A pictorial for those who have never seen the optional 66 reclining passenger seat. In many years of hunting for rare options for these cars, I would say this is one of the rarest I've found (or mostly NOT found!)
I removed one from my parts car the other night and dismantled it in preparation to send it to it's new home in a very deserving car.
One thing I noticed, the seat base (frame) is the same from right to left sides. It has the square hole in it for the power seat switch. I'd sometimes wondered if they are the same.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Wednesday 18th of December 2013 11:36:33 PM
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
It really is a simple mechanism. You can see that silver cylinder in the seat. It has a shaft up the centre of it. I assume there is some sort of washer or something on the shaft. The handle pulls the cable which somehow releases the washer/shaft interference fit, and pressure from the passenger on the seat back reclines it. Releasing the handle makes the shaft tighten up, so technically it has infinite positions. Long long ago a took one totally apart and if I remember right, there is a big spring in the cylinder which helps restore the seat to the upright position when you sit up straight and pull up on the handle.
I have always thought this is one of the coolest options ever on these cars, maybe due in part to the rarity.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Jean, the door is open for you to buy it. You can pick it up at Carl's during your month long stay at his place. Maybe you can barter your services (wash dishes) for it!
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
It's okay, he'll just use his moderator super powers and delete all our posts.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I thought I was posting in the "thread derailing thread" all this time ... I lose track of things around Christmas time each year.
Speaking of Christmas, what's your favourite Christmas song of all time Jean?
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Carl i hate to admit it but I can't figure out where the sort of sleeve piece goes. The tilt control is easy and already has locator holes but the other one has me scratching my head. Help me pleeeeze.
If you can't figure it out I can get the seat bottom out of the parts car tomorrow and check in it. I'm sure I can find the screw holes in there if it's mounted to the bottom, and I believe it is. I'd do it tonight but it's dark out and I'm scared of the dark. I'm pretty sure the boogie man is living under that 66 GP parts car.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thanks carl I'll look again but I don't see any predrilled holes on this seatbottom, but I should be able to figure it out with enough squinting headscratching and mild cursing (not of you though) if that doesn't work I'll let you know in the daylight. Theres a lot of things living in my parts cars too. Little red eyes looking at me as I drive past them in the dark. Yikes!
Just looked at the annotated pictures. That should do it!
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Sunday 9th of February 2014 12:46:25 AM
And here is the mechanism in her new home! I'm fully aware that I desperately need new seat covers and such for my passenger seat (both actually) but Carl keeps me broke finding new options I have to have to make those cross country drives a little easier ( mostly for my wife who I'm trying to convince).
Actually, the pattern is unique to the 66 Grande Parisienne and so far I haven't found anyone around here who can turn out a good replica. There are lots of US model ones and Parisienne ones but I'd really like to keep the orignal pattern.
Anyone have any suggestions?
(Shawn you can get repro headrest mountings and headrests from AMES performance ( and probably lots of other suppliers as they were all the same for chevy as well.) I ordered repro headrests as mine were a bit weathered and they are very close.) The one on that seat is an original though.
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Wednesday 12th of February 2014 12:15:33 AM
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Wednesday 12th of February 2014 12:16:49 AM
I'm fully aware that I desperately need new seat covers and such for my passenger seat (both actually) but Carl keeps me broke finding new options I have to have to make those cross country drives a little easier ( mostly for my wife who I'm trying to convince).
Actually, the pattern is unique to the 66 Grande Parisienne and so far I haven't found anyone around here who can turn out a good replica.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Check with Uncle Carl and get the same as his RED ones
