Westy seat bottom cushions are thinner so that when on the swivels they become the approximate height of a non-Westy seat.  Seat bottom cushions of Westy and non-Westy are approximately the same size but the seatback on a Westy mounts farther forward relative to the bottom cushion so that the swiveling seatback on a Westy does not stick out as far and hit things on the swing.  
Here's a little something I whipped up:TheSamba.com :: Vanagon - View topic - Westy seat vs. non-Westy seat

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TheSamba.com :: Vanagon - View topic - Westy seat vs. non-Westy seat

Classified ads, photos, shows, links, forums, and technical information for the Volkswagen automobile
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Stephen
    On Saturday, February 15, 2020, 09:17:28 PM EST, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:  
 
 Hi Geoffrey,

        Not only do the early seats not have arm rests but I’m pretty sure they had the old style horse hair construction.  If that is the case I’d sure recommend upgrading to a later vanagon foam seat. 

        I suspect a little looking around would locate some.  I actually know someone with two but they are grey and you would want brown or good seat covers!
I have ridden in the earlier  seats and it reminds me of my old bay windows.  All good but man the Vanagon seats are a nice upgrade and should be a straight swap.  But I do think there is a difference between Westy seats and vanagon seats so watch out for that.  The Vanagon seats I’m told are larger so if you have swivels it is a problem.

Eric 

> On Feb 15, 2020, at 5:15 PM, Geoffrey Toye <geoffreytoye@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Has anybody added arm rests to the stock early Vanagon front seats?
> 
> Swapping for later GL style seats would be an option, if I could find some
> that is.