Can you cram `67 Imperial le baron seats in a `69 Fury convertible?

[The Goose]

I bought some really really nice seats out of a `67 le baron a while back and am now installing them in my `69. I was really torn over changing the color they are so nice and in pretty much new unused condition. The burlap and button string are brand new. It’s weird to find burlap that’s not dry rotted and the string is snow white. The leather is super soft and the seats look beautiful in natural black but my ride needs to be red white & blue so I made the call and blue they will be. I’ll be following Big John’s advice and using SEM vinyl paint. I’m lucky to have an NPD in the neighborhood so hog ring kits and SEM are but a short trip away. Here goes...

 

[The Goose]

The fronts will pretty much bolt in and they will be exactly one inch wider overall. The height should be spot on and they will touch forming the all important front bench instead of separate buckets. I will drill the extra holes after I yank out the bent battered and broken old bench seat. I’m starting out with the back seat as it is way more labor intensive.

 

[The Goose]

Let the games begin...

Got the workbench all set up and laid out the imp seat bottom for surgery.

A neat trick is to have a sheet of magnetic paper handy to catch all the snipped hog rings.

The seat hide was peeled off in perfect condition.

Looks like a piranha attack !

 

[The Goose]

Now have to strip the nasty original back seat bottom.

That’s all the surviving burlap. It just plain evaporated.

Remove the cool old school Monkey Wards seat covers. Good thing I saved that 50 year old box !

I couldn’t in good conscience build up a new seat with all that untreated rust. So...

I used a little bit of nature in the front yard as inspiration and painted the frame after a quick wire wheel job.

Came out okay not great but it’ll last my lifetime.

 

[The Goose]

The le baron seat guts went on and fit pretty good. The two back seats are very close in size.

Looks pretty good and fits like a glove.

 

[The Goose]

Just for a laugh I threw the seat back in there. It almost fits but it sure looks funny. I’ll strip the seat back tomorrow and modify it to fit the convertible frame. I’m pretty sure that stupid arm rest is gonna give me fits!!!

 

[The Goose]

Here is a preview of the final seat color. I didn’t want a super dark blue and I think this will work out nicely. You can see the final shade on the driver headrest compared to the passenger that is just a dull blue primer coat.

 

[The Goose]

Tomorrow I’ll fit this

Onto this...

 

[The Goose]

It’ll be nice to finally put this part to good use !!!

This seat filler panel from ABC has been waiting since last year to get bolted on the car.

I’m going to have to use some elbow grease on this poor thing.

It’s in pretty sad shape.

It looks okay on this mess but it’ll stand out like a sore thumb on a nice seat.

For all you eagle eyed readers don’t worry. I’ll save those seat buttons.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Wow - big job! Looks great!

 

[detmatt]

Very nice work! I thought you did this already, wasn’t there a thread about a year ago or was that just when you had bought the seats?
I’m a bit shocked that the hardtop hide fit the convertible seat frame so well!

 

[Imperialist67]

Part of me hates to see gorgeous seats like these not with the Imperial they came from; but it's equally nice to see them re-used in a C-body. They look pretty good already in that Fury, and I can tell you first hand how comfortable those "split bench" seats w/arm rests are. You're going to love driving that Fury with those seats. Nice that they fit so well. I think that with these being leather and not vinyl, coloring them might be easier (than vinyl), and more dyeing options may be available to you. Looks like you have a good option though. When all is said and done, invest in some Lexol or Leatherique, which really extends their life and helps them stay soft/supple. Good luck with the re-installation, and I'm looking forward to "after" pictures.

 

[The Goose]

Very nice work! I thought you did this already, wasn’t there a thread about a year ago or was that just when you had bought the seats?
I’m a bit shocked that the hardtop hide fit the convertible seat frame so well!

Nope. It rained and rained and rained. Then it turned 103° overnight. It’s between 60° and 95 right now so as soon as the sun goes down it’s actually (don’t laugh!!!) kinda cold. This is perfect weather to get this done. I’m not gonna lie a lot of wasted time spent grousing over the color change...

 

[The Goose]

Part of me hates to see gorgeous seats like these not with the Imperial they came from; but it's equally nice to see them re-used in a C-body. They look pretty good already in that Fury, and I can tell you first hand how comfortable those "split bench" seats w/arm rests are. Nice that they fit so well. I think that with these being leather and not vinyl, coloring them might be easier, and more dyeing options may be available to you. Looks like you have a good option though. When all is said and done, invest in some Lexol or Leatherique, which really extends their life and helps them stay soft/supple. Good luck with the re-installation, and I'm looking forward to "after" pictures.

Thanks, I’m looking forward to a comfortable seat without a “gangster lean” Lol !!!
keep in mind these were dumpster dived by a smart member who let them live a second life. I know how lucky I got finding these for sale. I think to do my broken seats it was about $4k just to recover let alone fix the front bench. I can’t/don’t want to picture that poor ol girl being derbied. Breaks my heart.

 

[The Goose]

Seat bottom color change.

Abby did everything she could to stop any progress!

Big difference between the cheep pep boys blue and the SEM blue. At a difference of $10 per can I’ll primer coat w the cheep stuff.

Lookin good safe & sound.

 

[The Goose]

Now this is going to be a bit more complicated...

Stripped and ready for new foam and cotton stuffing.

I removed extra the arm rest material and will have to replace this section w new material.

You can see the obvious issues w just slapping this on. I’m going to have to install a channel for the back seat speaker housing. Not the end of the world.

 

[The Goose]

I do have this critter and the other material strips to install it. If anyone needs this arm rest it is free for the asking. 1967 Chrysler le baron rear seat center arm rest. Too nice to not try to give away. I can bring it to the fall fling in two weeks or ship anywhere you like. It’s hefty but not too heavy.

 

[The Goose]

And here is proof that these seats wanted to be blue the whole time.

 

[The Goose]

If anyone wants the bare back seat frames let me know. Otherwise they are going in the metal scrap bin at work.

 

[detmatt]

So is your car originally red with a blue interior?