69-70 Seat Tilt Release Question

[frankc]

Hello,
When I purchased my '73T, it came with a pair of 1969-70 Comfort Seats. However, oddly the left (driver) seat does not have the locking latch for the seat back tilt at the base of the outer recliner, and has the inner recliner type of blank where the release knob/button should be - as in the photo below (not my seat):



This results in one being able to tilt the seat forward at any time by simply pushing on the seat back.


Note that the right (passenger) seat does have the normal locking latch and release knob/button on the outer recliner - as in the photo below (not my seat):



I suspect some previous owner (intentionally or otherwise) simply assembled the left seat using the incorrect outer recliner, but I wanted to check if perhaps there were some markets back then that allowed such a configuration (as unsafe as that may seem). Note that it is an RoW car, and the seatbelts on these comfort seats have the gold thread running down the center, so at whatever point this car lost it original sport seats, it may have still been somewhere in Europe at the time.

Thanks for any help.

[SFE]

The configuration you describe is exactly the same I have in my 1969 italian 911E.
Locking system only with passenger seat.

[frankc]

The configuration you describe is exactly the same I have in my 1969 italian 911E.
Locking system only with passenger seat.

Hmm, very interesting. It would be even more interesting if a few more folks comment that they also have a left seat with this non-locking configuration.

Per the CoA, the car originally was ordered with sport seats, and I already purchased a set to replace the comfort seats. Hence, I am planning on refurbishing the comfort seats and then post them for sale, and was wondering if I need to source the correct outer (left) recliner for the left seat with the locking mechanism - assuming the non-locking recliner currently on the seat is indeed incorrect.

I took a quick look at the parts catalog, and I don't see an entry for a left seat with a non-locking left (outer) recliner, which further points to this seat likely being "cobbled together" from a collection of seat parts, but I'd be happy to be learn otherwise.

[nickb4]

I have seen instances here on the site where the factory delivered (at least some) Italian cars with a non locking driver's seat hinge.
See posts starting with #27 on this thread
https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...quipment/page3

[frankc]

Hi Nick,
Thanks for that thread link. This does bring the number of reports for non-locking left seats up to a few cars that were built for the Italian market. This may also provide a clue of where my '73T was located before it was imported to the US.

Given this, I think I will simply leave the left seat un-lockable for now, and watch for a good deal on a lockable left recliner since I suspect most buyers would expect it to be lockable.

[SFE]

My opinion is it’s better to have the driver seat unlocked because you only need one hand to access to the rear of the car.

[1969911T]

My German 69T does not have the driver lock. Has the original seats
Steve

[Ludovicmeffre]

My 68L doesn’t have driver lock. Easier to have acces to the back.