[CPNE]

Originally posted by VTKidder
What's the difference between the buckets over the years? Height, bracketry, shape, console style? I'm kinda keeping my eyes out for a set of the buckets with the flip down arm rest / center seat. How do truck seats differ from blazer / sub buckets (if at all?) Thanks....

Adam, The pic below shows the 3 styles.

The 67/68 style (on left) is a 40/20/40 setup and bolts to a tubular frame. The center console/seat can be flipped up to reveal a storage area and can be flipped down for an armrest. The drivers side only adjusts. Burbs used similar setup except w/o the center seat back. Dodges used same setup but different frame to mount. 67 used a wide pleated pattern, whereas the pleats in 68 were spaced closer together. These are the hardest to find and cost more. They are IMO more comfortable and are a more versatile design.

In 69, the more modern setup of 2 separate buckets and a center console were used. 69-70 used a single scroll pattern (center) and 71/72 used a dual scroll pattern vinyl (right). The seats were the same in burbs, Blazers, and trucks, except Blazers and burbs had plastic backings and Blazers used a flip-forward pass seat bracket to allow access to rear seat. Trucks used fixed passenger brackets (I assume Burbs did too), and in all vehicles only the driver side adjusted.

Blazers also had utility buckets which look like mini bench seats (i.e. not contoured for fanny). These had steel backings, not plastic. They used same seat brackety however.

All consoles 69-72 had rectangular holes for the seat belt buckles. Cup holders did not appear until 77 or 78. Other than the cupholder change, consoles from 69 to late 70's early 80's are the same. On the consoles, Chevys had a bowtie emblem (blue 69-72, gold 73-up), GMC's used the red GMC emblem.

73-up lowback buckets are almost identical to 69-72 style. The back's corners are a bit more squarish and the vinyl patterns/colors were different. Throw a period-correct cover on them and you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. The brackets used 73-up buckets will not work however as the floor contours are different.