Fastback Barracuda Folding Rear seats-damaged?

-
B

Bluecuda340

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Messages
154
Reaction score
166
Location
Tulsa ok
I have a total of 3 folding back seats out of 68 and 69 Barracudas. Every single one of them is damaged in ways I can't make sense of. The good one I used had the frame rolled in around one of the hinges, I was able to disassemble it and hammer it out then put it all back together. The other two seats I have have the rod that actuates the cam lock all mangled and the hinge plates on the seat back all torn up.

What on earth did people do to these things? Are most of them like that or did I just get lucky.
 
Guess I was lucky.

Only had to fashion a new spring mechanism for the release knob that functions on fold down. Mine was busted. If it binds up in the cams due to this it can mess it all up when the Operator gets frustrated and tries to raise or lower it!
 
When I restored and installed new covers and stuffing, the frame was blasted and refinished. First I replaced that stupid broken circular thick wire spring and welded in a couple tabs for standard springs on a diagonal offset. To me it works right now, I slide the knob and it releases and snaps back then locks in the cams at full drop. I hit the slide again for raise and snaps back to keep the cams in the right position and locks at full upright.
 
Last edited:
Lord knows I use it a lot with the canopy, chairs and cooler and such in the back going to car shows every other weekend in the late spring/summer and fall! It sure is nice when it works correctly! Always considered these cars one of the early crossovers there are so many of today! I have hauled all sorts of large items in the car back in the day! Always loved that fold down seat and rear hatch!
 
Once when camping, it started to pour and filled our tent. In my '68 cuda we put the seat down and the trunk divider, then slept in our sleeping bags.
 
Murray said:
Once when camping, it started to pour and filled our tent. In my '68 cuda we put the seat down and the trunk divider, then slept in our sleeping bags.
Click to expand...
I have sales literature that mentions sleeping in the back!
 
I use mine for Drag Week, I usually carry about 300lbs of stuff including slicks, a jack, some spare parts etc. It sure is nice to have all that room, and the window makes it easy to see but the roll cage and the small opening from the trunk sure make it hard to get to lol.
 
This is an old picture from 2013, since then I run a taller tire and I lose the whole back seat for drag week for the weight and room to stack the tires behind the drivers seat.

IMG_3148.jpg
 
I've been to home depot before and loaded 8' boards in our 67. Guy was waiting by the car when we came out. Wanted to talk about car, then laughed as I loaded the wood in it.
Another time an older guy, late 70s told me about the time at a field party many years ago they were watching his brother and the local "talent" in the back lol.
I love the looks of notch backs, but the versatility of fast backs is incredible.
 
4spdragtop said:
I've been to home depot before and loaded 8' boards in our 67. Guy was waiting by the car when we came out. Wanted to talk about car, then laughed as I loaded the wood in it.
Another time an older guy, late 70s told me about the time at a field party many years ago they were watching his brother and the local "talent" in the back lol.
I love the looks of notch backs, but the versatility of fast backs is incredible.
Click to expand...
That glass can be cold on a bare butt. LOL. I slept in mine plenty of times. Used it for hunting too. I hooked up a hood cable to drop the door from the drivers seat. No need to get out of the car.
 
I used to go on ski trips with a buddy in my 68 back in the day. One would sleep in the back & one would drive. The skis fit nicely back there too.
 
Bluecuda340 said:
I have a total of 3 folding back seats out of 68 and 69 Barracudas. Every single one of them is damaged in ways I can't make sense of. The good one I used had the frame rolled in around one of the hinges, I was able to disassemble it and hammer it out then put it all back together. The other two seats I have have the rod that actuates the cam lock all mangled and the hinge plates on the seat back all torn up.

What on earth did people do to these things? Are most of them like that or did I just get lucky.
Click to expand...

Bluecuda340, I've got a '69 fastback that didn't come with a fold down seat originally. I've replaced the brackets with hinges, but I don't have the cross rod, or the cams on each end. I guess I was just planning to make my own rod and cams, since I haven't been able to come across any of them. I'm ignoring the center latch and it's linkages, so all I'm looking for are the cross rod and end cams. Any chance of selling me what you don't want/use? Even if it's mangled, at least it gives me a patterns to start with. Thanks in advance. Doug
 
69 M-CODE CUDA said:
Bluecuda340, I've got a '69 fastback that didn't come with a fold down seat originally. I've replaced the brackets with hinges, but I don't have the cross rod, or the cams on each end. I guess I was just planning to make my own rod and cams, since I haven't been able to come across any of them. I'm ignoring the center latch and it's linkages, so all I'm looking for are the cross rod and end cams. Any chance of selling me what you don't want/use? Even if it's mangled, at least it gives me a patterns to start with. Thanks in advance. Doug
Click to expand...

I bought all the parts to convert mine to a fold down from Davescuda. You might try him if can’t find them elsewhere.
 
Bluecuda340 said:
I have a total of 3 folding back seats out of 68 and 69 Barracudas. Every single one of them is damaged in ways I can't make sense of. The good one I used had the frame rolled in around one of the hinges, I was able to disassemble it and hammer it out then put it all back together. The other two seats I have have the rod that actuates the cam lock all mangled and the hinge plates on the seat back all torn up.

What on earth did people do to these things? Are most of them like that or did I just get lucky.
Click to expand...

50 years ago people opened them up and threw or dropped things in there. Sometimes the spare tire after changing a flat because you were too pissed off and greasy to care.
 
69 M-CODE CUDA said:
Bluecuda340, I've got a '69 fastback that didn't come with a fold down seat originally. I've replaced the brackets with hinges, but I don't have the cross rod, or the cams on each end. I guess I was just planning to make my own rod and cams, since I haven't been able to come across any of them. I'm ignoring the center latch and it's linkages, so all I'm looking for are the cross rod and end cams. Any chance of selling me what you don't want/use? Even if it's mangled, at least it gives me a patterns to start with. Thanks in advance. Doug
Click to expand...

I had no idea they were available without a folding seat, are those still super heavy?

For now I think I want to keep what I have complete, I have some inventory at my parents house I need to sort and sell and or move soon.

Check with BarracudaKid on here, I have bought a few parts from him recently and he says he has everything you could need for the folding back seat. He is a good seller as well.
 
A56 said:
50 years ago people opened them up and threw or dropped things in there. Sometimes the spare tire after changing a flat because you were too pissed off and greasy to care.
Click to expand...

You would have to be really mad to throw if from the trunk all the way to the back seat lol, but I could see that!
 
4spdragtop said:
I've been to home depot before and loaded 8' boards in our 67. Guy was waiting by the car when we came out. Wanted to talk about car, then laughed as I loaded the wood in it.
Another time an older guy, late 70s told me about the time at a field party many years ago they were watching his brother and the local "talent" in the back lol.
I love the looks of notch backs, but the versatility of fast backs is incredible.
Click to expand...

I hauled a complete California King size water bed and bookcase headboard in it! No issue with the trunk lid closed. Gotta love the space!
 
Got to test it out today and it works. Now to get it covered and order a harness for my boy. The 10 second family cruiser is coming together.

IMG_3164.jpg
 
Murray said:
In '69 they eliminated the lower dash pad and the fold down seat became an option.
Click to expand...
That's too bad about our '69 dashes, I liked the looks of my dads '68 Formula S dash. My first new '69 cuda 340 had the standard interior with no fold down rear seat back. My present cuda 340 has the deluxe interior with the fold down option.
 
I have reinstalled the fold down rear seat but it does not fold down completely. Something is not installed correctly. Ideas?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top