This car has the most useless back seat. I cant imagine anyone over 6 sitting there. Has anyone tried to install storage box from a convertible? I think this would solve many issues. For one I could put in speakers larger than 3.5 inches and a sub. It think would look good as well.

 

I have heard of it being done. I had thought about doing this myself but decided it would take more time and energy to do it correctly then I would get out of it. I know a bit of interior stuff back there would need to be modified to get every thing looking good but would make a good winter project and sounds like you have some good ideas for speakers etc.

Over the years I have seen different photos of this conversion and seems like the best way I have seen to frame the storage compartment in is with 1" by 1" pine or some other type of wood. Do you have the lower storage compartment still in your convertible you are parting out? Seems like this would make a good starting point and you could modify that as needed to work.

 

Agreed. I was going to use the storage compartment as a template. I thought of matching the trim with the dash as well. I like the idea of a 2 seater.

 

Most cars like this have seats so someone can cram in if they really need to but for the most part its just decorative. I think seats just finish off the back better than a cargo bay, but it doesn't make to much difference to me. I put stuff in the back seat like its just a place to put things and not anyones seat, so I don't mind. I can't see any advantage in going to all the trouble to put the convertibles rack back there.

I have considered it before, but it just sounds like a lot of work for nothing. If you back seats look like crap then its probably a cheaper route though

 

I spent a lot of money years ago putting a seat there..............For a while my small kids could sit in the back, now that the youngest it 24, he can just cramp himself in. lol


But the car looks much better with the seat. Not sure how the coupe would look without one though.

 

The back seats on models from the launch in 1975 to about 1986/7 (when the front seats were changed for more 'Recaro' style ones, along with other changes such as the Mk III aircon) are much more usable than on later cars. The front seat backs are less deep, and there may have been other subtle positional differences.

On these earlier cars, provided the front seats are moved forward a bit - not excessively so - the back seats are quite useable. One year on the way to the Spa GP, I was in the back (5' 11") for 200 miles and it was quite OK.

By contrast, the 1989 3.6 litre car I had for a few years was impossible to get into the back of, except sideways, feet on the seat.

Greg

 

Here in Germany, insurances are cheaper on 4 seaters than on 2 seaters... So even little cars like the Toyota GT86 have 4 seats, although even Kids don't fit in the back!

 

The only reason that these and other "sports" coupes have back seats is for the insurance cost (or the reduction of insurance costs) Same goes for the Nissan ZX, Merc Coupes, etc. Can't sit in 'em, but it saves you a grand or so in premiums!

Go figure, another bureaucratic work around...

 

We have a 95 convertible that has the rear seats; however, the prior owner was half-way done removing them when we got that car.

He had removed the seats and cut the rear shoulder belt pillars down with a sawzall, so there is no turning back now. However, the rear pillars still need a little more cutting down.

I have done extensive measurements of the area with the seats removed, and I am making cardboard templates of the different parts. Ultimately, my goal is do what several others have done; i.e. make a carpeted package tray with a metal luggage retaining bar, coupled with a slightly padded and upholstered rear upright panel, capped with a burl-walnut or walnut veneered horizontal top trim piece that sits flush to the existing vynil side panels where the rear speakers are mounted. All of this will be fabricated from 1/2" plywood and pine. The goal will be to make everything I put in as low profile as possible, so it doesn't interfere with the operation of the heavier later-model front seats. I have seen the higher "cargo locker" style inserts in the earlier convertibles, but that's not what I am going for, as I could see a higher box interfering with the front seat backs. Plus, the trunk is big enough that there is really no reason for a locking interior trunk in my opinion.

While my modifications will clearly turn the rear area into a cargo deck rather than a seating (all seatbelts will be eliminated), I plan to make it rugged enough that someone could sit there in an emergency if need be, even if they might get a seatbelt ticket. We're talking about someone jumping in there to get out of town in a zombie apocolype scenario, lol.

I'm plan to start making the lower deck components in the next few weeks. Will post photos of progress when possible.

 

I like how they look (especially in black interiors) but think I've only had a passenger there once in all my years of ownership - we were bar hopping. If it could be done tastefully, with some locking storage and upgraded stereo components, I say go for it. There are 928s and 456s which have had the back seats removed.

 

my 78 XJS has seats removed, along with the steel top(roof).

body stiffening braces installed ,much more ridged ,for an open top car!

 

I am currently for back seats to fix on my Jag instead of the box, when everyone tries hard to get rid of them. Can anyone help to source the parts ?

 

I have a tall 8yr old and he fits in there perfectly without a booster seat. They work and have been very useful for 2 years. I say that in 2 more years Im going to move him up front. Other than that, when I was in high school back in 93’ we packed an XJS with 5 people and off we went to a party. There, I just proved that theyre not useless.

 

I have the back seat stuff from my donor car.
Super excellent condition.
Offers Offline please.
Since I'm always away from the computer please call or text me before 4 PM @ 650-455-1110.
Thanks,Stephen D'Angelo
1107 Galvez Drive
Pacifica CA 94044

 

I'm not sure the back seats will fit, But the leather could be reused on a home made seat. Mine was made out of 2 boards, foam and leather by a company in '93.
The hard part seemed to be cutting a hole in the tunnel for seat belts. I would think any interior guy should be able to do it.

 

Makes a great ice cream eating platform for the little ones

 

Those girls are making a memory right there. Look how happy they are 😂

 

I have removed the rear seat components on my 94 convertible and Im beginning the fabrication of a roll bar. The seats are in great shape and are Doeskin in color and are available along withe the seat belts and enough of the seat belt stanchions to be usable.