)   |
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Apr 21, 2012 21:05:16 GMT
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my FB victor is a deluxe so has a split bench seat though they are sadly mostly made of gaffa tape at the mo so a bit of work will be needed to make them comfy again
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smellyferret
Posted a lot
Back in a retro after 7 years!
Posts: 1,121
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Apr 21, 2012 21:42:13 GMT
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,543
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Apr 21, 2012 21:51:28 GMT
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I have a couple.  Car will need some floor before I fit them.   |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Apr 21, 2012 22:14:56 GMT
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1989 Mini MG 1275 ~ 1987 VW Polo ~ 1989 Citroen 2CV ~ 1998 VW T4 ~ 2006 Volvo XC70
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OMG, could the Fiat Multipla get any cooler? Has to be the quirkiest people mover ever. |
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A bench seat and column shift are definitely on my list of things that I must have one day.
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ikon31
Part of things
Posts: 293
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Apr 22, 2012 10:13:54 GMT
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i've got a mitsubishi l200 single cab, and i'm thinking about fitting a bench seat, i don't really do long distances in it, and it would be useful being able to carry an extra person, however......
whats the legality side of it, is it registered for carrying 2 people? i take it as long as i fit a bench seat that has a lap belt on it it would be ok?
the main issue with it, its the handbrake, i have no idea where i could move it too, and how!!
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van life is the high life
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Apr 22, 2012 11:34:37 GMT
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Have a look in readers rides section, someone on here has fitted a bench seat to a L200.
If it makes searching easier, ive posted in the thread.
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