I know this topic has been covered a few times but I have a question in relation to exchanging seats.

My driver's seat is collapsed on one side because of years of that section being the first place someone's bum hits when they get in. The front passenger's seat is fine.

Having said that both seats have covers on them. When the covers are removed......well lets just say the seats need a LOT of work. I'm taking them to an upholsterer this week to get him to have a squizz and see how much it would cost to fix.

In the event that the seats are too far gone and need to be replaced I understand that the rails welded into the floorpan on the VW are quite unique so its a little hard to get seats to fit. If I am to get newer non-VW seats to replace the current ones what do people recommend to do (so the seats are legal as well). People have been telling me about kits that are supposed to fit etc, but I'd like to find out from people who actually know what they're talking about

What model is your car? What year? are the floor rails L shaped or T shaped? Do your seats have headrests built in?

74 1300 Beetle. Headrests built in and I'm not 100% of what you mean by L or T shaped, but the ends of the rails have a T shape.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, appreciated

All good info there. Our '71 1600 Beetle has the same style floor rails but seats with no headrests. Your seats will need to be replaced with any other Beetle T shape style seats. This means seats from "L" Bugs with the curved front screen will fit straight in. Being later model seats you will usually find them second hand in better condition.

Many thanks

Was given a very good contact in Canberra (Canberra VW Centre in Belconnen) who is going to install some 95 Hyundai Excel seats for me that I picked up from a wreckers for $180.

He is able to deal with all issues regarding the compliance of the seats and has done plenty of Excel seats into VWs before.

In all honesty it was going to be too much trouble and money to have the original seats repaired (for the time being anyway). I will eventually get the rear seats done in a similiar material to match the front ones

Thanks for all the help anyway. Will post pics when they're in next Thursday

only bug seats (Lbug and standard 1300) up to late 74 will fit
from 11/74 on i think it was they use the 3 point runners like golfs have the old L runners finished in late 70
but any thing from 71 to late 74 will fit but good 2nd hand vw seats arnt real common
its not hard tho to remove the runners from ur existing seats and weld them to some late model car seats

-Joel

Thanks mate. The guys looking after me are doing something with the Excel seats that will make them fit, so all should be good.

Too hard to find the seats I wanted, and I refused to put the 'racing' style seats in as they aren't the look I'm after

i've yet to find a set of racing buckets that are actually comfortable
most of them are stupidly overpriced too specially for what u get
i put gen5 celica seats in my bug and am really happy with them

-Joel

I have the exact same problem in my 74L bug... the drivers seat is looking very ripped on the part where you actually sit... all the stuffing is falling out! At the moment I just have a cover over it... what I cant see :P But I will have to get the seats replaced *sigh*