Seat Headrests

Although a patent was granted for an automobile seat headrest in 1921, it was not until the late 1960s that headrests first began appearing in American cars, and then they were optional equipment. Since they were called “headrests” and many of those vehicles were luxury models, it suggests that they were designed for comfort, but in fact the safety benefits of headrests were known by researchers at universities and vehicle manufacturers in the 1950s. Rear impact tests to study whiplash formed much of the scientific basis for Federal regulations mandating headrests that went into effect in 1969.

Although most people know them as headrests, because their primary function is safety they are also called head restraints. In the event of a rear-end collision, they “restrain” your head movement. Without a restraint, upon impact your head is jerked back and then forward, resulting in whiplash and even vertebrae damage. There are 2 kinds of headrests, those that are integral with the seat and those that are separate and adjustable. Integrated headrests can be built into the seat back or bolted to the seat back and adjustment is not possible. In this category we offer replacement removable headrests.

Headrests can suffer from the same damage that commonly afflicts other interior components. The material can color fade from exposure to UV rays, and intense heat like the kind that can develop in an enclosed vehicle on a hot summer day can dry out material like vinyl and cause cracks to form. Headrests can also become discolored from exposure to the oils in your hair and hair care products. Combine all this with normal wear and tear, and it adds up to headrests that have seen better days. Whether your headrests are the only things detracting from an otherwise great looking cabin or you’re doing a complete upholstery job and interior makeover, we have the headrests that will help make your seats look like new again.

If you’re restoring a classic or muscle car and have faded, cracked and split headrests, we offer headrests made to original specifications by manufacturers who specialize in making genuine, authentic restoration parts. Unlike seat backs and bottoms that can be recovered with new upholstery, headrests were often factory assembled, which requires complete replacement when damaged. No worries here though, in addition to replicating the original shape and style, the brands we carry we offer headrests in many of the original interior colors. And because details matter, especially with a restoration, we also offer headrest related components like new chrome adjustment escutcheons and chrome headrest post bezels, as the originals can often become pitted and lose their luster over the years.