SWB Front Seat Question

[John912]

Not sure about 67 or 68, but for 65 and 66 the passenger side front seat has a latch mechanism that needs to be manually released to tilt the seat-back forward while the drive side does not. I'm talking about tilting the seat-back forward to get access to the rear seat -- not the recline mechanism. Does anyone know Porsche's reason for doing this? It has always baffled me.

[CDOUGLEHMAN]

My guess would be to keep the seat from flopping around when you do not have a passenger. It would be very annoying if every time I hit the breaks the seat back would move

[Jim Breazeale]

Not sure about 67 or 68, but for 65 and 66 the passenger side front seat has a latch mechanism that needs to be manually released to tilt the seat-back forward while the drive side does not. I'm talking about tilting the seat-back forward to get access to the rear seat -- not the recline mechanism. Does anyone know Porsche's reason for doing this? It has always baffled me.

John

It's baffled me, too. Porsche started putting seat back restraints on front seats in 1962 YM cars. Both seats had the restraints. They also put a "safety" rear view mirror in those cars. The mirror had a spring loaded base that would detach from the car when struck fairly hard, Like when your forehead hit it just before going through the windshield in a front end collision.
63 year model cars came with only the passenger seat restraint and the rear view mirror was attached to the car with 3 screws and no "safety" spring. Nothing changed through early 911s and 912s until the 1968 YM cars. In 68 both seats came with the seat back restraint and the "safety" mirror reappeared. I've received 100s of requests from owners of 63 thru 67 cars for the seat back restraints on their driver's seat, assuming that a previous owner removed them. Those cars never had them, even though the hinges have the provision for the restraints just like the passenger seat. I can only guess that Porsche realized that the restraint was not specifically required by the US DOT and they could save a few cents by omitting it. Laws (in the US) changed in Jan 1968 that required the restraints, so they were installed and have been there ever since. I'm not sure if all RHD cars between the years of 63 and 67 got the restraints on the passenger (left) seat and none on the driver's (right) side but I have seen many examples that were like that.

Ciao

Jim

[John912]

I think you and Doug got it right, no need to spend a few dollars to put a latch on the driver seat, Whereas the passenger seat could flip forward under hard braking when not occupied

[bob joyce]

Physics….. They wanted to get rid of the directed mass of the seat in an accident...

[NeunElf]

John

It's baffled me, too. Porsche started putting seat back restraints on front seats in 1962 YM cars. Both seats had the restraints. They also put a "safety" rear view mirror in those cars. The mirror had a spring loaded base that would detach from the car when struck fairly hard, Like when your forehead hit it just before going through the windshield in a front end collision.
63 year model cars came with only the passenger seat restraint and the rear view mirror was attached to the car with 3 screws and no "safety" spring. Nothing changed through early 911s and 912s until the 1968 YM cars. In 68 both seats came with the seat back restraint and the "safety" mirror reappeared. I've received 100s of requests from owners of 63 thru 67 cars for the seat back restraints on their driver's seat, assuming that a previous owner removed them. Those cars never had them, even though the hinges have the provision for the restraints just like the passenger seat. I can only guess that Porsche realized that the restraint was not specifically required by the US DOT and they could save a few cents by omitting it. Laws (in the US) changed in Jan 1968 that required the restraints, so they were installed and have been there ever since. I'm not sure if all RHD cars between the years of 63 and 67 got the restraints on the passenger (left) seat and none on the driver's (right) side but I have seen many examples that were like that.

Ciao

Jim

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I've many times observed that on the '65 911 Porsche virtually always chose the most expensive way:

• Forged rocker arms with bronze bushings
• wool velour carpet.

I guess they had to stop the spending spree somewhere.

[Jim Breazeale]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I've many times observed that on the '65 911 Porsche virtually always chose the most expensive way:

• Forged rocker arms with bronze bushings
• wool velour carpet.

I guess they had to stop the spending spree somewhere.

Jim

Your assessment is the same as mine. The seat hinges are just one example. How about window frames? Made originally from hand assembled and fitted chrome plated brass (just like 356 window frames) Changed to much cheaper aluminum in 68 and probably raised the price because they were lighter and added a performance advantage. Did away with vent wings in 69 and added "flow thru ventilation". Upped the price again. Porsche wasn't the only manufacturer to do that, though. It's always about the money.

Jim