i have a 1966 el camino its currently at the shop and i have to decide from

2 bucket seats and a ss console

or keep my bench seat and have the shifter at the steering wheel

i donno :?

any suggestions

If all you want to do is cruise and have fun, go for the bench, otherwise the buckets are better and so is a floor shifter for a lot of reasons.

this 66 is my first car i plan to have it for a daily driver for a long time buckets look cool but only fit 2 people but you prolly cant fit 3 people in an el camino anyway i donno

If you want to seat more than 2 butts... you gotta go for the bench seat. Go for the buckets if a 2 butt limitation is acceptable and you want to be cool :-)

None of the original style seats are going to win any awards for comfort.

I just recently converted a '68 from bucket to bench because I required that middle seating position. Since I have a 4 speed the middle rider has to straddle or otherwise make room for a shift lever. Oh well just adds character to the ride doesn't it?

BTW the buckets seem to generally be more desireable based on prices. I sold my buckets for about what it cost me to buy a bench from a wrecking yard, repro covers from Chevyland, and have the covers installed by an upholstery shop. No way I could have sold a bench for that much.

Steve

I have the same dilemma...I have a '68 w/ stock bench/column shift. Buckets/console look WAY better(in my opinion),add value to the car,and are just plain cool but I'm trying to stay as close to a factory stock look as I can...no substitutions! I've been hunting for '68-'72 factory stuff (chevelle,monte,elky) and all I'm finding is junk... and they want BIG $$$ for it. Looks like I'll be recovering the bench seat until I either win the lotto or get lucky somehow and find a good set.

I have the same dilemma...I have a '68 w/ stock bench/column shift. Buckets/console look WAY better(in my opinion),add value to the car,and are just plain cool but I'm trying to stay as close to a factory stock look as I can...no substitutions! I've been hunting for '68-'72 factory stuff (chevelle,monte,elky) and all I'm finding is junk... and they want BIG $$$ for it. Looks like I'll be recovering the bench seat until I either win the lotto or get lucky somehow and find a good set.

The thing is that they are getting BIG $$$ for them. My buckets were in pretty good shape. They went for just over $600 for the pair. Which means there were at least two people willing to pay almost $600 plus shipping to put original style bucket seats in their Elky or Chevelle. Mine went to a Chevelle.

I love buckets! As you get older practicality sets in though....

I'm keeping my bench. Actually should be swapping it soon for a set of tires. Nice recovered cloth seat that is the correct color versus my old buttburner vinyl seat with a cheapo cover that doesn't match.

For me the bench makes sense but now as I've been getting older so do station wagons and four door cars. :oops:

there are advantages and disadvantages with a bench the heat can rise and with the bucket you can make your call look more "racy" i guess...i took bench out of my camino and put in buckets...i like the buckets cuz im eventually getting a t56 6 speed and ill have a console...but i still think the buckets are the best...throw the extra butts in the bed!

...throw the extra butts in the bed!

Cops just LOVE that! :lol:

my 81/84 elky came with buckets and the center console floar shifter .
the guy i bought it from took the buckets out and put in a bench from a 71 chevelle and a tilt column with a shifter on the tree so he could have a tilting wheel . i went to the bone yard and got a real nice set of clothe covered ( red ) set of buckets from a mazda and i had a console also red from my old monte ss . i also picked up a new (old) 86 monte ss dash and red carpet and put it all in my elky on a sunday morning/afternoon .
total cost was about $150. and i used 3m's upholstery cleaner on the seats and carpet which came out looking like new .
so the answer to your question , go with the buckets .

I have swaped to buckets in my 66 but move the shifter to the floor I need an idea for a custom built console or possibly one that would look good w? the B&M shifter.Any Ideas

Gee that's to bad, the best and only argument for keeping the bench (although I recomend a 60/40) is that you've got a place to crash when your wife/girlfriend gets mad that you spend more time with your elky then her. :-D

for the younger folks, you've always got a place to make out with a bench and tilt steering installed.

8)

you got the bed in the back so that is a good argument.I have a caddillac steering column so it telescopes as well as tilts

Why not compromise and install a split bench? Best of both worlds.

im going with the buckets if i can get the super sport console right now i have a b&m starshifter (which looks and shifts like crap)

Shop around the other GM cars on the same chassis as Chevelle. I found a Buick Regal, no engine or trans, for $100. I used the bucket seats, center console, factory floor shifter and all -- even cut out the welded in mount tabs for the console. Then I sold a couple body parts off the Buick and junked the shell.

And in the process, I also learned a lot about how the front end is different -- header panel and fenders and stuff -- just in case....

My buckets will seat three. I have a fold down jump seat with seat belt but no console with a shifter. So, you have some options.

My center fold down is an oak storage console type box built onto the back of the center jump seat. I wouldn't want to sit there but some fine little lady with a tiny hinny could. :D I'd let her,ooops if the wiife doesn't object. :cry: 8)