H.D. bucket seats? Anyone know this option??

[Chevy454]

I just picked up a '72 GMC Suburban, and "H.D. Bucket Seats" is on the option list...anyone familiar with this option? Is it the regular buckets found in the truck/blazer? Or...??

[Down south truckin]

do you have a picture of the seats themselves?

[Longhorn Man]

they were replaced with a bench

[Chevy454]

Longhorn's right...there is a blue/houndstooth bench in the front now, but there are some extra holes in the floor and the indentions from another set of seats left lasting impressions on the original floor mat...

[special-K]

...and an extra renforcement under the floor?I believe this was special Harley Davidson model much like Ford offers now.J/K
Gee,you got me stumped.I wonder if this was offered in`71?I have that book and will check the code.The utility buckets,which I`ve only seen in Blazers and panels, would be listed as utility buckets.And,I`ve never seen an upscale truck use those,either.Nice Suburban,BTW.

Edit:I can`t read that code.What does it say?

[Chevy454]

Looks like "1A8010"...I don't have the 'Burb here with me this very second, but I should in a bit, and I'll double check the code. I might even take some pictures of the holes/indentions in rubber mat, and that might narrow it down a bit.

And on second thought, maybe I'll try hunting up the original owner from the Protect-O-Plate info...?

[ChevLoRay]

Just wondering....could those H.D. seats be the same as those in the step vans, with a modified track? I remember a '57 Chevy Sedan Delivery that had bucket seats in it, but not the kind you wanted to brag about.

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by Chevy454

Looks like "1A8010"...and I'll double check the code. I might even take some pictures of the holes/indentions in rubber mat, and that might narrow it down

Very interesting Code indeed if it is listed as #1A8010 for the front H.D. buckets, all the original bucket seat equiped trucks I have seen always seem to have the code A50 listed for the seats. The A80 code is also used for the center & rear seat code on burbans. Are there 8 total mounting bolt holes on the drivers side floor board and 4 total on the pass. side floor board? Cb

[Chevy454]

CB: I rushed and misread the code on the sheet...the 'Burb is getting the a/c charged right now, so as soon as they call (should be any minute) I'll got pick it up and grab the *correct* code! Sorry about that gang...

[Chevy454]

Curious, what was the code for the "buddy buckets"...? I kinda wanna put this thing back to where it was, so I need a heading before I start spending money! LOL!!

[Chevy454]

Got the family truckster back home...the code shows:

16K6BQ - H.D. BUCKET SEATS

[ChevLoRay]

I'm looking at a '69 edition of the Truck Data Book, used by sale personnel. Here's what's in it relative to Heavy Duty seats:

Panel Models:
Auxillary; one-passenger. Includes RH armrest, RH sunshade and seat belt. Not available when heavy duty driver's seat is ordered.
Without Custom Comfort and Appearance A57
With Custom and Appearance A57

Heavy Duty; driver only AM2

Driver and one-passenger auxillary, includes RH armrest, RH sunshade
and seat belt AN4

Under Suburbans, there is only one bucket seat option listed, A50. I don't know if this helps, but it's what I read.

[Chevy454]

Ok, here's a picture of the floor mat & holes left by a previous seat...this is the right-most 1/2 underneath the current bench seat in the front of the 'Burb...

[Chevy454]

A couple more shots of the seats holes in the floor/mat...

[special-K]

I believe your`Burb is a copo with those codes.The production vewhicles and supporting data lists all 3 digit codes.Not,sure if copo or regular special factory ordered.But I`ve only seen 3-digit on special orders and 6-digit on copos.The buddy buckets bolt exactly where the benches do.

[Longhorn Man]

My old 69 GMC had the long code for the options, and didn't seem to be special ordered, nor COPO (shouldn't it say COPO if it was? I've seen a few like that)
And the SPID in the 72 burb I hope to get has them listed like that too

Again, nothing outta the ordinary listed, nothing under SE (special Equipment)

[Chevy454]

Do these bolt hole locations happen to match up with the regular bench/console available on these trucks? No one around here has a bench/console truck for me to measure...3 buddy bucket trucks, though?!

[67-72williso]

Utility buckets brackets are 14 1/4" apart center to center. I think these brackets are futher apart than regular bucket seats. I found a driverside utility in a "72" C-60 it had some type of other jump seat in the passengerside. Both seats were listed on the glove box.I wish I had that glove box door, that truck has long been crushed.
Later, Willis

[Longhorn Man]

the buddy buckets are 67 and 68 only, after that, it was buckets and console.

[Mike C]

Dual wheel conversion? Is the Suburban a dually? Does the VIN on the glovebox match the VIN on the truck or is it possibly off a pickup?

[ChevLoRay]

1967 Bucket seats weren't really buckets, were they? I have a friend with a muffler shop who has a "bench" seat from a '67 that has the center fold-down that makes the seat a bench, or 40/20/40 seat with an arm rest. I remember them from "back in the day", but haven't seen very many with this seat option.

[Longhorn Man]

Mike, that is someone else's SPID, not the suburban in question.
Chev, the 67 and 68 bucket seat option was 3 seperate cushions mounted on one frame with the center seat flipping down for an arm rest and flips up for seating, flip it up again for a storage compartment. That is the bucket seat or buddy buckets that go for lotsa money .. 67 and 68 only.

[68 Stepside]

My 67 Panel had the H.D. seat equipment. I wish I would have taken pictures of the floor, it originally had no holes in the passenger floorboard, and had some anti-slip strips installed in place of a seat. I dunno if they were original or not, but they appeared to be.

When I bought it, it had a 60s full size car bench seat installed in it, and the original seat was long gone, the only thing I did keep was the glovebox door, dash and all 4 doors.

Here's a pic of the option sheet, I can try and get a better one tomorrow if I remember.

[special-K]

I`m guessin`that H.D. buckets are utility buckets.This Suburban has alot of utilitarian options for a 1/2t.Too bad they`re gone.I`m willing to bet these were custom cloth utility seats.Something I never knew about and plan to do with a pair I have.Do your holes measure 14 1/4" center-center?

[Chevy454]

I'll have to put a tape on the holes, but I think they're gonna be wider than that...also, I tracked down a previous owner, and he said it should have the Blazer buckets/console in it...said the gentleman he got the Sub from was a rather "large" guy, who took them out and put in a bench for more seat room. Truth or fiction, don't know, but that was his story...