Morris Minor Owners Club

The rear seat is needing some TLC it’s not something I have much experience in doing but I’m willing to give it a go, has anyone any experience where to start, I’ve attached a photo presume I would replace the horses hair with sponge material?

I would not replace the horse hair.
Is that photo the underside of the seat?
There should be some strips a few inches wide of canvas type material that go between the springs and seat covers, (webbing) have you removed them? leave them in place if not and if not badly stretched or damaged..
It is a long time since I recovered my seats, but I kept the original internal materials, only replacing the covers themselves, I purchased "duo tone" seat covers, cream and blue in my case, they look terrific and are easy enough to fit, then bought matching door cards.

My rear seat looks a lot worse than that and neither of mine has any webbing. If it can be done then adding some might firm up the base a little.

The only way I can think of making a proper restoration is to strip it down and immerse the entire frame in Rustoleum or similar, spray it in Hammerite and then put it all back together. I'd keep the horse hair too.

Yeah that’s the underside of the seat I’ve done nothing to it yet so I need to get some webbing straps then do I?

Well, check under the seat covers, you may already have them, but if not I think it would help.
Lots of folk fit Newton commercial seats at great expense, but to use the modern parlance I find the standard seats most ergonomic.

So am I right in thinking that the straps go between the seat cover the horse hair then that is fitted on top of the springs in that order,
Not done this before so just trying to get as much information as possible,
I want to tackle this myself so want to get it right

I have had a look at newtons for rear seat replacement parts, the web site doesn’t show replacement straps for the rear seat only replacement sponges would that suffice?

As I recall from refurbishing my 1957 rear seat, there were longs - 1" 1 1/2" or so, staples through the hessian fabric and attached to the spring heads around the edges to tension the seat cover, Your cable ties are doing a similar job.

Stevie R wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 4:46 pm So am I right in thinking that the straps go between the seat cover the horse hair then that is fitted on top of the springs in that order,
Not done this before so just trying to get as much information as possible,
I want to tackle this myself so want to get it right

These are the straps Steve, https://www.morrisminorspares.com/body- ... ch-p828889
But as I said they should be under the seat covers, then your horse hair, then the springs.
New webbing will of course make the seats firmer if the existing pieces are saggy, but you may not need them.
The very best book for blow ups of parts is a black ring binder called the Morris minor catalogue, it is still available new or used on ebay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145682100423 ... 3f44062129

I think the straps are for the front seat only, the rear doesn’t have them. There are the springs with horsehair on top and then the cover from what I remember plus some wadding to pad out the corners to the right shape.

I fitted a Newton Commercial complete interior kit to my 1969 car as the original interior was badly damaged when I bought it (someone else’s failed project). I kept it original, none of their upgrades. If you look on their web site (https://newtoncomm.co.uk/) and pick the model of Minor you have, you should find there’s a complete rear seat kit listed which has a link to fitting instructions. The instructions for my car show first the backrest and then the squab. It gives a nice step by step guide to fitting a new cover and making the internals as good as they can be - my rear seat is very springy but my grandson finds that entertaining!

There are instructions on how to re-upholster the rear seat on the Newton Commercial website.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1613/ ... 6093714605

My rear seat has been in poor condition for a long time and it offers little support. Having read the instructions I decided it was too complex for me and I would ask an upholsterer to do it at such (Imaginary) time that I can afford that.

Stephen

Like others have said, I wouldn't get rid of the horse hair (it contributes to the unique 'old car' smell as well as providing support) but you may wish to place some felt or other material over the top of it if some extra padding is required.