Early Seats

[mdbrandy]

I've got a very early production 240Z, and I was just looking at the seats today. They are in quite good condition (probably been recovered). In my readings about the early Z's, I've come across mention of "rewebbing" seats, and seen pictures of early seats with webbing under the seat cushion that sometimes has to be reaplaced. What year(s) was this done in? I ask due to the fact that my seats do not have the webbing - they have metal springs (see pics). They are 240Z seats - no tilting lever, just the knob to change the angle a few degrees. I know that the PO had access to a parted out 1971 240Z (I have several boxes of parts he collected from it). Could these seats be from the 71, or would an 11/69 production car possibly have the metal springs? Ultimately it won't matter to me, since I don't intend to bring the car back to stock in every nut and bolt, but I'd like to be as close as I can.

Thanks.

[MikeW]

Originally posted by mdbrandy

I ask due to the fact that my seats do not have the webbing - they have metal springs (see pics).

It appears to me that your seats used to have the webbing but I'm sure that someone with more experience will have the definative answer.

[mdbrandy]

Wow. It's amazing what slips past you sometimes. I didn't look past the springs! You're right that it appears as though there was webbing against that cushion at some point. Guess that probably answers the question.

[mdbrandy]

I've got a couple hundred so far, but I have to get them organized, reduced (they're 4 megapixel images) and posted. Hopefully this weekend or so. On the VIN, I think I had it right the first time :classic:

HLS30 00215

[Bambikiller240]

I believe that it was in late 72 or early 73 that the seats started coming with springs instead of the webbing. I know that my 71, and early 72 240Z's came with the webbed seats, but the 73 that I used to own did have the sprung seats.

Since you say that there used to be webbing in your seats, I'm wondering if the seat bottom has been "replaced" with later seat bottom, or if the original bottom was modified to utilize springs of one sort or another?

[mdbrandy]

MikeW noticed in the picture I posted at the beginning of this thread that you can see impressions of what looks like webbing in the cushion in the bottom of my seats. So, either someone took the springs from a later seat and used them in the originals, or took the seat cushion from the early seat and put it in a later seat. Did the '73 have the lever that let the seat come forward more, or did that wait until the 260Z? These seats still have the big dial that tilts the back a few degrees. I'll ask the PO if he knows the pedigree of the seats.

[JEFF]

My '72 ( built in 10/'71) has a lever to recline / tilt forward . I think they are original seats as the car was in unrestored condition when I bought it.

- Jeff

[mdbrandy]

I know that the PO parted out a '71 (which I have several boxes of parts from), so if the early '71's had the knob, it could still have been from that. Does yours have webbing or springs, though? If you have webbing, then this is probably the original seat with springs transplanted into it.

[JEFF]

Mine has webbing and springs (I think) I recovered the seats 5 years ago. It's in my Dad's body shop right now for paint or I'd go and look.

- Jeff

[mdbrandy]

Both? Interesting. I'll see what the PO tells me about what he did.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by mdbrandy

I know that the PO parted out a '71 (which I have several boxes of parts from), so if the early '71's had the knob, it could still have been from that. Does yours have webbing or springs, though? If you have webbing, then this is probably the original seat with springs transplanted into it.

My early 72 (mfg'd in 11/71 & bought from original owner) has webbed seat bottoms and the knob for adjustment of the seatback.

(EDIT) According to www.Zhome.com , the flip forward seats began to be available with production of 1972 models mfg'd in 10/71. There seems to have been some overlap as my 11/71 mfg'd 1972 Z came with the knob adjustable, non-flip forward seats.

[ZCCOR#109]

My 10-71 has a lever along the seat bottom! And it has webbing which I have replaced with new.

The old webbing looked like it had been torched. Twisted, with total shrinkage into a narrow band at some point on some webs?? It wasn't really holding up the seat bottom!??