15 ’80s Car Seat Designs That Are No Longer Produced
These unforgettable car seat designs from the 1980s offered a mix of style and comfort that has since vanished from modern vehicles.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The ’80s automotive world wasn’t just about boxy exteriors and turbo badges. It was also defined by unique interior choices, especially the car seats. These seat designs reflected the era’s bold personality. Today, they’ve disappeared from production lines, but they live on in vintage rides.
1. Pillow-Tufted Velour Seats (Buick Regal)
Greg Gjerdingen on Wikimedia Commons
These plush cushions looked more like a living room sofa than car seats. The thick padding and deep-button tufting screamed luxury. Sadly, their high-maintenance fabric made them impractical.
2. Recaro Sport Buckets (Ford Mustang SVO)
vlowe_ktm on Flickr
These factory-installed performance seats offered serious side bolstering and race-inspired flair. Finished in multi-tone cloth, they combined function with street style.
3. Fold-Down Rear Jump Seats (Subaru BRAT)
Michael Sheehan on Wikimedia Commons
Mounted in the truck bed, these rear-facing seats were built for fun, not comfort. Technically a legal workaround for import tariffs, they’ve since been banned for safety reasons.
4. Integrated Headrest Bench Seats (Chevy Caprice)
cottonbro studio on Pexels
The wide front bench with molded headrests allowed for three adults across in comfort. While it emphasized cruising ease, the design compromised on modern safety.
5. Two-Tone Cloth with Neon Accents (Pontiac Fiero)
Eric Friedebach on Wikimedia Commons
Flashing bold colors like red or blue piping, these seats reflected peak ’80s styling. Thin padding and angular shapes weren’t the most ergonomic, but they sure stood out.
6. Rotating Front Seats (Chrysler LeBaron)
Jeremy on Wikimedia Commons
Some luxury trims offered swiveling front chairs to ease entry and exit. A novelty at the time, they’ve since disappeared due to weight and complexity.
7. Inflatable Lumbar Support (Lincoln Town Car)
Greg Gjerdingen on Wikimedia Commons
This seat design let drivers manually pump lumbar air bladders for personalized back support. Though clever, the system often deflated over time.
8. Faux Leather with Cloth Inserts (Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera)
Adrian Kot on Flickr
This combo aimed to offer style without the full leather price tag. While it looked sharp initially, the synthetic materials wore quickly.
9. Houndstooth Cloth Seats (Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta)
DanTD on Wikimedia Commons
This patterned fabric added serious retro charm. It was both eye-catching and breathable — perfect for non-A/C cars. Eventually, simpler materials won out for cost and wear reasons.
10. Integrated Child Booster (Volvo 740)
Dan Harrelson on Flickr
Years ahead of its time, Volvo offered a built-in booster seat in the rear bench. Safe and space-saving, it was a hit with parents. Sadly, the concept didn’t catch on broadly until decades later.
11. Corduroy Upholstery (Toyota Cressida)
DudeAnderson on Wikimedia Commons
Thick, ribbed material made these seats ultra-soft and grippy. But they trapped dust and aged poorly under sunlight. Automakers moved on to sleeker, easier-to-clean fabrics.
12. Thin Vinyl Over Foam (Dodge Omni)
Andrew Bone on Flickr
Basic and budget-friendly, these seats were more about affordability than comfort. They cracked easily in the heat and felt cold in winter.
13. Captain’s Chairs with Armrests (Chevy Astro Van)
Fredrik rr on Wikimedia Commons
These seats gave minivan drivers a lounge-like feel. Individual armrests and soft padding made road trips a breeze. They’ve since been replaced by more modern modular seating setups.
14. Manual Recline Levers (Honda Accord)
dave_7 on Wikimedia Commons
Before power seats became common, these large plastic levers adjusted seatbacks by hand. They worked — but weren’t the most graceful or precise.
15. Split-Velour and Suede Seats (Mazda RX-7)
mangopulp2008 on Flickr
This sporty combo gave drivers a mix of softness and grip. It looked sharp in red or grey tones, matching the car’s performance edge. Now, it’s more likely to be found in restored models than factory floors.