High Back Poly Seat Shells, With Blue Covers

OVERVIEW

When you''re building a rugged off-road machine or a classic street-legal dune buggy, the seating choice is one of the most critical decisions for both comfort and safety. These High Back Poly Seat Shells with Blue Covers represent the perfect balance of durability, style, and economy for the air-cooled enthusiast. Engineered from thick, high-density polyethylene, these shells are designed to withstand the punishing environments of the open desert, muddy trails, and coastal salt air that would quickly destroy traditional metal-framed seats. The high-back design isn''t just for looks; it provides essential neck and head support during aggressive driving maneuvers, ensuring you stay planted and protected whether you''re carving through sand dunes or navigating a rocky trail in your Baja Bug.

Style meets functionality with the inclusion of custom-fit black covers featuring striking blue inserts. These covers add a layer of much-needed padding for long days behind the wheel while giving your interior a professional, color-coordinated finish that stands out at any VW show or trail meet. Installation is streamlined thanks to the integrated 10mm x 1.5 threaded inserts molded directly into the bottom of the shells, providing a secure and repeatable mounting point for your seat tracks or custom brackets. With pre-molded slots for multi-point safety harnesses in both the headrest and the sides, these seats are ready to integrate seamlessly into a racing-spec cockpit or a weekend cruiser, offering the uncompromising performance that Appletree Automotive customers have relied on for decades.

FITMENT

• VW Beetle (Type 1): 1946-1979 (Requires custom mounting brackets or seat tracks)
• VW Baja Bug: All years and models
• Dune Buggies: Meyers Manx, Berrien, Empi, and custom fiberglass bodies
• Sand Rails: Chenowth, Sandwinder, and custom tube chassis applications
• VW Karmann Ghia: 1956-1974 (Custom mounting required)
• VW Type 3: Notchback, Squareback, and Fastback (Custom mounting required)
• Off-Road Go-Karts: Heavy-duty custom builds

SPECS

• Part Number: AC851103-BLUE
• Material: High-density impact-resistant polyethylene (Poly)
• Cover Color: Black with Blue Inserts
• Cover Material: Weather-resistant vinyl with foam padding
• Mounting Hardware: Integrated 10mm x 1.5 threaded bottom inserts
• Harness Slots: 5-point harness compatible (Shoulder and lap belt pass-throughs)
• Back Style: High-back bucket design for maximum support
• Weight: Approximately 31.7 lbs for the set
• Configuration: Sold as a pair of shells with matching covers

PRO TIPS

1. Secure Mounting for Off-Road Safety

While the 10mm x 1.5 threaded inserts are incredibly strong, you should never bolt these seats directly to a thin sheet-metal floorpan without reinforcement. For the safest installation, especially in a Baja Bug or Dune Buggy, we recommend using a dedicated seat mounting frame or thick steel reinforcing plates (at least 3/16-inch thick) on the underside of the floor. This prevents the bolts from "pulling through" the floor in the event of a hard landing or collision. Always use Grade 8 hardware and blue thread-locker to ensure that vibration doesn''t loosen your seat mounts during high-speed trail runs.

2. Harness Alignment and Spine Protection

When installing 4-point or 5-point harnesses through the integrated slots in these poly shells, pay close attention to the angle of the shoulder straps. The straps should exit the seat and mount to your roll bar or chassis at an angle between horizontal and 20 degrees below the shoulders. If the mounting point is too low, the harness can cause spinal compression during an impact. Because these are high-back seats, ensure the slots align comfortably with your height; if you are exceptionally tall, you may need to adjust your seating position to ensure the harness functions as intended without rubbing against your neck.

3. Maintaining Your Blue Covers

To keep the blue inserts looking vibrant and to prevent the vinyl from cracking under the harsh sun, we recommend treating the covers with a high-quality UV protectant spray regularly. Since off-roading inevitably leads to dust and mud, these covers are designed to be removable. When they get dirty, remove them and hand wash with mild soap and water rather than using harsh chemicals that could degrade the foam padding. Ensuring the covers are completely dry before re-installing them on the poly shells will prevent moisture from being trapped against the polyethylene, keeping your cockpit smelling fresh and looking brand new.