rear seat installation question

[David Aronson]

Hi, just trying to figure out exactly where this wire secures. 61 notchback. Auto International supplied the upholstery. I am installing it. Taking 3x the time, getting really good at separating glued panels from their glued positions and re-installing them. Picture one shows what it should look like. Picture two shows the wire that will secure the seat panel. Anyone know where I put this. It has been year since I removed the original panel. I do remember removing the wire from the old seat and taking to the upholstery shop. I cannot find the picture I took of the disassembly....Ok, I probably didn't take one....HELP. My project is titled "time to restore my notchback" under 356 talk main discussion. Thanks

[Bob Cannon]

We just went through this on a 61 Notchback here in Sacramento.
The rear seats on a 61 Notchback are very different than the picture you posted of a "regular" hardtop coupe. I have attached 2 pictures for your reference.
This close up picture shows the how the rear seat wraps over the carpeting and is secured by pushing the sharp wire down under the carpet. This picture was from an original, unrestored 61 Notchback. The rear carpet treatment is different than the Auto kit you have. The red arrow points to the corner of the wire, which then turns down and is buried under the carpet.

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The second picture shows the rear seats should look like (in a different car) with an old Autos kit. You can see how the rear seat bottoms are wrapped over the carpet and the sharp wire is stuck through the carpet to keep them in place. It's probably better to glue this section down as well to get a nice tight fit. Then punch the holes to screw in the luggage strap holders.

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[David Aronson]

Hi Bob,
My seat upholstery, from auto int. is not long enough to incorporate the hold down. I will have to either double it over like the coupe picture or have it end above the hold down. Thanks for the info.

[Bob Cannon]

I would suggest that you send it back and make them send you the correct back seat bottoms. They DO have the patterns. The Karmann Notchback is very unique in this area and you should try to replicate the original look.

[Tom Wavrin]

I agree with Bob - AI should work with you on getting it right.
In my early T6 hardtop the ends of the wires went directly through the carpet and into holes in the metal underneath. The seats fit well. Roy Nielsen sewed my interior. Tom

[Martin Benade]

That last picture finally let me understand what this was about. I wonder why this was different on a Notch.

[David Aronson]

Thank you all. I have sent the problem to Dorian at AI. I will post pictures of the fix. I truely appreciste you all for chiming in.

[David Aronson]

Here is what it looks like after Dorian at AI redid them. The metal holdown "nails" have not been installed and this has not been glued in yet.

[David Aronson]

Finished, thanks for all the help. A.I. did make a mistake but fixed it. I had to supply the leather. I have two perfect coupe rear seats in this grey leather if someone would like them.....