Having the headrests on will make them run in to the hoodlining when tilting for rear access. I remove the headrest first, then tilt. It is a PITA and the Rover seats are actually worse in that regards.

The second and last subframes you put up are similar, the middle one have the anti-tilt latch. Might be a rood idea to put some vinyl under the back floor rest of them to save your carpet.

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I was assuming the rovers were the type where the back of the seat tipped forward anyway, like the very late Aussie seats.

My interest in the headrests on the cobra classics was from the head restraint aspect. I'm about 5'11. Do the find headrests on the classics rise up enough to act as a restraint? (would need to come up to ear level at least I would think)

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I tried these seats on in the Revolution showroom, and the headrests would be better described as 'shoulder rests.' I'm shorter than you.
Revolution has a few other retro style buckets too.

If you can, it's worth sitting in one before you buy.

Graeme H has nailed it on the Cobra Head Rests.

Yes, you would think that the Rover Seats tilted same as late Oz Clubbie Seats, but no (It is quite typical, Oz engineering on these cars was streets ahead of the poms).

Also as Graeme has suggested, ' try' before you buy, but keep in mind the stand that the seats are on in the show room will be at quite a different angle and height to how they'll sit in the car.

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I had a look at yours Doc when we were on the Wollombi run ( very nice ) , showed em to my wife as i have been thinking about a set for my car, unfortunately i didn't catch up with you
as i would of liked to have sat in one to see what they are like.

With regard to the Rover seats, I think it depends on the market it was sold in new. I discussed this with Henry Draper about ten years ago.

If I recall correctly some or all Japanese spec Rover seats pivot forward from teh front like an early Mini seat (or Conra Classics) and are a PITA because the headrest needs to be removed. Some oddity of Japanese laws maybe?

The UK-spec ones all tilt like a 1275LS seat and are more user-friendly.

Please correct me if I'm wrong as my memory may be soggy.

Cheers,

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

So have we come up with the bone fide best price out there? I know the old man is looking for a set for his Major.

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http://www.rylstoneclassic.com

I have the second subframes in mine. I happy with them. The bottom ones mark the carpet. The top ones look to be ok too.

The top two also have the anti-tilt latch but these are useless on early cars. I plan to remove them from mine.

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

That really surprises me about the Rover Seats.

You are right about the Aussie Engineering. My late Father worked at BMC/Leyland in the 60's/early 70's as a design/engineering draftsman (virtually up to the closure of Zetland). He always said how proud they were of their engineering achievements (eg. windup windows, door latches etc.)

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

PM sent

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

RE Subframes I have one of each.

I don't think you can get the "handle on one side" ones anymore as that was the old superceded model. The horizontal bar one is the latest one and I think it's actually better and sturdier. Both are the same in terms of seat geometry.

One other thing, the bar one is harder to bolt onto the seat because you can't push the seat any further forward than the bar itself to get to the nuts to tighten them. You can bend the bar itself by hand slightly to give you more of an angle. Hard to explain, but you'll manage after 10 mins of scratching your head

It's all accademic because once they are in your car you'll hardly ever roll them backwards and forwards.

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

FFS - Engineering approvals pre-date ADRs by a long time, just that many people didn't (and still don't) bother to get them.

And when the gingerbeer croaks there are other mechanisms that pick up where he left off and it ain't the RTA. Ever heard of PI Insurance? Know how it works?

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Victoria says:



http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/684FA315-E6D9-4D3E-B715-CEF151AC3647/0/VSI19web.pdf

So Cobra Classics with correct subframes (shop-purchased) in a pre-69 Mini are legal in Vic without engineers (VASS).

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

So how can you be sure beyond doubt?

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The Mini seat anchorages on the crossmember pre and post 1969 are the same (except the real early CKD 850s with the Pommy seats). BMC designed them. Are you suggesting they should be redesigned??

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.