63 vs 64 front seats

[64studeavanti]

According to the parts manual, after R5361 there are different part numbers for the front seats. I have a pair of 63 seats in good condition and the seats for my 64 (R5408) that are not so good. I have taken one of each apart to determine the difference and it looks like the newer seat is reinforced, both back and bottom, at the hinge location. The newer seats also have more padding on the rear of the seat back. Has any one experienced failures due to the earlier seats not being reinforced? I would like to use the 63 seat bottoms and backs as they are in better condition and am trying to ascertain any problems I may face.

[Gunslinger]

In the '63 I used to own, the drivers seat fiberglass fractured internally down low on one side of the seat back. A friend at a body shop repaired it with a reinforcement...I don't remember what he did as it was over thirty years ago but I had no further problems with it.

[plwindish]

Same thing happened to me Gunny with my 64 round headlight car. I ended up bolting a metal plate to the side of the driver's left side lower setback hinge base. It kept the seat from being a rocking chair. It held up for the time I had the car back in the late 60's.

[abasile]

I owned R5408 for a while. Would be interested in talking to you. I now own 5432.

alanbasile@gmail.com

[64studeavanti]

I bought it in NC. was that you?

[64studeavanti]

Don't know if this would be useful to any one else, but here are pictures of the old and new seat bottoms and backs.

As you can see, the latter seats have a complete metal frame around the seat back as well as a reinforcement across the front of the back and have additional (Styrofoam?) padding.. The latter seat bottoms are also reinforced where the seat rails bolt up. I intend to make a similar reinforcement out of 3/4" conduit and use the older seat bottoms (since they are in better condition) with the latter seat backs.

Edited May 16, 2015 by 64studeavanti

[mfg]

Interesting pictures!...My first Avanti, 63R-3623, had a badly broken driver's seat frame when I purchased the car. I'll bet many '63 avanti seats fractured like that....and I can definitely understand Studebaker beefing up the seat frames on later cars.

[abasile]

Since thick back seats were the last upgrade made to the Studebaker Avanti, they are a rare item -- only about 300 cars had them! . I predict these "Late 1964" cars will begin to increase in value at a quicker pace than any other Stude Avanti. That makes saving the thick back seats worthwhile. Just my opinion!