Single head rest question

[obrut]

From a bit of searching here it appears that the headrests in a 67MY 911 could be/were ordered individually.

I saw 66 build/67MY 911 recently with what appeared to be its original seats. However, it only had headrest brackets on the passenger side.

Why would someone order a headrest for the passenger and not for the driver? Any thoughts?

[jfadams]

I am told that the headrests were originally something to rest a head on, i.e. take a snooze; not a safety feature. After examining the construction of the original headrests and mounting system, I think that explanation has some merit; the mounts are flimsy and the headrests would fall apart on impact leaving two head spikes. Since a passenger is more likely to take a snooze during a trip, it makes sense for a single headrest to be mounted on only the passenger's seat. My father-in-law ordered his 1967 Porsche 911 with mounts on both seats, but only ONE headrest. Guess he wanted the option to take a nap once he reached his destiny without moving over to the passenger seat ...

[L.a.Brooks]

Very common for 356's to come with one headrest - usually on passenger side.

My 1964 356C came that way.

[obrut]

Thanks gents, very interesting.

[NeunElf]

Right and left headrests were sold separately, so back then having just one must have seemed like a good idea. From the September 1965 options list:

Option # 9444, Part # 644.521.085.13, Schlummerrolle mit Beschlag, Leder, links / Head rest with fittings, genuine leather, left, DM 80
Option # 9445, Part # 644.521.085.13, Schlummerrolle mit Beschlag, Leder, rechts / Head rest with fittings, genuine leather, right, DM 80
Option # 9446, Part # 644.521.085.07, Schlummerrolle mit Beschlag, kunstleder, links / Head rest with fittings, leatherette, left, DM 59
Option # 9447, Part # 644.521.085.07, Schlummerrolle mit Beschlag, Kunstieder, rechts / Head rest with fittings, leatherette, right, DM 59

As to why anyone would order only one, way back then they weren't considered a safety necessity (neither were seat belts, back then). Maybe whoever ordered the car you saw thought a headrest would make the passenger more comfortable but wanted the driver to be more able to turn his head.

My recollection is race car seats didn't usually have headrests until some years after they were mandated in street cars.