1970 M38A1 Canadian Seat cover and Top

[jorchard]

Hi guys. Hope this question is not too dumb.
I’m finishing a restoration and looking into seat covers and a canvas top. What colour would be accurate for my restoration. My Jeep is military green. Any thoughts on sourcing seat foams, covers and top. Thank you. Jay. London Ontario

[maple_leaf_eh]

Green canvas throughout. The US colour is lighter (AIR). Your M38A1 CDN3 needs doors without the zippered opening.

If you find the correct door frames, consider having them recovered. Likewise, a tarp is better copied and the original set aside. The factory cotton stitching will strip and flap and fall apart on you in a good windstorm or high speed run.

[charlie fitton]

"high speed run"

[rob love]

Originally Posted by jorchard

Hi guys. Hope this question is not too dumb.
I’m finishing a restoration and looking into seat covers and a canvas top. What colour would be accurate for my restoration. My Jeep is military green. Any thoughts on sourcing seat foams, covers and top. Thank you. Jay. London Ontario

There is no foam in a M38A1 seat. Springs and horsehair were the recipe. Not real horsehair mind you, but just as itchy. In civilian hands the horsehair would often be supplemented by a layer of foam.

You will be hunting for a bit to find jeep cushions. Since so many people "upgraded" the seating by cutting off the base and installing car bucket seats, it is now hard to find the original cushions. I have lucked in to some at the MVPA conventions in the US.

The seat covers are commonly sold by several suppliers in the US, and are not terribly expensive.

[maple_leaf_eh]

As Rob said, the seats were never very well made. One of the few really good things about the Iltis is its proper car seats.

[Frank v R]

WeeBee webbing has the best prices for all your canvas needs and the stuff is very nice just got 3 A1 tops from him, spring set parts the guy in Georgia has a lot of it and also check with Midwest Military, don't try and have someone up here make it , it will never be correct and will only be a waste of money,

[jorchard]

Thank you gentleman for your great advice. J