28 Phaeton rear seat frame positioning

[JohninKuranda]

Hoping that someone can assist me!

I am working on a 1928 35A Phaeton restoration that was started a few years ago by someone else and have reached one of those “what the hell” moments where I have no idea of what to do. The rear seat frame is positioned where it should be in relation to the rear doors but I am left with a gap of a good few inches between the rear of the seat frame and Rear Center body panels. I know that this is covered by the rear back rest but surely it was not just left open for road splash, dirt water etc?

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

John

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Post pictures, and I can post pictures afterwards when I know specifically where your issues are.

[Wagga A'er]

Hi John
There is a wooden cutout section that goes under the rear seat frame. The cut out is for the rear raised spring crossmember. There is a metal section that fits into this cutout to keep the area "free from dust". I have a 28 Aussie Pheton and it was in original condition and all the wood work was there. i hope this helps.
Dave

[JohninKuranda]

Brent - will try in the morning - workshop dark and the photos I took were just too indistinct.

[pooch]

I just sold my original phaeton last week, so the pics I have on file is all I have now.

If yours is an aussie assembled car with wood stringers, this is what it looks like under the back seat.

[wrndln]

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The wood rear seat frame sure look different from the one in my early 29 phaeton. It is all steel. I sure didn't know AU rear seats were made mostly of wood. I learned something new today.
Rusty Nelson

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by wrndln

The wood rear seat frame sure look different from the one in my early 29 phaeton. It is all steel. I sure didn't know AU rear seats were made mostly of wood. I learned something new today.
Rusty Nelson

Yep, that's why I didn't respond with pictures of my 28 Phaeton rear seat area. I figured his was wood and would be quite different. If it was metal I could help, but I've only heard about the wood ones in Australia, but have never seen one.

[JohninKuranda]

Originally Posted by Wagga A'er

Hi John
There is a wooden cutout section that goes under the rear seat frame. The cut out is for the rear raised spring crossmember. There is a metal section that fits into this cutout to keep the area "free from dust". I have a 28 Aussie Pheton and it was in original condition and all the wood work was there. i hope this helps.
Dave

Dave
Thanks for the photos - certainly informative. Just a further question, would you have a guesstimate of the thickness of the timber flat base?
Thanks
John

[pooch]

That pic of Dave's is showing the front seat riser and the rear under seat frame.

[pooch]

Originally Posted by wrndln

The wood rear seat frame sure look different from the one in my early 29 phaeton. It is all steel. I sure didn't know AU rear seats were made mostly of wood. I learned something new today.
Rusty Nelson

Not to hijack the OP's post, but seeing you are interested in aussie wood...

front riser in situ



curtain tray from under



curtain tray ring pull



curtain tray



notice the wide sill plate...wider than US models.



I was told just last week at Ballarat swap, that the reason export models were made across the river in Canada, was to get around tax and other export problems, by way of Canada is a commonwealth country and it was easier to export to other commonwealth countries like Australia and NZ.

Sounds feasible.

I would guess that the knock down kits exported here and assembled using aussie wood was to cover some sort of Aussie law about local content percentage needed or heaps of extra duty/tax paid..

Maybe some history gurus here could confirm or deny or fill in the gaps.

[dave in australia]

John, the seat frames and risers are 3/4" mountain ash, as well as floor boards. The wood used in Australian A's was mountain ash, which is not really ash, but eucalyptus.

Pooch, the bit about Canada, by being a Commonwealth nation, and receiving favourable import duties over other countries is what I've been told by many over the years why we received A's from Canada. I also see that you have a rear floor curtain tray, where as some curtains trays were accessed by lifting the front seat lower cushion.

[JohninKuranda]

Many thanks to all for the information, advice and photos posted - especially the Aussie A'ers - I now have a much better idea of what I need to do from here on in. You know that feeling when you look, stare, ponder, think - and then do it over and over again? That has been me with the rear seats for probably the past few months. I inherited this restoration part way through after my sister in laws father passed away. He dismantled, I am refinishing, preserving and rebuilding - and yes about 2,457 miles / 3 954 km away from where this restoration journey began.
Cheers
John