Morris Minor Owners Club

I’m in the process of carrying out my next ‘upgrade’, fitting non standard seats.

If anyone is interested I can do a little ‘how to’ guide when I’m done in a couple of weeks, will need to take pics of the process in case I need them.

I’m fitting MGF seats, cream leather. Recolouring them to match the rest of the interior and making a custom frame to use the existing seat mounting position and brackets.

I expect the end up with similar seats to the ones currently available for over £1000 for around £200. Maybe 80% as good for 20% of the outlay.

I’ve added a pic of the first trial fit.

They look good and I speak from experience when I say comfortable too.
A word of warning though.
As an owner of both a Minor and an MG TF, I and all F and TF owners will tell you those bolsters wear.
The bolsters protrude so much you will catch them with your backside on entry and exit, every time.
The only answer is a leather repair kit as and when necessary, but eventually they will part company at the stitching.
Sorry to be a harbinger, but those seats are a pet hate for wear, but a delight for comfort and support.
As somebody with a bad back and related issues I find the original minor seats really comfortable, the seating position is better than the wife's Chinese modern MG and almost as comfy as the TF.

I’ve got a revival kit from furniture clinic, used them before with great results

You’re right about the bolsters though.

I have seen many, many posts about non-original seats over the years but I have never really bothered to look at them fitted in cars at car shows or meets. This is because I don't seen anything wrong with the originals. Recently I did have a discussion with the owner of a car with more modern seats installed. The owner said the seats were comfortable but they only folded forwards, they did not tip forwards like the originals. This made access to the rear seats (2 door) very awkward and the extra bulk seriously restricted the rear legroom.

Stephen

Yes I’ve been careful to use only the original mounting points and my seats will tilt as the originals did. How well they tilt is yet to be seen. But I never carry more than one passenger so it’s sort of irrelevant in my case anyway.

Grumpy21 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2026 9:56 pm Yes I’ve been careful to use only the original mounting points and my seats will tilt as the originals did. How well they tilt is yet to be seen. But I never carry more than one passenger so it’s sort of irrelevant in my case anyway.

Fair enough. The lady I spoke to said even children couldn't easily get in the back when she was doing the school run. I have a large dog and he needs to be able to walk in with the seat tipped forwards. I did think at one time that head restraints would be a bit safer but once I started to think about that aspect of safety I realised that there was very little point considering all the other issues. Comfort is obviously the main reason but the standard seats are a lot better when fully refurbished. They don't suit everybody though.

Stephen

No my motivation is comfort and short legs! I sit close but reclined usually and the Morris seats are either too far away for the legs or too close for the arms!

The school run—— keep off the roads when that happens

My Series 2's seats had a solid metal base. And my 71 Traveller came with collapsed webbing. Combined with saggy foam, they were both uncomfortable. They now both have Saab 9-5 seats, mounted on bespoke Jonathan Heap adaptor plates.
So I've got tilt on the backs, and slide on the whole caboodle.
All good enough for rear passenger entry; although the thickness of the backs can impinge the rear passengers' knee space when the front seats are fully back.
Aside from the comfort, my concern was for the safety aspect of having headrests.

Hope this posts ok, seats now recoloured and even if i say do myself looking rather fab…

They do look good.

Lovely job. Can you tell us what you did and what you used? They look a really pleasing cherry red.

Stephen

svenedin wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2026 10:22 am Lovely job. Can you tell us what you did and what you used? They look a really pleasing cherry red.

Stephen

Yes I’ve taken a few pics as I’ve gone along. I used products from Furniture Clinic. Bought way too much of some of the products though so I’ve loads left over. They supply it in any shade , I requested Red to match my existing interior, is it called Cherokee Red?

It’s quite a long process though. Probably taken about 8 hours so far and need to apply top coat of sealant tomorrow.

All done and now curing for a day or two before reassembly and fitting.

Installed.