<VV> Headrest Benchish Seat

[airvair at earthlink.net]

Perhaps I could shed some light on this. While researching for my window
sticker program (I sell completed window stickers) I happened upon this
option. While often refered in customer literature as "strato-ease"
headrests, the '66-earlier Corvair "bucket" seat is refered internally at
GM as a "bench-bucket" or "individual bench" seat. That's because when they
first designed the Monza for '60, they really had no full-fledged "bucket"
seat (with the exception of what was in the Corvette.) So they simply cut
down the frame of a bench seat to an "individual" width. Hence the
terminology, which shows up only because it's an option, not a standard
item. And if you look at a '66-earlier "bucket" objectively, it shouldn't
take much imagination to visualize it three passengers wide.

Internally, the Corvair really didn't have a true bucket seat until '67.

BTW, I'm always in search of original window stickers. If anyone has one,
I'd appreciate receiving a xerox or scanned copy of it. (See my mailing
address below.)

As a side note, when I went to work for GM in '74 I found some 40-year-old
seat frame dies that were still in production. I was told that they usually
don't redesign seats that often. They were still using the same 40-year-old
seat frame under new upholstery!

-Mark Corbin
5474 S.R. 19
Galion, Ohio 44833


> [Original Message]
> From: <Sethracer at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Headrest Benchish Seat
>
> In a message dated 8/15/2009 9:02:24 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
> Turbo66Coupe writes:
>
> Seth, This is straight off the original window sticker on a 66 Corsa 180  
> Turbo Coupe!
>  
> I've never heard of or seen one either & maybe one of the experts  would 
> know for sure!
>  
> 3A82AJ           HEADREST BENCH   SEAT                   $42.15
>  
> Thanks
>
> Could be. Is that your car and your sticker? The car came with the  
> headrests?
>  
> Tony Fiore's book, - The Corvair Decade lists:
>  
> For 1966 the only option A82 as Headrest, conv. type front seat. (That's
a  
> bench) 
>  
> For 1967 and 1968, Option A82, Headrest, conventional type front seat   
> (10100 series - that's a 500 bench) 
> and
> Option AS2   Headrest, special contour type seat (10500  series - That's
a 
> Monza with Buckets)
>  
> For 69 - all optional headrests disappeared - they became standard
>  
> But the book also confirms that only the 500 series late models had 
bench 
> seats. All 65-up Monzas and Corsas had Buckets. For 1966, though, the  
> flat-type seats might take the same design headrest as the bench,
although I am  
> sure a few headrest experts will explain the differences. <grin>
>  
> (PS - Maybe some at a computer back in 1966 missed a key!)
>  
> Seth  Emerson