We are going to get a Sticky going here due to recurring questions about the 1966 - 1972 Strato Bucket Seats.
Members, please help by sharing any of your knowledge.
Let's please keep this thread on topic and not fill it with stray questions and conversations.
Stick to the facts to make it easy for a reader to gain information without having to sort through random conversations that do not pertain to stock factory bucket seat information.
THANK YOU.
I'll start it out with some info and hopefully, this will gain some traction and become the Ultimate Strato Bucket Seat Guide and Identification 1966-1972.
Photos of correct seat upholstery and seat medallions would be good to have in here as well. I will also try to touch base on options that were available for the Strato seats.
Headrests, power driver seat, and optional passenger reclining bucket seats were available options. (Reclining bucket is not an option for the Chevelle, but was available on some other GM models).
Basic Information to start this out.
1966 through 1972 optional bucket seats were called the Strato bucket seat. The seats and tracks are very similar from 1966 through 1972 with some variations and changes.
1966 was the first year of the Strato Bucket seats.
In 1966 The bucket seats did not include a locking back.
They simply folded forward for access to the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle.
The 1966 Seats have metal backs and lower side trim pieces.
Also, correct original 1966 seats had matching color trim on the lower side panels (not chrome)
The seats do have chrome vinyl / plastic trim surrounding the metal back panel.
Headrests were an available option but did not come standard. Headrests are rare in 1966.
1967 Strato bucket seats do have a locking mechanism to prevent the seat from being folded forward.
To release the seat back, there is a button that is on the upper sides facing outward on each seat.
1967 seats also have metal backs and lower side panels.
Headrests were an available option but did not come standard. Headrests are rare in 1967.
1968 Strato bucket seats look nearly identical to the 1967 seats in structure.
These have a locking mechanism to prevent the seat from being folded forward.
To release the seat back, there is a button that is on the upper sides facing outward on each seat.
1968 has plastic backs and lower side panels. Headrests were an available option but did not come standard.
1969 through 1972 bucket seats have a push button located in the center of the back to release the locking mechanism for folding the seat back forward for access to the rear passenger compartment.
Headrests are now standard with bucket seats.
Plastic backs and lower side panels.
The headrests are different than the headrests that were available as an option for 1966, 1967.
Somebody may need to fill in the blanks for headrest information on the 1968 seat and also if any variations in headrests for the 69- 72 seats.
• Bench seat headrests do not interchange with bucket seats.
• Sister GM cars 1966-1972 share the same seats and year-specific information is consistent.
• A-body cars will have the same seat tracks and are interchangeable.
examples; 1966 through 1972: Pontiac Lemans, Tempest / GTO, - Oldsmobile Cutlass / 442, - Buick Skylark / GS (also 1970-1972 Monte Carlo, 1969-1972 Pontiac Grand Prix)
• Many GM cars of the same years will have Strato bucket seats that are interchangeable, however, the seat tracks vary from full size and other GM cars.
For example, seat tracks from an Impala or Nova are different and will not work in our A-body cars.
You can use the seats and have them upholstered in what is correct for your car, but need to get the correct seat tracks to be a direct bolt-in for the A-Body.
If your car was not equipped with bucket seats from the factory,
your floor pans are not equipped to add bucket seats without getting an aftermarket kit to install the correct style mounts for bucket seats.
See this link here for more information on bench to bucket seats conversion. Bench to Bucket Conversion Diagram
As mentioned, a power driver seat was an option. (not available on all years for the Chevelle though) - more info to be added as it is obtained.
I touched on the headrest information above.
Reclining passenger bucket seat was an option (not on Chevelles).
I have seen the passenger reclining seat added to many Chevelles. Just a matter of putting the correct upholstery on the seat.
I know the reclining bucket was available in the full-size Pontiacs.
I have seen them in a few 66-67 GTOs but I believe they may have been added. We need some verification on that.
Basic info breakdown.
66, 67, and 68 are all one-year-only seats if you want the correct seats for those specific years.
66 = no locking mechanism, no push button, metal backs, and lower side panels. headrests optional
67 = locking mechanism, side push button, metal backs, and lower side panels. headrests optional
68 = locking mechanism, side push button, plastic backs, and lower side panels. headrests optional
69 through 72 = locking mechanism, rear center push button, plastic backs, and lower side panels. headrests standard. (note: 69 headrests differ from 70-72)
There is a response below mentioning 69 headrest differences.
