Making the Berlina bed

py105 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2006, 11:35 PM

Hi All..

I've been trying recently to re-create the Berlina bed but my seat doesnt seem to come forward enough for the top of the seat back to clear the rear seat. I've seen pictures of it achieved on an S2 berlina (period magazine article) so just wondering if there's a special trick to turning 'Lina into a love shack

Cheers

**italiansedanman** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 04:48 AM

I've got an original owner's manual for the Giulia ti, and I think from that it showed that you have to rotate the rear seat cushion 180 degrees, so that it angles downward into the tops of the front seats. Does that make sense?

I'll try and scan the appropriate pages...

**italiansedanman** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 04:58 AM

Okay, forget that. I went to the archive and realised that I have the Berlian book too Pete, looks like there's no need to reverse the cushion in the Berlina. Just seems as though the seats need to slide forward enough to allow them to clear the tip of the rear cushion...

Its not a great scan, but you get the idea. I would like to suggest avoiding it! The good people at Alfa Romeo were obviously a bunch of contortionists to be able to sleep on that! Or maybe the thought of hiring a hotel room at Le Mans was just too much of an expense..?

py105 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 06:46 AM

Ah so it is possible.. It's just that the front seat squab is quite fat and its quite recalcitrant at coming forward... Ah well, must give it another go. Is that out of the owners handbook? I should have looked in mine first

It is rather hilarious though "setup of seats for camping"... A berlina was hardly cheap, certainly wouldnt have been bought by those who fancied sleeping in their cars

Andrew · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 07:10 AM

In the Giulia sedan manual, for this same procedure they show to remove the rear seat cushion and reverse it.

Maybe if you tip the front off the rear cushion up, then press it back down after the front seat's fully flat, it'll fit better.

Sleeping standards in the 60s were not what they are now.

Andrew

magista · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 07:26 AM

My TI manual shows the same procedure as in the Berlina manual. Keep in mind that my TI has bench seats though. Seems like it'd be a bit more comfy.

fredwidmer · #7 (**permalink**) 07-28-2006, 10:26 PM

I found that strategically placed padding over the handbrake lever and in the gap (over the rear footwell) between the supine seatbacks was necessary, along with some Tylenol with codine.
It is not like falling asleep on the couch while watching TV.
It is like sleeping in a tent pitched on exposed tree roots.
But I'm not picky; there's enough in the backpack to stuff into the crannies and you learn how, about the third night.
Like many camping trips, looking back on it you had a great time!

Fred Widmer