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So my bench aeat is original the prior owner claimed.. has no back ao it deff must be a truck bench seat.. But it has no tilt.. Some seem too ? I hate how it doesnt tilt.. Were there like (base model) bench seats ?

Handle is drivers side i know ive seen one. But has has nothing

Both of my trucks have tilting seat backs.

If the seat back tilt were an option, it would be listed in the parts book. The '74-80 book is available at a nominal cost from RockAuto. Printed copy from BJ's is more expensive.

My 71 has the tilting seat. The 72 I parted had a fixed back although both had the "Custom Cab" package. Notice the ash tray bracket in the back of the fixed back seat? I suspect it's the same seat as a Wagoneer front bench without the back upholstery curtain.

So they put a wagoneer seat ib a j truck.. because its all they had on the assembly line i guess ? Lol

candymancan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 2:44 pm ... because its all they had on the assembly line ...

No. If the tilt back was optional, no doubt it was meant to reduce costs for the baseline truck, or generate extra profit by charging extra for the tilt back. The execs of the time weren't morons ... any change would be related to profit somehow.

Presence of the seat back ash tray places is good evidence that you have the Wagoneer bench seat with no back panel. IMO the truck needs the tilting seat back, so you can get to the tire changing gear. Lacking the tilting back is inconvenient, but not essential. Maybe the Jeep execs in the era saw it that way, as an opportunity to make more money or lower the list price of the trucks. Hard to say without eyewitness accounts (they are all dead or centenarians) or company documents (long in the dumpster, I'd guess).

I'd also mention, my '77 is as basic as can be. Its only options are power steering and power disk brakes, as far as I know. No radio, no rear LSD, no step bumper (all very popular and not costly IIRC, except maybe the bumper). IME Jeep filled the option list with dozens of line items in this era, most with marginal added cost. They could add up. Possible '76 was the last year with the tilt back seat optional.

Yea my 76 has a.c power steering am fm radio ppwer,. brakes. And other things.. but i guess the owner didnt want tilt..

I have a good condition bench seat.. not all rats nested like. But i agree i hate not having it.. no storage.. everything lays on the passenger floor it sucks lol.

Think ima keep an eye out for a blue bench seat that tilts..