So Im always wondering why everyone wants to get rid of the bench seats for buckets? Ive thought about it over and over again but I just cant break down and do it. Me personally I think at times they come in handy. I also use to have a 84 Caprice with a bench seat and i loved how my lady use to get right up under my arm.. I guess what im asking is with all the benefits of a bench seat why get rid of them?

not as sporty

U can squeeze a third person in the cab with a bench! And I really don't car about buckets or benches. It's a seat! As long as it looks good and has no rips or tears I'm happy with it. I don't know why but I think a 4speed with a bench seat looks good!

I can live with either one, but I wouldn't do buckets in place of a bench unless I had the buckets on hand.

Not only that, my dog wouldn't like bucket seats:nanawrench:
We had an '80 Firebird, and an '86 Camaro , for my wife to drive to work, and I thought the buckets were OK.
Those cars really sucked for winter driving though:twisted:

Well first you have to know what the person is doing with there El Camino. Are they going to race it and if so you can expect a short shifted on the floor. So a bench seat would not be able to do that. Maybe they would just rather have a bucket seat over a bench seat. Maybe looks better and supports the person better. The bucket seats you can not adjust the back of the seat up or down. You can only go forwards and backwards. There are so many other reason, but these are just some of the common ones.

I like the old school style of the bench, the El Camino is a cruiser not a sports car so I dont see sport type seats in it. Although I dont mind busting a nice drift in her.

I'm restoring a 68 el camino and it had a bench seat in it-------that was the first thing I took out of it----I just like bucket seats better.I'm going with a console in the floor.Hey if you like bench seats that's great----I'm just a bucket seat man myself.:beer:

personal preference, I like buckets the dogs would prefer bench, but sense I pay the bills.
And as Tuggy24g said I race the car and the shifter would be to far forward.

Bench seat four speed works for me.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6467/dsc00120kg.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/dsc00120kg.jpg/)

Buckets for me. More comfortable, and mine have 6 way adjustable with lumbar support. Also like the console with floor shifter.

I could go both ways on this; since I have two cars I have gone both ways on this. In my 85 I have a Caddy power split bench with the controls placed on the doors. In the 79 I'll have Scat/Procar buckets (they have 'em in Summit). Either way it takes some work to fabricate the brackets to fit them into the car.

Can't stand my bench. Zero side support (bolster) and it's shaped all wrong. After my first road trip my back was in agony. I had scored a set of Chevelle buckets before I even had it back on the road. They're in sorry shape themselves though.

I like my buckets -adjustable individually,reclining for the passenger. I put a center console in and have a place for stuff close and my coffee cup.Makes the cab look more open and larger.Easy access to the rear of the seats area and storage compartment and my rear speakers can blast past the seats better. It's just the wife and I so we only need 2 seats, sorry can't take you, we only have 2 seats.

I have buckets out of a 69 camaro and they adjust back and forth and the front can tilt .... they look sporty but they tend to make me feel cramped sitting next to my console .... I have a bench in 85 and its like sitting on a couch and very comfortable and the wifey also likes sitting next to me of course ... so its all a personal preference .... but if you can get some buckets with a good lumbar support and different adjutments then go for it .....:nanawrench:

buckets and a four speed.. though so long as I can see out of the car and have my foot on the gas it doesnt bother me!

I am an old guy...but still like my lady next to me. my bulldog likes it too.

buckets look cooler but bench is much more practical If you break down on the road I'd much prefer sleeping on a bench than a bucket ,altho :beer: my Elky does have buckets jim

Mine came with buckets and a console originally,
http://www.small-block-chevy.com/p_int.JPG

and it's just fine with me for the old lady to stay on the other side of the car. After 28 years of marriage we've had plenty of 'close' time,,, a little 'apart' time can be welcomed too.

My 77 had an 80's 60/40 power bench when I got it. The guy that put it in wired it direct (no fuse) and ran the wire under the carpet right under the drivers feet! Needles to say it shorted and set the carpet on fire one day when I was doing 70mph on the interstte! Luckily got stopped and the fire out befor anything serious happened.
I replaced the seat with buckets out of an Omni and they were great! Had plans to recover them but when the car was in storeage for a year mice got in and, well lets just say they were no longer usable!
I bought a set of buckets out of an 80 ElCamino and ordered black covers and redid them myself! Look pretty good in there but sit a little low for me.
I am concidering returning it to a full bench when I find a god enough seat to recover or use (if already black)
Always liked a bench with a 4 speed!

I put swivel buckets in mine...cause they are cool!
Also I'm an old guy, real easy in and out.:beer:

I bought my El Camino with a bench seat as a part of my "want list". In fact, I would like to get my bench redone with the deluxe seat covering (think of pillows on the sides...LOL). If I need a bucket fix, I have a Corvette and truck to fill the "bucket list".......and the go to work Cutlass. In fact, the El Camino is the only vehicle we own with a bench! :smileyb:
Craig
Buckets: 2007 Honda Accord
1968 Chevy C10 PU
2007 Corvette
1995 Olds Cutlass
Bench: 1986 El Camino

My 77 had an 80's 60/40 power bench when I got it. The guy that put it in wired it direct (no fuse) and ran the wire under the carpet right under the drivers feet! Needles to say it shorted and set the carpet on fire one day when I was doing 70mph on the interstte! Luckily got stopped and the fire out befor anything serious happened.
I replaced the seat with buckets out of an Omni and they were great! Had plans to recover them but when the car was in storeage for a year mice got in and, well lets just say they were no longer usable!
I bought a set of buckets out of an 80 ElCamino and ordered black covers and redid them myself! Look pretty good in there but sit a little low for me.
I am concidering returning it to a full bench when I find a god enough seat to recover or use (if already black)
Always liked a bench with a 4 speed!

if u are debating about a bench for your elk i have a pretty good black one in mine and i have been debating bucket seats....

it was a selling point in mine, i like the ability to squeeze three people in if need be. As well have my sweetie scoot next to me.

However i wouldnt be surprised if the next restore job i do has buckets, cause i have to agree with Marv D, after a while the lady and i may need some time apart :P

who knows! they both have their advantages, just, no 5 points harnesses in the elks unless we're getting under 15 in the quarter!!:nanawrench:

i like my bench but i have a tonneau cover so if i need to give more than 2 a ride i can
as well as sleep on the bench (or pass out drunk instead of driving home)
But i do like buckets just think it would be like every car cramped and wont feel like im driving my couch down the road

But i do like buckets just think it would be like every car cramped and wont feel like im driving my couch down the road

LOL:laughing4:

I had to put buckets in mine, didn't like the fact the my big ol' head was above the head rest on the bench, it smacks on the rear window. Would hate to get in a crash and have my tater bust out the rear window, cost way to much to replace!!!! (window not my tater):yell:....92 Camaro buckets with a high backs to protect my head plus they just look SWEET............

Can't stand my bench. Zero side support (bolster) and it's shaped all wrong. After my first road trip my back was in agony.

Same here. I think if I had a set of buckets laying around I would have put them in already too.

Would hate to get in a crash and have my tater bust out the rear window, cost way to much to replace!!!! (window not my tater):yell:....

Lmao.. Too funny...