I was nearly done assembling this post (a post I started when I spotted the useful seat comparison image below) when I discovered that Derek already has a pretty complete post (and frankly better than mine was going to be) on the topic of rear seats (and was the actual source of the seat comparison).
https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/rear-cj2a-seat_topic34996.html which is an image originally posted to the CJ-3B Page.
But, there were still a few unanswered questions I had after reading his page, so I deleted what I had and reframed it as shown below.
I realized:
1) I didn’t know if the DJ-3A used the CJ-5 rear seat, the CJ-3A/CJ-3B rear seat or something else?
2) And, did the Surrey have it’s own rear seat or the same as the DJ-3A? (My guess, based on the pics above, and Bruce’s pics below, is that the DJ-3As and Surreys used the 3A/3B seat)
Below are photos of Bruce Agan’s DJ-3A restored back seat:
While my DJ-3A came with a rear seat, it was actually one of the folding rear seats from an M-38 or M-38A1, a topic covered in these two links:
https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=235427
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=10636
Here’s a pic of my 1956 DJ-3A with the rear seat that was in it. While no the correct seat, it fit in there pretty well:
I like the practicality of “folding back” the MB seat like Dave has in his DJ. Keeps the seat handy, but allows hauling items too. Can’t use with “tailgate” models tho, at least not with the “same rear bracing” and still to be able to use the gate. Great research info on seats. Thanks!
Steve: The downside to this rear seat is that it is really uncomfortable.
Seldom do “comfort” and “practical” come together, usually a “choice”. As a teen in 1962, I used to have to sit either between the seats and my uncle and bigger and older cousin on the “crack”, or on the top of the metal rear fender well, neither of which could be described as “comfortable”.