Grabber bucket seat upholstery?

Yea, I already know about that. We just need to know will the Mustang foam and upholstery work on 73/74 Grabber buckets.

 

I have seen the rear seat covered with the Stang rear covers and all I have to say is "No Thanks!"...
They don't fit right.
You can get them on, however they are overtly obvious about being wrong. My uncle did it and it would drive me up a wall if it was my car.
It looks okay, like a crappy paint job at 20 foot, but once you look at it, it ain't even close to right.
If you want Stang covers up front, great... but get the rears fitted.
Trust me...
Dave

 

It might work better for you if you have the Stang rears altered then.
Going straight in without custom tayloring, they don't fit proper.
Seen it myself, the rear seat in the Stang is thinner in stature, narrower on top, and have a curve outward at the front corners that the Mav does not have.
Dave

 

Getting closer...

Ok, I have been processing all of this info you guys have put out. Let me just list some observations to ponder.

1. No one mass produces Grabber seat covers
2. The seat padding from 72-73 mustang seats may fit, but I think it is different too. The head rest portion of the seat back has a distict flare out on the sides that I dont believe any of the mustang seats have.
3. Grabber seat frames were originally engineered for the mustang line.
4. My upholsterer believes the 70 mach1 covers fit the same frame as the 72 mustang covers. I am still looking into that. The mach1 is probably my favorite bucket seat covers. not sure about that look on the back seat though. I am sure an upholsterer could make that set up work.
5. Duplicating the original seat is an option. It definately has a certain coolness factor. It looks like the style in my Grabber was used for one year. There arent many like this left and probably super uncommon in new condition. I have to tell you guys that that posted pics of your custom made seat covers: AWESOME. I am jealous.
6. I have three choices really:
[A.] Mustang covers, front buckets and back seat. $700 ($250 covers + $200 seat padding + $250 installation )
[B.] Duplicate the original pattern on buckets & keep back seat as is.$1200 ($500 for each seat + padding)
[C.] Corbeau aftermarket bucket seats and rear seat upholstered to match. $750ish ($278 for each seat + matching the back seat)


My wife likes the idea of getting the buckets redone back to original pattern. I like that too, but the corbeau set up might be every bit as cool. I think they look kinda similar, but modern. Still black vinyl too. This car isnt real original anyway. The motor, rollbar, subframe conectors, orange color, disk brakes and 9" rear were all added,(it is a v8 grabber though) But I would love to hear what you guys think.

 

1: YES
2: 71/72 Maverick and 71/73 Mustang hi-backs definitely positively use the same Foam ... no doubt about it ... same part # from Ford.
3: Maverick and Mustang used the identical bucket seats starting in 1971 so the seats were engineered for both cars. The tracks are different.
4: Compare 70 Mach 1 Covers with 71 Mach 1 covers ... are they different?
5/6: My local upholstery shop charges about $250 to cover a bucket ... the new bun will be around $99 each ...

 

I agree with Dan and Dave.

And $1,200 to duplicate the original bucket seat covers only-no back-is high in my opinion. I would get a second quote.

Seth

 

I think it looks pretty good too.
I don't know about different seats lowering the resale value. These aren't the most sought after cars in the world even if they are increasing in value.

 

Brian,
The price on the original style seems a bit high to me also. The ones I am making with Ruffino inserts should be around $350.00 for the pair of front covers ready to install. The only thing I haven't researched yet is the button in the backrest. The originals were heat set onto the vinyl and covered in a mylar film. I can have them reproduced but would have to make quite a few to get the price reasonable. I am sure that there are ones from a Mustang that attach through the cover that can be used and are readily available. To insure a nice fit new foam is recommended. Even if the old ones look good they have most likely lost their resilience.
Fred

 

How hard would it be to add thickness to the sides of the seat foams?
I think the early buckets are a really good design, they could just use some more aggressive side bolsters.
If the side bolsters were built up, would stock (Stang) covers work and use the added thickness, or will they just squish it down to nothing?

Any thoughts?
Dave

 

Looks good to me

Blown76...yours look great to me. For anyone who wants a Ford style original looking cover and doesn't want to spend the dough to make them
concours correct...they look terrific. You did a nice job.





I hope the rear seats come out in my Maverick
as well as your adapting the '69/'70 Mach I
fold down rear upholstery.

Seth

 

Were Comet and Maverick hi back bucket seat upholstery the same(not the same as Mustangs, but the same as each other)? Could bucket seats be ordered in any car or were they Grabber or GT specific?
Thanks!

 

Comet and Maverick upholstery was the same .... and Buckets could be ordered in any 2-door Maverick or Comet. Buckets weren't available in 4-doors until the LDO option. Buckets were OPTIONAL in Grabbers and standard in the Comet GT.

 

It pains me to say it, but I agree with this post, especially regarding the 73-74 buckets. I have never stripped any to the frames but having lugged both types around many times, I can't imagine the frames are the same underneath.