“Driving a Vintage Volvo in Comfort and Safety”
I‘ve had these 1970 1800E seat frames in my shed for years. They were the set I harvested the much sought after Recaro hinges from.
Charley Mayne, a club member added head rests to his car and his success motivated me to restore the ’70 seats which already have the internal details metal brackets to support the tubes for headrests.
The original seats: Since my ’67 seats need new webbing and the leather was a bit wore and I use to have to clip on some huge “Mickey Mouse Ears” looking headrests, time to start the seat frame restoration.
My first obstacle was how to remove the internal headrest tubes for sandblasting.
Charlie said: “Just remove the inner metal tube by lightly taping up off of the cross member, slide the internal metal tube all the way out.
Once the tube is out the plastic anchor collars can be pried off of the internal tube brackets.”
Frames ready to be sandblasted. (Editor’s note: The author have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with those Barnie purple wheels.)
Sandblasting then match how the originals webbing was woven.
I gave special attention to the lumbar support and webbing might as well have that work well too. Extra-long curved needle-nose pliers worked well to pull the webbing to the proper tensions and “alligator” side grip Cleco clamps held it in place while fastening the webbing to the frame hangers.
Off to a professional upholstery shop to fit the leather seats and new leather headrest, they will know best how much fitting with steam heat and trimming of foam would be needed to get the look I was after.
The shop compliments the quality of the leather and construction from my source VP Parts.
Installed now in my ’67 1800S, WOW! What a difference it makes sitting in new firm, well supported to your posture seats. It’s like you’re in a new show room 1800S Volvo.
Only one issue the new leather smell permeating the interior covering that familiar fragrance of old leather oil and gas…you know that familiar welcoming odor of sitting in your old 1800S that always greets you when you sit down.
PS. There is another way to add headrest on a pre 1968 car. With donor cars getting harder to find, you can now buy the weld on brackets and the head rest kits. Then choose the color upholstery.
The new owner of Gary Ramstad’s ’67 1800S Charlie Mayne added headrests using the parts kit from a reputable vendor to his newly acquired ‘67.
These brackets and new headrests kits are available from CVR, VP Autoparts and other suppliers.
The end result is comfortable and ergonomic seats. With all new foam and webbing, they are higher than the old seats. My wife can now see over the wipers!
With the Recaro chrome hinges, the seat almost fully reclines.
By “Keep ‘em Rolling” Michael Deskins
Photos: Keep ‘em Rolling” Michael Deskins