12/52 Rear Seat

[Evan Lomas]

Hey guys, I’ve got a 12/52 coupe that was missing the rear seat backrest. I purchased one on eBay that was listed as “Pre-A” and was told it came out of a 55’. Are there any difference between years regarding the backseat? Any help would be appreciated.

[Alan Hall]

I believe it should fit fine....however your car may not have had the rear seat back originally. I believe the "USA Standard" configuration that Hoffman ordered for some of the '53 cars had the 1500 Normal engine and all corduroy upholstery with no rear seat back (to be cheaper).

[Evan Lomas]

Very interesting as my car was a Hoffman US Spec ordered car

[Matt Lantz]

Does anyone know what years they used the adjustable bolts for changing the angle of the back seat?

[James Davies]

Yeah Evan, your car probably did not have a seat back rest originally, as Alan states. This was a "feature" of the 1953 model year for Hoffman cars with type 546 engines. This practice continued through the early 1954 calendar year. Usually the Kardex for these cars states "USA Standard" with no other details.

[Frank Hood]

Alan and James - My 53 is a Hoffman, USA Standard, with Corduroy and a 546 engine so I am guessing it is safe to say it did not come with a rear seat back. Do you know if the car came with rear seat bottoms or would it have just been carpeting like GTs? FYI my car also lacks a gas gauge and windshield washer system.

Many thanks
Frank

[James Davies]

Frank, it would have come with the standard seat bottom cushion. No gas gauge, no windshield washers. Hoffman reserved the later for USA de Luxe models, and the gauge didn't come about until 1954, though it was always an option that could be special ordered. Some 1953 cars have one.

[Alan Hall]

Other differences were only one sun visor (I forget which side), and no reclining seats. There may have been other differences that I have forgotten, maybe James knows the full list.

[Frank Hood]

Thanks for the info James and Alan!

Both my front seats recline however it is possible they have been swapped sometime in the past. I have records dating back to 1986 and no mention of a seat upgrade. Are there date codes on the seats or recliners? I would like to know if the seats are original or upgraded later in life.

Thanks again
Frank

[James Davies]

Yes Frank, the Reutter recliners are date stamped on the inside bottom of each recliner. The boomerang-shaped non-reclining ones are not date stamped. But the recliners and boomerangs also mount at different heights on the seat back, so it is likely that the seats have been swapped if the recliners have been added. You can verify original seats by checking for the the last 2 or 3 digits of your chassis number marked on the wood bottom at the front of each seat.

Other "features" of the USA Standard cars were non-metallic paint and the the round fresh air vents blocked off.

[James Davies]

Matt, the rear seat for coupes was always adjustable (a little) via bolts. See photo below of mine from my '53 coupe.

[ThibautBoey]

Matt, the rear seat for coupes was always adjustable (a little) via bolts. See photo below of mine from my '53 coupe.

is this black cap on the bolt original?

[Frank Hood]

James - I will verify if my seats are original next time I have them out. As for the round fresh air vents, are you referring to the ones you push/pull to open/close under the dash? If so I have these too. The plot thickens.

Thanks
Frank

PS The original color is azurblau.

[James Davies]

is this black cap on the bolt original?

Yes. Another '53 coupe with original interior never removed.

[James Davies]

James - I will verify if my seats are original next time I have them out. As for the round fresh air vents, are you referring to the ones you push/pull to open/close under the dash? If so I have these too. The plot thickens.

Thanks
Frank

PS The original color is azurblau.

Yeah, you can just use your cell phone camera with flash on to get a photo underneath and on the hinges.

As for the vents, I don't know if those vents were blocked off on all USA Standard cars, but certainly they are on many. Also, yours could have had them added during a restoration if it was restored? This often happens, as Evan's post that started this thread indicates, when people buy a car, start restoring it and realized their car is missing vents, seat backs and passenger-side visors. =)