For those concerned with the precise change point of Clubman seats with large head restraint to the later small head restraint the Parts News Newsletter below from February 1973 shows the Body numbers. I'm guessing this is of most interest to Clubman GT (YDO23) owners trying to restore their car to original specification.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Just to muddy things, when they say "body number" they don't mean actual body number they really mean the car number.

Well spotted.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

That was about to be my question.... as it is was believed 1200 GT's produced and this says 1310 +

Well I know one of mine will have the large head rests. So would be about Nov/Dec. 72 onwards.

Thanks for sharing Doug.

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Bubba - I see in your footer signature you have both Clubman GT and Cubman GT. I assume the Cubman is a younger version of a Clubman, yes?

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Ha ha

Hahaha.... I'd better go and fix that.

But yes that is my youngest one

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I'm also a little puzzled.

They are talking about seat covers though. Maybe a one size fits all approach.

The first GTs with the basket weave seats had no head restraints.

The second type of seats, like my GT, had the small separate head restraints and embossed square pattern upholstery.

What does large head restraints actually mean?

Did any GTs have the large tombstone seats?

RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

Tombstone seats arrived in 1977. So no, not fitted to the Clubman or Clubman GT.

Ron

Seats were in following order

1st - Basketweave without headrests (I think until about end of 71)
2nd- Basketweave with headrests (I think till about March/April 72)
3rd- Standard style with headrests the same size as those prior (until about 12/72)
4th - Standard style seat with larger headrests (according to dougs post).

I remember someone pointing out a while ago (could have been on the old GT forum) about the head rests between seats being different sizes. Which I always doubted or had questions about, But Doug's post proves this theory.

Here is a bit of a discussion about head rests here (which suggests an earlier date) But I believe this is what the post is talig about

http://web.archive.org/web/200909292032 ... 10035940/0

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The relevant ADR for head rests is ADR 22, effective 1st Jan 1972, so seats that complied would've been fitted at or before that date. This extract from a Service Liaison Summary dated 28th Feb 1972 suggest the seats with headrest have been recently introduced.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Thanks guys,

I'm not that familiar with the clubman cars and didn't realise there were so many seat variations.
I didn't think tombstone seats were that early but you never know.
You learn something new every day.

Regards
RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required