Early 911-912 Regular Seats

[Edwin Ek]

I just pulled out of my storage a pair of early regular (not sport) seats. They look like 356 seats. How can you tell what years (of 911 and 912) they are for? There are no doubt (slight) differences to pin that down. They don't fit in a 356, do they?

TIA

[C J Murray]

I am pretty sure the track width is different and I think the shape is a little different. Post a picture and see who can help. The early 900 seats have date codes I think.

[Jim Alton]

I'm pretty nearly certain the track width is different but I haven't actually measured my 356A and 911.

The first couple months early 911 seats had six pleats--later seats had five.

Brett Johnson says there was a "first style" seat used up to 911 chassis # 301045 (~ April 1965) and 912 chassis numbers 35045/450208.

Very early leatherette seats had a perforated vinyl (similar to the 356Cs) on the pleats and the seat back. Later leatherette insets were basketweave.

Brett Jonson gives one clear break: up to the end of calendar year 1967 the headrests were the same as 356s and attached to clamps on the back of the seat. Starting in calendar year 1968 the headrests were on rods that went into the top of the seat's back. Cars without headrests had plastic plugs there so the presence of headrest holes means it's CY 68 or later.

If there are fabric inserts houndstooth probably means 911 and corduroy probably means 912 (see http://files.porsche.com/filestore/down ... olours.pdf).

By the way, if you'd like to see an early 911 seat you can come out to the east end of LA County.