1956 Buick Roadmaster Convertible Seat Fitting

[Guest Lance Konkle]

Hello,

I am restoring a 56 Buick Roadmaster convertible.

Can someone tell me if front seats for a 56 2 door hardtop will fit a 56 convertible?

Thank you,

Lance

[JohnD1956]

23 minutes ago, Lance Konkle said:

Hello,

I am restoring a 56 Buick Roadmaster convertible.

Can someone tell me if front seats for a 56 2 door hardtop will fit a 56 convertible?

Thank you,

Lance

 

You have to be careful of the model designation.  The Special ( series 40) and Century ( series 60 ) are smaller.  The Super ( series 50) and Roadmaster ( series 70) are larger.  40/60seats are not interchangeable with 50/70 seats.  HOWEVER, I am not sure if the convertible and hardtop seats are interchangeable within these series designations.  ALTHOUGH I believe they are interchangeable.  Best to take some measurements of the mounting holes and seat widths.

[Bhigdog]

The 55's and 56's are basically the same body and for 55's the front seats are the same for converts and  2 door hard tops within the same series (40/60 & 50/70) The rear seats are different but the HT seats can be cut down and modified into convert seats............Bob

[Guest Lance Konkle]

23 hours ago, Bhigdog said:

The 55's and 56's are basically the same body and for 55's the front seats are the same for converts and  2 door hard tops within the same series (40/60 & 50/70) The rear seats are different but the HT seats can be cut down and modified into convert seats............Bob

Thanks Bob and very helpful... particularly the modification of rear seats.

So the 56's also... the front seats are the same for converts and 2 door hard tops?

Lance

[Guest Lance Konkle]

23 hours ago, JohnD1956 said:

 

You have to be careful of the model designation.  The Special ( series 40) and Century ( series 60 ) are smaller.  The Super ( series 50) and Roadmaster ( series 70) are larger.  40/60seats are not interchangeable with 50/70 seats.  HOWEVER, I am not sure if the convertible and hardtop seats are interchangeable within these series designations.  ALTHOUGH I believe they are interchangeable.  Best to take some measurements of the mounting holes and seat widths.

 

Thanks John !

[Bhigdog]

On 12/9/2017 at 9:46 AM, Lance Konkle said:

Thanks Bob and very helpful... particularly the modification of rear seats.

So the 56's also... the front seats are the same for converts and 2 door hard tops?

Lance

 

54/55/56 are the same body tub. Speaking to the 55's my 55 Century convert came without seats. The front seat from a 55 2 dr Special  were a direct fit only differences were the fabrics. The rear seats I was able to cut down in width to make them convert seats. BTW, the Old's body tub for 54/55/56 is pretty much the same as the Buicks, again big/small series, 88 or 98, matters. I can't say for certain but I would place a bet the Old's seats are the same as Buick's................Bob

Edited December 10, 2017 by Bhigdog (see edit history)

[Auburncoupe]

R/master,Super only.  

[Guest]

On 12/9/2017 at 10:03 AM, Bhigdog said:

 

54/55/56 are the same body tub. Speaking to the 55's my 55 Century convert came without seats. The front seat from a 55 2 dr Special  were a direct fit only differences were the fabrics. The rear seats I was able to cut down in width to make them convert seats. BTW, the Old's body tub for 54/55/56 is pretty much the same as the Buicks, again big/small series, 88 or 98, matters. I can't say for certain but I would place a bet the Old's seats are the same as Buick's................Bob

When Olds made '56 88s and 98s they used the narrow body on both. I know this because when looking for sixway power seat to install in my '55 Century, which only optioned 4way, GM introduced the sixway option in '56 available for narrow Spec/Cent and wider bodies(Cadd and Super/Rdie)the '56 Olds 98 measured at exactly the same width as my '55 Century. The seat frame and floor mounting assembly for '56 Roadmaster and '56 Cadd 62 is 6" wider than '56 Olds 88 or 98 and '56 Spec/Century. 

[MrEarl]

 I’ll just throw this in here as a point of interest. The 1954 Skylark, which is a small series century/special body, used the roadmaster front seat. I have sold at least three roadmaster front seats to restorers of Buick skylarks.  So while a large series front seat might fit tightly into a small series, I would think a small series would make for an uncomfortable resting of ones arm on the armrest. 

[meles45]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I bought a 1956 Buick Special 2 door post, and it didn't have a back seat, I bought one from a guy who said his came out of a 55 or 56 Buick special or century 2 door hard top, but it doesn't fit, it seems to be too wide and it doesn't fit between the wheel wells. I was wondering if it might be for a super or Roadmaster or if it there might be a difference between hard top rear seats and post rear seats. If you think it could be for the Super or Roadmaster then could it be modified? Or would I just be better off selling this one and finding another?

[Fr. Buick]

Super or Roadmaster will not fit.  Since you had a sedan, maybe try a 4dr sedan?   Beyond that, anything can be modified...

[JohnD1956]

To answer the question of modification I would like to see a picture of the seat and the interior side panels.