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Thanks, I’ll give that a try. I figured there had to be a way to remove the seat back, but I wasn’t seeing it. I’ll try lifting!

There maybe little tabs or loops coming out of the bottom back of the cushion where the screws are driven through and into the wood frame.

If you can't see anything, try reaching under there and see if you can feel the fastener or tabs/loops. Usually there is on each side.

I’m really at a loss. I don’t see anything or feel anything. The best I can tell is that the entire seat back and frame looks like it has to come out as an assembly.

The side panels are definitely attached to the lower frame.




And, looking at the top, I don’t see how the seat back/cushion can come up separately.




This is under the seat back cushion…

Not familiar with prewars so can't say but wouldn't be surprised if it is an assembly. Clippers and some other years had a welded or stamped one piece unit.

As you know, mine is just a convertible, not in your class of limousine, but the front seat back on mine was upholstered in. The leather cover was still in place upon receipt of the car. The base spring set was as described, a lift out unit so you could get at the battery tray below it. But the seat back has the spring assembly drop onto 3 wire hooks as seen in the image "Top Hooks". The bottom was fastened to the frame with metal tabs that wrapped around loops in the spring's bottom assembly, you can kind of make them out in the "Bottom Tabs" image. (Sorry, these are all heavily cropped images from the seat frame shot I took a few years ago)
In my case, none of this was seen until the upholstery came off. It is once again hidden after Terry reupholstered the frame, as the frame itself is completely wrapped to a high finish. At least on the style of seat in the convertible, there can be no separation of the back from the frame on this style of seat without removing upholstered components from around the seat spring subassembly.
I suspect this method was used on a number of models as you can see features in the seat back frame to mount a 'Robe Rail", which of course has no place in a 2 seat convertible interior.
Bob J.

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Thanks, Bob.

I do suspect that the seat must have been upholstered after being installed in the car. The best I can tell is that the side panels are likely screwed to the wood frame. If so, the screws are covered by the upholstery.

So, if it all comes out as an assembly, I’m missing something. I suspect that its as you indicate that there are parts I can’t see or access without removing the upholstery first.

I was hoping to be able to remove it so I could use rust encapsulator on the floor. It would also make it much easier to re-do the wiring under the dash. The wood frame is a real back-breaker.

For sure! Just the small bit I have done under the dash after the seat was put back in was VERY difficult.
Yes, it looks to me that you would need to remove that strip across the top on the back pad, that done, and uncover any gusset access to the bottom may expose how it is fastened into the car. Once the back pad is out that would likely expose fasteners that hold the cheek panels to the car and show further fasteners to release the entire frame from the car. It is certainly different than mine but I expect that the paradigm of concealed fastenings is similar.
Certainly not made for maintenance but rather appearance!
Bob J.

I'm sure the fact your car has a roll up divider window behind the seat complicates everything.

You got that right Big Kev. Another option to get at the dash work is shown below as my wife Shelley shot me doing wiring before I had the engine/tranny back in. With the floor boards and toe board out I could get at the under dash easy from up through the floor.
I realize it would mean some disassembly again but the fasteners are all new and no damage to your upholstery is required. I have found just about everything I have done on the car requires things to be taken apart and put back together at least 3 times!
Bob J.

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Yes. Getting under the sash was a challenge. I actually cracked a rib!! I was sitting up and my rib was on the corners edge of the door threshold and……crack! Who knew working on cars was a contact sport?!?!?