Rover Sports Register Forum

Although a long way off, I will need to rebuild all of the seats in my '38 "10", and I'd like to start gathering any useful info.
I don't think I have anything which will be reusable unfortunately, though I'll obviously keep everything for patterns.
Questions are:

Is it likely that second hand good / salvageable are available anywhere; even good frames for recovering would be a help.

Does anyone out there have drawings of seats to show how they are built, sizes, angles etc.
My front frames are rotted away and need rebuilding - is it worth thinking about rebuilding the replacements with all metal frames including the backs; if not, which is the best way of bending / shaping the plywood back to the shape required?
I have good runners and seat bases for patterns, but can't figure out the best way of supporting the backrests.
Likewise the rear seat back is totally destroyed by woodworm, again, dimensions would be a great help.

Finally, is it worth trying to save any of the internal metal springing etc, or would modern replacements be built entirely of foam on a plywood or metal frame etc??

Look forward to any advice from anyone who has rebuilt seats, thanks

Phil

Ask the specialists: Mike Couldry, Mike Evans, Freddy Boulton - they may have it. Also the RSR stores.
You can watch some helpful pictures here: http://wp.me/pXLKy-S2 and here:
http://wp.me/pXLKy-10m and here: http://wp.me/pXLKy-Pt and finally here: http://wp.me/pXLKy-11k

Luli,
Thanks for your very helpful reply, I'll make contact with the experts in due course!
Your website is amazing, very detailed, and very helpful to others, and will help to answer most of my questions, thanks.
Although your lovely cars are later models, I assume that the basic seat construction will be similar.
Do you mind if I print off the relevant sections, I will keep on file for future reference
Many Thanks
Phil
I'll try later to add some photos of the car as I bought it......

Here are a few photos of my car as I bought it:

http://s610.photobucket.com/user/gwpedw ... t=6&page=1

I hope the link works!

Phil

Thank you for your nice words. The site is free for everyone to print, share, copy etc. Happy project!

Hi. Looking at your photos the leather on my seats were in a worse condition than yours appear to be. I sewed and glued in replacement patches that were sewed to the same style as original. Cracks and splits were mended with leather repair and I recoloured the leather where needed. It was a slow and laborious job but the seats still look old and have the 77 years of wear that I like. I also had to replace bits of the timber due to rot and woodworm. I used ply that I soaked to release the glue I then reglued and clamped in position when it was dry I joined old and new with fibreglass matting. Not traditional but most of my seats are original so I have no guilt about it.
What I'm trying to say is - don't condemn the originals they may well be salvageable and in my opinion will look far better than reproductions.
Vince

Thanks for your comments Vince. I'll certainly be having a crack at salvaging the old seats if at all possible; like you, I'd want to retain the old ones if I can.
I think I'll be able to salvage and reuse the door cards, probably with new boards though, as the present ones have de-laminated
However, I think the photos make the seats look better than they are in reality!, and I'm definitely going to have to strip the covering etc to rebuild the frames and backs for all the seats - they have rotted away.
After that, if I can reuse the covering I will be doing that, though it may be beyond my skill (and patience!) level.....
Thanks again for your input
Regards
Phil

Hi. Pleased you are considering using the original stuff where you can. If I can help with measurements, suppliers etc let me know.