backside of front seats in a convertible

[42dodgeguy]

Guys I'm doing a 42 Dodge convert, and the front seat was completely shot, which is what happens after sitting with the top down since 1957. I've nailed some seat parts to work with, but have come to notice that there seems to be 2 types out there. One has a sort of metal shelf attached to the rear of the seat down by the floor with carpet material attached that I'll call a sweeper. It looks like it might also serve as a footboard or rest for back seat passengers. Others have just a fabric that hangs down, that for want of better terminology I'll call a drape? I'm wondering what anyone with a 41-48 convert might have in theirs? I'll try to attach pic's. if I can master it

[Dan Hiebert]

The "shelf" you describe is indeed a foot rest for back-seat passengers. From what I've seen, all the vehicles with a back seat have that foot rest. The lack of that foot rest would probably indicate that the vehicle that particular seat came out of did not have a back seat - such as a business coupe. But, I don't know if the MoPaR convertible products were available with or without a back seat. In short, I'd use the foot rest version if my car had a back seat.

[42dodgeguy]

Well, that answer seems like it might have some logic to it, except that the one with the drape came out of a 2 door sedan that did indeed have a back seat.

[Labrauer]

I have a 48 four door sedan that has that on the back of the front seat and I don't know what to do with it. I am getting the seats redone and also replacing the carpet in the car. As it sits right now there is no carpet on the boot rest nor is there anything that goes down the back of the seat to cover it. Just plain metal sticking out there now. My question is how is it covered by the carpet or by the back of the seat meteral? It also appears to have a place where a rope like what is on the inside of the doors have might attach to it. Any feedback on that too? It is like the second pic on 42dodgeguy put on the fourm.

Larry

Edited February 10, 2012 by Labrauer

[busycoupe]

Many of the old sedans had a rope across the back of the front seat. I was told that it was to hold a lap robe for the back seat passengers. I remember one in my Father's '52 Chrysler Windsor when I was a kid. (kids had a good view of the back of the front seat)

Dave

[42dodgeguy]

The rope deal is seen on 4 doors. 2 doors because of the split between the seat backs don't have it. It may serve many purposes, like a coat or robe holder, also something to grab onto on rough roads (before the days of seat belts?) Maybe an assist for elderly in entering and exiting rear seat? Would be useless for that on 2 door cars when the seatback folded forward. Well, that's my 2 cents woth on the rope-a-dope thing. Wish some real convertible owners would weigh in on my drape versus sweeper deal