I can not seem to find the thread where someone converted the
rear "seats" to a shelf/lockbox. I have some projects where the
locked storage area inside the passenger area would be more
convenient than using the trunk.

P O R - Press On Regardless

 

I find it so funny when you guys with rear seats want to rip them out and put a box in and a lot of us without seats ripped the box out and fitted rear seats, go figure . . .

 

I had a 1994 Corvette and I really thought the rear storage unit was a
nice feature. The XJS 2+2 rear seat was done to get lower insurance ratings from what I've read. The seats are not functional devices for
human use.
The storage shelf would provide a better use of the space.
The trunk is really huge. My wife can put an enormous amount of groceries in there. The rear seats do not accommodate bags very well.
A shelf would provide a better platform.

P O R - Press On Regardless

 

So if you take the seats out, will you tell your insurance co........ lol

 

What is so wrong with replacing the seats with the OEM storage compartment? Anybody who wishes for the seats back there is in for a bad surprise because those seats are good for nothing, other than a loose small pet. I wish, myself, that I had the trunk; it is far more practical plus it adds the potential for a locked inside storage that's missing in the last 3 year models. In fact, it is the reason why I have an X300 center glove box lid, so I could install a high secuity lock in it and not be forced to take valuables back to the trunk whenever the car is left with he top down. No back seat is not unusual. Look at SL Mercedes' or Corvette's or several other GT cars with no back seats. And, it is true that the rear seat was triggered by insurance cost purposes. So, bring on that trunk!!

Cheers,

 

Sorry, It must be my humor (Brit in Yankland).....
You wrote in an above post about lower premiums for having the back seat so, conversely shouldn't you have to pay more for not having the back seat ??? Just sayin..........

Also as above. The trunk is very large so why do you need yet more storage ?
I find my rear seat complements the car. Even if totally unusable for anyone over 6..


But as with everything else in life. "Its yours you can do what you like. "


BTW all above said in a joking way. Do not take seriously .....

 

I'm thinking of removing the rear seat and installing a small hot tub; I'll let you know how it goes.

 

You're absolutely correct in that the car does look better with the seats when the top is down. But, then, doesn't a GT car look less sporty with seats in the back? I suppose that it's a matter of individual owner's taste as to whether we want our XJS to show a more sporty look, or a more "sedan-like" stance. In my particular case, the trunk is not big enough because of my 978wrms stereo amps in one side and the nitrous hardware in the othr side, so I'm one who could use the extra trunk in there.

Cheers,

 

Yeah, we always want the other way!!!


1. On increasingly rare occasions I find myself going west toward SF.
I always note what seems to be an equal stream of cars going east, away from SF. Could we merely swap missions and stay where we are???
2. My 68 Toyota FJ40 had two side saddle seats in the rear. Quite impractical and unsafe, no belts!!! And, when I installed the full roll cage, they interfered with the back "kickers". Out with them. I cut out a chunk of black carpet for any occasional passenger to sit on. When I wished to haul cargo, just pull the unsecured carpet. It held quite a bit...


3. I've had three coupes in the past with fold down rear seats. The seats were small, but doable, except for the very large. In the fold down position, it was flat floor all the way back. Very useful.


4. The local politicos want us to install bolted down lock boxes for
our fire arms. Reasonable, but will my bazooka fit???


5. My Jeep Grand Cherokee rear seats are decent in size. With some fuss, they do fold down for a very nice cargo area. The "window shade curtain for the boot contents amuses me.


Carl

 

Ok, enough TiC (Tongue in Cheek). You gotta be serious about this.
The hot tube will never work. But, a small pool table would. Or maybe
a wine cooler !
The suggestion for a small gun locker would be appropriate in todays
Armageddon type world. Maybe 2 of them if you are traveling through NY state.
Definitely not a nice reciprocal Concealed Carry state for handguns.
You gotta separate the ammo from the guns to transport.

The seat back fold down idea may hold some promise. All that would
offer is some shelf space. No locked storage at all. Unless, you
sit the seats on top of a storage locker.

More fun things to do, maybe. . .

P O R - Press On Regardless

 

It shouldn't be too difficult if you have a little woodworking and upholstery skills.

Since I drive with the top down so much, the carpet on my rear storage shelf was suffering from UV damage and looking a little threadbare. In pulling it out to replace the damaged carpeting, I discovered how it's put together.

The main framework and the bin cover is constructed of plywood, which is covered with carpet adhered with contact adhesive. There is a molded vinyl piece that creates the inside and edges of the bin cover, which you can't build from scratch, but you could get creative on how you'd finish the edges and the interior. The rest of the box interior are carpet pieces with vinyl edges, but since those are only seen when the box is open, you could get away without having the vinyl edges.

You could make a cardboard pattern to use for cutting the plywood. If you want it to be identical to the factory version, you would have to source the lock, handle, interior vinyl pieces, and speaker grills.

Alternatively, and probably the easiest route, would be to source the entire unit from a junkyard or eBay. If it looks ratty, it's very easy to strip off the old carpet and make it like new. You can source Jaguar OEM carpet from Paul's Jaguar, but I found a nearly identical match from an online upholstery retailer that was quite inexpensive. You want the kind of carpet that doesn't have a backing, and is designed for speaker enclosures and other uses where it can be glued on to conform to the surface.

Another idea, is that Paul's eBay store has the box lid and hardware for sale:

Rear Storage Box Lid Assembly for 1989 1993 Jaguar XJS Convertible | eBay

Which you could use to build your own making the rest from plywood and carpet.

It would help you a lot if you had access to someone with an earlier factory convertible for you take a look at how it's put together and to use for measurements.

 

Looking back and second guessing some decisions on my Shooting Brake project had me thinking that I could've/should've removed the rear seats which would have solved two problems:
-Saved me time and money on reupholstering rear seats and rear side panels
-Smoothed the look and solidifying the aesthetic/spirit of the car/enhance the utility.

C'est La Vie

 

I saved the storage compartment from my 89 convertible for that reason. I know it won't be a direct fit but it will work as a reference. I'd like it to look original. If I get around to it this winter I will post pics. At this point I don't even know to remove back seats. Lol

 

Mmmmm, I have a lot of stainless steel hardware from a project I did on my Sea Ray boat that could be used to make a nice back shelf storage area.
Oh, I love the winter months for customizing the XJS for a Springtime
outing!
I'm not too keen on too much vinyl/leather for the shelf. Some carpet
and wood would make for a better appearance.
Maybe some of the Jaguar parts manuals can show the construction
aspects of the pre-1994 convertibles.

Definitely a WIP (work in progress)!