M501.... Finally got it fitted

[Jason]

Just got my seats back from the trimmers and fitted the M501 Benchseat option:

Well chuffed!

 

[Tiki-Al]

Now that!.....looks the bollix mate

 

[windsurfer]

Sweet, your gal can get nice and close now :lol:

 

[Jason]

Sweet, your gal can get nice and close now :lol:

Fat chance.... be one of the kids.

Just got to get the belts in the back done now.

 

[Tofufi]

Love that 8)

Presumably it is fairly uncommon? I've never seen it before, anyway.
I'd like to have the option of doing that in my bay

 

[two benders steve]

hi , I've been thinking about this kinda thing for a bit , I'm sure I've seen somewhere that it's possible to get a frame so you can have an extra seat in the middle (removable so you can still use the wall through) has anyone seen them ? p.s your set up looks ace. steve

 

[Jason]

I think Bluebird-Customs sell a repro of the VW buddy seat.

 

[easy]

I am really interested in this aswell, always fancied a bench seat in the front. Just would have to sort out the seat belt issue, but thats the plan. 8)

 

[easy]

Does anyone have a pic of their bus with a 3 point inertia seatbelt fitted? or do you have to use 3 points static belts?? oooo got me thinking today! 8) :lol:

 

[flynster]

i`ve got the same in my bus and use two three point statics either side and a lap belt in the middle with me lad up front in a child seat no probs at all 8)

 

[Jason]

I've got 3 point inertia's and a lap in the middle.

 

[easy]

I've got 3 point inertia's and a lap in the middle.

So how does the passenger seatbelt secure? as there isnt a hole for the belt to clip into?

 

[Jason]

I've got 3 point inertia's and a lap in the middle.

So how does the passenger seatbelt secure? as there isnt a hole for the belt to clip into?

Not quite sure what you mean there, but in my pics I've not threaded the belts through the back of the bench seat yet so that may confuse you.
There are two sets of seat belt mounts on the side of the walkthrough.

I got the belts from Heritage as they did 3 point inertia with a fabric rather than steel stalk.

I'll put up another pic when I've got the belts adjusted up properly so you can see how it looks.

 

[easy]

I've got 3 point inertia's and a lap in the middle.

So how does the passenger seatbelt secure? as there isnt a hole for the belt to clip into?

Not quite sure what you mean there, but in my pics I've not threaded the belts through the back of the bench seat yet so that may confuse you.
There are two sets of seat belt mounts on the side of the walkthrough.

I got the belts from Heritage as they did 3 point inertia with a fabric rather than steel stalk.

I'll put up another pic when I've got the belts adjusted up properly so you can see how it looks.

Yup thats the one dood, forget me an early start today!

So what did youmake the double seat from or is it an orginal one? 8)

 

[cotswoldiver]

Its a good option, even better as you can return to walk through mode when needed.The underseat/surround matting looks in good nick as well, were you just lucky with the condition or if it was a new purchase where did you get them from?

 

[streetboy]

I like that, pretty cool 8)

 

[Jason]

Its a good option, even better as you can return to walk through mode when needed.The underseat/surround matting looks in good nick as well, were you just lucky with the condition or if it was a new purchase where did you get them from?

The drivers was original with the bus and the bench I've had lying around for a few years whilst I hunted down the M501 brackets which are rarer than the proverbial hens teeth, and oddly I found on here! There are a couple of the backrest sections on the samba at the moment.

The seats were restuffed and covered with TMI kit, although I'm glad I got the trimmer to do it for me. He had to shamfer and add to some sections of the bench padding to take into account the shape of a 30+ year old seat frame.

To be honest you could easily make up the brackets to do it yourself. It's only a case of moving the inboard seat clamp to the right place in the walkthrough. The holes are already there in the bases for fixing. I think you could get away without the back section, or make a plate up to go across.

The underseat matting came from heritage. The floor mats are original.

Next job is to change the canvas up top!

 

[easy]

Very nice work mate, Will have to have a nose for a bench seat me thinks! 8)

 

[froggy]

That does look rather good!
Is the bench seat also original or could you modify a rear 3/4 bench seat?
Would mean loosing the walkthrough but could use the extra walkthrough space for an extra storage unit.

I hate this forum, always making me think of more things i could do / spend money on :lol: :lol:

 

[Jason]

That does look rather good!
Is the bench seat also original or could you modify a rear 3/4 bench seat?

It's an original front bench. Can be found on the samba as a 2/3 seat. Very difficult to find here which is strange as most vans, crew cabs, etc were sold with a bulkhead and three seats up front.