The Ford Barn

john charlton · 10-17-2017, 06:00 AM

Some years back I bought an Argentine built RHD 180A .It was in sad shape as most South American imports are . It came in with no interior and VW bug seats . I knew the original seats would be very difficult to find so thought I could make do with tudor seats untill the correct seats could be found (Oh Sure!!! ) I now find the pivot brackets on the180A body are 16" apart and the tudor seats I have the pivots are 12" apart . So it looks like the 180A seat is way wider than a tudor . Just wondered what other seat could be made to work, A400,Victoria or van etc etc .Any thoughts as getting a correct set out of a rodded 180A would be a very long shot !!!

John in lovely weather today Suffolk County England .

Oldbluoval · 10-17-2017, 07:40 AM

They are the same as the early vic seat without the "duck bill" for upholstery; just a tack band. The 180A has a flexible flap that fits between the upper and lower padded seat that sorta "hides you butt" when seated.

They are not much like a tudor seat as the lower hinge post is a different angle and the shoulder back is curved rather than boxed like a tudor.

Several years back, I made a run (5 pair) of those. Had the backs laser cut and modified a tudor hinge to be like the vic. I have only seen one phaeton that had "deluxe" seats (i.e. drivers side bigger and on slides); it looked original but could not confirm as it was on a restored car that belonged to a man named Balzer.

Bob Bidonde · 10-17-2017, 08:26 AM

First generation seats from a 190A Victoria. The first 3 photos are of the driver's seat which is wider than the passenger's seat. The 4ht & 5th photos are of the passenger's seat.

john charlton · 10-17-2017, 12:09 PM

Thank you both for the information . I did not realise that there was a rod which ran between the floor brackets ,all is crystal clear . The tudor seat can be made to work as a rod can be threaded through the seat brackets and be long enough to engage the floor brackets . That is where the missing 4" is, 2" each side of rod sticking out past the seat bottom each side .My car being RHD has the 3 hole floor bracket on the right side.

John in same place same weather .Suffolk County England .

Bob Bidonde · 10-18-2017, 06:51 AM

I made the rods from 1930-'31 radiator support rods. The nuts are the windshield lock nuts. Tubular spacers on the rods hold the seats in the desired horizontal position.

Dave Slater · 10-18-2017, 07:04 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Lebarron Bonney use to sell the complete front and rear seat frame for the 180-A either raw or compete upholstered. Dave

john charlton · 10-18-2017, 10:32 AM

Yes I saw that the rod nuts looked like windshield lock knobs ,good idea .I am resigned to the fact that I will have to "adapt" tudor seats to suit . I do have a good 30/31 pair and think I could fit lightly stuffed leather pleated "slipover" covers over the existing fabric ,this will never be a show car so it is really not very critical .I will check out BLB thanks .

John in dismal heavy rain Suffolk County England .

10-17-2017, 06:00 AM	#1
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	de luxe phaeton 180A seat question . Some years back I bought an Argentine built RHD 180A .It was in sad shape as most South American imports are . It came in with no interior and VW bug seats . I knew the original seats would be very difficult to find so thought I could make do with tudor seats untill the correct seats could be found (Oh Sure!!! ) I now find the pivot brackets on the180A body are 16" apart and the tudor seats I have the pivots are 12" apart . So it looks like the 180A seat is way wider than a tudor . Just wondered what other seat could be made to work, A400,Victoria or van etc etc .Any thoughts as getting a correct set out of a rodded 180A would be a very long shot !!! John in lovely weather today Suffolk County England .

10-17-2017, 07:40 AM	#2
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,392	Re: de luxe phaeton 180A seat question . They are the same as the early vic seat without the "duck bill" for upholstery; just a tack band. The 180A has a flexible flap that fits between the upper and lower padded seat that sorta "hides you butt" when seated. They are not much like a tudor seat as the lower hinge post is a different angle and the shoulder back is curved rather than boxed like a tudor. Several years back, I made a run (5 pair) of those. Had the backs laser cut and modified a tudor hinge to be like the vic. I have only seen one phaeton that had "deluxe" seats (i.e. drivers side bigger and on slides); it looked original but could not confirm as it was on a restored car that belonged to a man named Balzer.

10-17-2017, 12:09 PM	#4
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	Re: de luxe phaeton 180A seat question . Thank you both for the information . I did not realise that there was a rod which ran between the floor brackets ,all is crystal clear . The tudor seat can be made to work as a rod can be threaded through the seat brackets and be long enough to engage the floor brackets . That is where the missing 4" is, 2" each side of rod sticking out past the seat bottom each side .My car being RHD has the 3 hole floor bracket on the right side. John in same place same weather .Suffolk County England .

10-18-2017, 06:51 AM	#5
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,520	Re: de luxe phaeton 180A seat question . I made the rods from 1930-'31 radiator support rods. The nuts are the windshield lock nuts. Tubular spacers on the rods hold the seats in the desired horizontal position. __________________ Bob Bidonde

10-18-2017, 07:04 AM	#6
Dave Slater Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Country Victoria Australia Posts: 130	Re: de luxe phaeton 180A seat question . Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Lebarron Bonney use to sell the complete front and rear seat frame for the 180-A either raw or compete upholstered. Dave

10-18-2017, 10:32 AM	#7
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	Re: de luxe phaeton 180A seat question . Yes I saw that the rod nuts looked like windshield lock knobs ,good idea .I am resigned to the fact that I will have to "adapt" tudor seats to suit . I do have a good 30/31 pair and think I could fit lightly stuffed leather pleated "slipover" covers over the existing fabric ,this will never be a show car so it is really not very critical .I will check out BLB thanks . John in dismal heavy rain Suffolk County England .