split bench seat, is it original???

[IL boy]

I have a 1955 1st series that was built in Canada, I was wondering if they were offered with a split bench seat. Did somebody add this later? it seems to be original to the truck.

Thanks for your help, pix on the way.

[1project2many]

I asked this question about a panel truck that had a split bench. Small seat on RH side, larger for driver and passenger. No answers that time, but maybe you'll have better luck.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

I asked this question about a panel truck that had a split bench. Small seat on RH side, larger for driver and passenger. No answers that time, but maybe you'll have better luck.

I think what you mean is the seats on a Carry all or suburban. 70% bench on drivers side and 30% seat on passenger side that folds forward to the dash?

[IL boy]

Ya it seems to be 60-40ish. 4 bolts hold the drivers sliding seat to the cab, while the back of the passenger side slides down on two brackets mounted above the gas tank, and the passenger seat is bolted to a "ring" that is secured to the floor that wraps around the entire seat assembly.

Seems to be stock, or else a previous owner did one hell of a job.

[fabguy]

Do you have any pics? Very curious about this seat setup
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[mr48chev]

Some may have swapped in a carryall seat at one time. The got this truck with a bad seat and right there in the wrecking yard is this carryall with a perfect seat thing.

[1project2many]

I think what you mean is the seats on a Carry all or suburban. 70% bench on drivers side and 30% seat on passenger side that folds forward to the dash?

Yes... it was a Suburban come to think of it. Neat that it folds forward. Here's the picture with the split bench:

[mr48chev]

On a two door Carry all/suburban you would need the split seat to be able to access the back seat. Or have kids small enough you could just throw them over the front seat into the back.

With the 5 window pickup I wouldn't see any viable reason that the factory would put one in. Somewhere along the line I'd say as I did before that someone swapped it in either because they found it in great shape in the wrecking yard or because they wanted easy access to the area behind the seat above the gas tank. It doesn't happen to have a gun rack behind the seat or holes where one was mounted ? Where someone could have hung his rifle out of site but very easy to access from the passenger side by flipping the seat forward. That way their deer rifle could be tucked away out of site but still easy to access when they got to where they were going to hunt or a carpenter could have hung a long level back there.

[1project2many]

My grandfather's delivery trucks often had split seats with a stowable passenger side. It allowed the driver to put some boxes in the front so he didn't need to open the body at every stop. You'd let the seat down when two guys were on the run. The OEM split Suburban seat would not have been appropriate for those trucks.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by IL boy

I have a 1955 1st series that was built in Canada, I was wondering if they were offered with a split bench seat. Did somebody add this later? it seems to be original to the truck.

Thanks for your help, pix on the way.

so to answer your question... no it is not stock for a pickup, only for a panel or suburban.
they are rare as hens teeth and quite pricey if you need to buy one.
i've seen bare frames sell for hundreds

[IL boy]

The Seats.



This is the clips that the passenger seat attaches to.



this is the base in the cab.

[IL boy]

Mr48Chev, I didn't see any gun rack mounts.

here is the driver seat, the sliding mechanism attached to the floorpan with some large washers.






the clips that held the back of the passenger seat in place.

[mr48chev]

That was was just a theory. Possibly the truck was special ordered that way for a specific purpose. As oneprojec2many said about his grandfather's trucks being set up to have packages in the front beside the drivers, this may have been set up this way for the same reason.

[IL boy]

I'm going with the theory that a vertically challenged used to own the truck and needed to be closer to the pedals. I plan on reupholstering them in john deere yellow and dark green to complement my theme.

[1project2many]

Huh. Looks like a "Unison Type seat" from the '54 factory manual:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...4ctsm0114.html

"The Unison seat is so named because of the action of the seat back and cushion. These two units are fastened together and move in unison, the back moving up and down with seat cushion movement."

Sounds like an uncommon option to me.

See... this is why I love this site! Something new every day.

[IL boy]

1project2many Thank you!!! I was starting to think boat seats, but thats exactly what I got. I like rare options



Side view




Back view




WTF is this here for? some kind of stash spot maybe? spring loaded metal doors bolted on the wooden bottom.

.

[oldcouple]

that's your chevy whoopie cushion, it lets the air out of the seat when you sit on it.

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by IL boy

WTF is this here for? some kind of stash spot maybe? spring loaded metal doors bolted on the wooden bottom.
.

First thing that came to mind was if you really needed to go.....
What to call it?
Porta John?
Better yet, Porta Potty!

[oldcouple]

Check out the seats in this one for sale. http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/3984831074.html

[abrahamseven]

In the 1954 Chevy and GMC pickup that seat was an option called a truckers seat. the driver set on the small seat.

steve

[franken]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

Ok, the truck in the pic needs, no, demands it's own thread.
55-59 NAPCO?
Or looking at the hood, 58-59?

Beautiful!

[Zach B]

I don't think that's organal to the truck however it looks like one ot of a pannel so it may be a special order because they will bolt right up.
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[1project2many]

Ok, the truck in the pic needs, no, demands it's own thread.
55-59 NAPCO?
Or looking at the hood, 58-59?

Beautiful!

'57 Napco. Yes, beautiful. Auction truck...
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/appli...?aid=53&ln=713

[greg_h]

Originally Posted by abrahamseven

In the 1954 Chevy and GMC pickup that seat was an option called a truckers seat. the driver set on the small seat.

steve

Not a GMC option 54 and 55 1st series Chevy only. Found mostly in the COE trucks but optional in the smaller trucks.