So what do you think should go in a Kustom? I'm at the point where I need to make a decision...at first I think buckets, because I'm giving the back seat the thunderbird treatment and the buckets would match...but it would be nice to have my honey squeeze up close?...
Depends, is your honey close to you're height. My wife is only 4'10" and if she drives, my legs are scrunched up. I'm for buckets but I've known my wife for 42 years.
how the hell are you supposed to get lucky with bucket seats?! i like bench because i sit wide and it gives me tons of space
If you ever get ran-out of your place and have nowhere to go,... it's easier to fall asleep on a bench seat than buckets.
They recline which makes it much easier to have your honey sit in your lap at the drive in... Still have a bench in the back for other reindeer games.
so, seats for your '49? got a pic to post? if chopped and/or bagged need to go with Tbird buckets ('58-'63), if no heavy mods then go with bench.
yea I'm down with bench...whats a good easy bench to go with (besides stock because I dont have one!) was thinking 60/40 style...I will post up some pics tonight hope you guys will did it.
....Go with the bench if you can....just got done with my 37 ford coupe (OLD SCHOOL) had to go with buckets because I was too big (steering wheel hit my belly)...I save the bench....when I could lose fifty pounds I'll put it back in.....
Me, I'd go for buckets because I like going around corners way too fast. However, I think the look of a bench suits a custom far better, so I'd be inclined to investigate some sort of shenanigans with foam densities that would make a bench hold one in place like a bucket when subjected to one's weight.
This is a tough one that I'm dealing with right now. My 49 Fleet has a nice bench, just like the Lord provided. But the older I get, the tougher it is to sit for any length of time on a bench seat ... when sitting in the driver's position near the left edge, they just don't seem to give the same lateral support in the left hip as does a bucket. But buckets don't quite look right, IMHO, in a 49 fleet. What to do, what to do??!! Barry but I did convert my truck to buckets
I prefer the look of bench seats on older cars but just as I was finalizing the interior for my '40 Chevy sedan project I found two brand new black leather bucket seats from a new S class Mercedes that have ten way power adjustments and heat and A/C ducting. They fit like they were factory and are very comfortable. Now I have to come up with more money for the upholstery guy to match the leather for the back seat and trim.
Not the best photos but here's the bench seat,from an 80 Malibu, in my 49 Sled. Seat was white I dyed it
I agree, a wraparound Thunderbird back seat is going to look awkward with a straight back bench seat in front of it. If you're really worried about having a center passenger or sleeping on it, consider a set of 63-66 Chrysler bucket seats, they have a separate center section that is basically a fold-down armrest with a pad below it. When it's folded up, the whole thing basically forms a bench seat, when it's down, they're separate. They can adjust independently and the arm rest in the front will match the one in the back from the Thunderbird. Late model seats don't belong anywhere near a custom or a hot rod, I don't care what you cover them with. A chopped-top custom with a headrest would be about the worst thing you could ever do.
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