If anybody has knowledgeable information to add to this thread please do so.
Members, please help by sharing any of your knowledge.
Let's please keep this thread on topic and not fill it with stray questions and conversations.
Stick to the facts to make it easy for a reader to gain information without having to sort through random conversations that do not pertain to stock factory bucket seat information.
THANK YOU.
I'll start it out with some info and hopefully, this will gain some traction and become the Ultimate Strato Bucket Seat Guide and Identification 1966-1972.
Photos of correct seat upholstery and seat medallions would be good to have in here as well. I will also try to touch base on options that were available for the Strato seats.
Headrests, power driver seat, and optional passenger reclining bucket seats were available options. (Reclining bucket is not an option for the Chevelle, but was available on some other GM models).
Basic Information to start this out.
1966 through 1972 optional bucket seats were called the Strato bucket seat. The seats and tracks are very similar from 1966 through 1972 with some variations and changes.
1966 was the first year of the Strato Bucket seats.
In 1966 The bucket seats did not include a locking back.
They simply folded forward for access to the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle.
The 1966 Seats have metal backs and lower side trim pieces.
Also, correct original 1966 seats had matching color trim on the lower side panels (not chrome)
The seats do have chrome vinyl / plastic trim surrounding the metal back panel.
Headrests were an available option but did not come standard. Headrests are rare in 1966.
1967 Strato bucket seats do have a locking mechanism to prevent the seat from being folded forward.
To release the seat back, there is a button that is on the upper sides facing outward on each seat.
1967 seats also have metal backs and lower side panels.
Headrests were an available option but did not come standard. Headrests are rare in 1967.
1968 Strato bucket seats look nearly identical to the 1967 seats in structure.
These have a locking mechanism to prevent the seat from being folded forward.
To release the seat back, there is a button that is on the upper sides facing outward on each seat.
1968 has plastic backs and lower side panels. Headrests were an available option but did not come standard.
1969 through 1972 bucket seats have a push button located in the center of the back to release the locking mechanism for folding the seat back forward for access to the rear passenger compartment.
Headrests are now standard with bucket seats.
Plastic backs and lower side panels.
The headrests are different than the headrests that were available as an option for 1966, 1967.
Somebody may need to fill in the blanks for headrest information on the 1968 seat and also if any variations in headrests for the 69- 72 seats.
• Bench seat headrests do not interchange with bucket seats.
• Sister GM cars 1966-1972 share the same seats and year-specific information is consistent.
• A-body cars will have the same seat tracks and are interchangeable.
examples; 1966 through 1972: Pontiac Lemans, Tempest / GTO, - Oldsmobile Cutlass / 442, - Buick Skylark / GS (also 1970-1972 Monte Carlo, 1969-1972 Pontiac Grand Prix)
• Many GM cars of the same years will have Strato bucket seats that are interchangeable, however, the seat tracks vary from full size and other GM cars.
For example, seat tracks from an Impala or Nova are different and will not work in our A-body cars.
You can use the seats and have them upholstered in what is correct for your car, but need to get the correct seat tracks to be a direct bolt-in for the A-Body.
If your car was not equipped with bucket seats from the factory,
your floor pans are not equipped to add bucket seats without getting an aftermarket kit to install the correct style mounts for bucket seats.
See this link here for more information on bench to bucket seats conversion. Bench to Bucket Conversion Diagram
As mentioned, a power driver seat was an option. (not available on all years for the Chevelle though) - more info to be added as it is obtained.
I touched on the headrest information above.
Reclining passenger bucket seat was an option (not on Chevelles).
I have seen the passenger reclining seat added to many Chevelles. Just a matter of putting the correct upholstery on the seat.
I know the reclining bucket was available in the full-size Pontiacs.
I have seen them in a few 66-67 GTOs but I believe they may have been added. We need some verification on that.
Basic info breakdown.
66, 67, and 68 are all one-year-only seats if you want the correct seats for those specific years.
66 = no locking mechanism, no push button, metal backs, and lower side panels. headrests optional
67 = locking mechanism, side push button, metal backs, and lower side panels. headrests optional
68 = locking mechanism, side push button, plastic backs, and lower side panels. headrests optional
69 through 72 = locking mechanism, rear center push button, plastic backs, and lower side panels. headrests standard. (note: 69 headrests differ from 70-72)
There is a response below mentioning 69 headrest differences.
If anybody has knowledgeable information to add to this thread please do so.
