Rear Bench Seat

[n/a]

I'm from Melbourne, Australia, and am in the process for shopping around for a W113. I would like to know if they can all be fitted with a rear Bench seat or if it the one's without a soft top only. Is the bench seat easily sourced if not purchased with the car.

[Douglas]

There are 2 possibilities for seats back there. There's the transverse seat which is a small seat that sits sideways behind the front seats and then there's the full bench seat that is only seen in the Coupe form.  The Coupe has just a tiny bit more room in the backseat area because it doesn't have a soft top well. This gives it the ability to be a 2+2, but just barely.

I think it's fair to say that installing a bench seat in a Roadster would be futile. There's just no legroom back there to speak of. I don't even put cocomats back there. That's how tiny it is.

The transverse seat (aka "Kinder Seat") is another story. It does work in a Roadster, albeit for a kinder-size person and only for short trips. It's also something you'll see on ebay from time to time, unlike the bench seat.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[rwmastel]

AwesumBZR620,

Are you looking to seat 4 in the W113?  If so, are they adults?  For how long of trips?  I've only seen this bench seat in photos, but typically the front seats are all the way back against the rear bench.  This leaves zero leg room, literally!

Could owners of these bench seat coupes please comment on the functionality of the seat?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[n/a]

The bench seat - and that is all it is, very basic - was only ever fitted to the 'California' coupé models.

The sideways "Kinder seat" on the other hand is very neat and looks just right in the car.  With its own lap belt it's pretty safe and it can be removed when not needed, which makes it very practical too.  My (currently) 7-year-old son, Felix, sits in there happily for long journeys ...  My strapping 19-year-old, Josh, struggles however, due to hip and shoulder width more than anything - but for short journeys a medium-size guy or girl can use this seat easily - though one keeps the speed down with bigger people in there as heads are quite close together with anyone other than a child.

The back and base cut-out patterns are available from MB and so these seats can be relatively easily made up from plywood, foam filling and tex or leather finish material to match your car.  They fix with just a couple of bolts / wing nuts and a spring clip for the base.

Richard -

W113 250SL '67
W123 280TE '85
W210 230E Estate '97

ex
W123 280TE '84
W123 230CE '82

[Ben]

quote:The back and base cut-out patterns are available from MB and so these seats can be relatively easily made up from plywood, foam filling and tex or leather finish material to match your car. They fix with just a couple of bolts / wing nuts and a spring clip for the base

Hi Richard........how are you ?

Do you, or anyone else, have these measurements ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[n/a]

I have the bench seat in my 70 280SL California.  Since I am 6'6", the front seat is right back against the bench and there is zero clearance for legroom.  The seat itself would be OK for a small child, an order of groceries or a dog.  A shorter driver that had the driver's seat forward a bit may have limited leg room for a child in the sitting position.  Same on the passenger side.

Cheers

Jim







Jim

quote:Originally posted by rwmastel

AwesumBZR620,

Are you looking to seat 4 in the W113?  If so, are they adults?  For how long of trips?  I've only seen this bench seat in photos, but typically the front seats are all the way back against the rear bench.  This leaves zero leg room, literally!

Could owners of these bench seat coupes please comment on the functionality of the seat?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

JLHunter

[n/a]

Thanks for all the replies, this is truly a helpfull & friendly forum.

To answer Rodd's question, I have two small kids that may necessitate the need to transport them to sport events & such activities at times when my wife is busy with the famil car. This is the only dilema in purchasing a car such as the Pagoda, which I've loved for some time now. I'm 5'6 so there may be some leg room for a child behind my seat. Definitely no Adults in the back seat.

Thanks
Jim
Melbourne, Australia

[n/a]

Richard,

My car has the sideways "Kinder seat" but no belt. I have always interested in finding out how a seatbelt can be installed for that seat. Can you share some information on the lap belt in your car. It would be great if you also have some pics to show the attachments.

Thanks,
Louis 70 280sl red auto

[Douglas]

Here's a seller on ebay who has a whole bunch of item lumped into one auction. It appears that one of the parts is a bench seat. As it's preesented (and priced), I doubt if anyone will bid on it. Perhaps you can work something out with him:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=34206&item=4564658338

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Buz]

Who at MB or elsewhere can I contact to get patterns to build a kinder seat?  Thanks.