"R" Seats you're gonna love

sithot · 09-08-2003, 01:07 PM

Here is a link to some pics I've posted at the Early 911-S Registry. http://d240157.u39.zeonhost.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1736&highlight=Zwinakis

These are from www.vintageseats.com
The fit and finish is better than original (I've owned originals). Autos International does the upholstery work. Contact Peter Zwinakis at Vintage Seats for more information. You'll love them, plus they weigh in like "Twinkies" compared to any standard or sport seat.

Tom

Neilk · 09-08-2003, 01:27 PM

Group buy anyone?

speeder · speeder's Garage

Those are just outstanding!

Paul Thomas · 09-08-2003, 02:12 PM

Id buy one if he would cut us a break. I have the bielstein seat but it could use more lateral support.

Paul

JSDSKI · 09-08-2003, 02:26 PM

Group buy is cool - but we should work it through Pelican. How about it Mr. Dempsey ?

sithot · 09-08-2003, 02:26 PM

If you see the work you would be embarassed to ask for a break in price. The work is good and worth every penny. I understand everyone wants a deal but everyone also has to make a living doing something. Pete doesn't do this for a living. It's a hobby that turned into a business. Trust me, he has plenty on his plate without making seats "just for fun". Step up to the plate and spend the money. It really is well worth it. Speaking as a long time Porsche owner and fancier I have paid a hell of a lot more and gotten a lot less.

Best of luck,

Tom

CamB · CamB's Garage

Geez, $2000 a pair, upholstered. Hobby or not, I wish there was a way that could be cheaper.

I see the Outlaw shells are $750 a pair. It implies the upholstery is $1250/pair.

I benefit from NZ$ labour rates but I've had a set of regular tombstone seats refinished in half leather, with all padding renewed, for about US$750. In all vinyl it would have been cheaper, but I suspect that using German vinyl and basketweave would have brought that back about the same level. The job on my seats was/is outstanding.

A decent sized production run should see the shells drop in price by a huge amount.

I guess the prices reflect very very low volumes. Its a shame.

If you see the work you would be embarassed to ask for a break in price.

But isn't all you are seeing Auto Int'ls work?

sithot · 09-08-2003, 03:51 PM

No. Not just Auto's work but Pete's very critical eye for detail. He's an EE by trade and made his own molds from original parts. The grommets are there as well. The shells are 10 times the shell of the originals. And fwiw, Auto's is not the cheapest place around but when you do the best work you can charge for it.
The weight savings (if that is critical to you) is unbelievable.

Tom

Jump2xs · 09-08-2003, 04:10 PM

If anyone is serious about buying those seats and currently has the factory Recaro sport seats, I would be interested in buying your originals to put in my 73, that way you could help offset the $2,000--please PM me.

They look like 356 Speedster seats with headrests. This is not a bad thing as I think Speedster seats are very comfortable and supportive.

CamB · CamB's Garage

No. Not just Auto's work but Pete's very critical eye for detail. He's an EE by trade and made his own molds from original parts. The grommets are there as well. The shells are 10 times the shell of the originals. And fwiw, Auto's is not the cheapest place around but when you do the best work you can charge for it.
The weight savings (if that is critical to you) is unbelievable.

Fair enough Tom, especially on the eye for detail. I earn NZ$ though

I would be happy with something 80%, or even less. In descending order, I want:

- something that looks period correct (but not necessarily identical to period seats)
- supportive
- light

It is a bonus if they are identical. The Bielsten (sp?) seats jpnovak has interest me, but getting them to NZ is a PIA.

I guess they are roughly equivalent in price to those in Jack Os car (new leather Recaros).

69Sman · 09-08-2003, 04:33 PM

I bought a pair at $2000 from Pete, AND CONSIDER THEM A BARGAIN! Remember...you get's what you pay for!

andrew15 · 09-08-2003, 04:42 PM

I just got a set of the originals (1pc Recaros) and find them quite light (~13 lbs) and supportive.

FYI, my originals (that admittedly could use replacement of the center corduroy sections) cost less than 1/2 of these new repros.

Regards,
Andrew M

Todd Simpson · 09-08-2003, 05:49 PM

I've got a pair of his ST seats on order, they are not pictured on the site. Fellow Pelican member GeorgeK helped with pictures and measurements of his originals so Peter could locate the side belt holes. Truly a custom job and he is great to work with, very helpful and knowledgeable.

It will be months before I get them, the shells were just finished and won't go to Autos for a few weeks while I save up. :-)

nigel911 · nigel911's Garage

Love them, just can't afford them... $2000 is a hell of a lot of upgrades. Not all Porsche owners earn enough to own Porsches!

51coupe · 09-09-2003, 07:12 AM

Howdy, (Peter Z here)

First, thanks to all of you who have purchased seats from me. I appreciate all the kind words and I am very happy that you're happy with my product.

Just wanted to give the other folks out there an understanding of the prices from my perspective:

1.) I am an engineer. I did not come to the final construction of these seats without a lot of thought and a lot of prototypes. The upholstery clips are made with a stamp and die I created to duplicate the original upholstery clips exactly. The internal headrest mounting has been modified to be stronger and safer than the originals. All this took time and money.

2.) Making tooling (the molds) is not cheap at all. Considering just how screwed up the originals are, in most of the models I had to make multiple molds just to iron out the deformation of the original seats. This ensures that the seats I make are the same geometry as the ones that left the original Recaro manufacturing facility.

3.) I hand assemble, buff, drill, tap, attach headrests, mount brass grommets (where applicable), attach upholstery clips myself. This is not done by cheap (uncaring) labor.

4.) The seat shells are of hand laid construction. They are not "chopper-gun" parts. This allows me to keep much better control of the strength of each of the seats. It takes more time but also results in an incredibly stiff and strong seat. These seats are in an entirely different league of strength and stiffness when compared to any originals out there.

5.) Auto's International charges a lot of money to upholster a pair of seats and headrests. They also do a very good AND very consistent job. That's why I use them. This coupled with the large amount of time I need to dedicate to every pair of seats I sell AND my setup costs are why the price is what it is. If it were any less, it just wouldn't be worth doing.

* The Outlaw seats don't have headrest tubes and really fit a small niche'. I offer these seats up cheaper than I would like but I also don't manage the upholstery process (sold shell only). I also will be fazing these seats out in short order as they are not a reproduction of any original seat and that's what I am going to continue concentrating on.

* I have a new model: The "ST" coming out very soon on the website (they are already in production). This seat's bare shell is shown above in a previous post. As a track seat (or very aggressive street seat), there is nothing out there that would do as good a job of holding you in AND looking correct in an early car.

The website will get a fresh new look with many more pictures in the next couple of weeks.

Any questions just shoot them at me: Peter - pzwinakis@yahoo.com

51coupe · 09-09-2003, 07:25 AM

Forgot to metion:

For those of you trying to save weight (on your car), if you replaced a pair of period correct reclining Recaro Sport seats with a pair of my seats, you would save over 65 pounds for the pair in the center of your car. That is complete with headrests, bases, sliders.

Regards, Peter

Paul Thomas · 09-09-2003, 07:47 AM

Peter,
I will say thanks from everyone for coming on and contributing to the discussion. I have considered getting one of your seats, drivers side only, upolstered to match my current "period" seats. Do you have any pics you can post of a finished 'ST' seat? Or, is this going to be sold as a bucket like the outlaw?

Paul

sithot · 09-09-2003, 07:59 AM

I told you he's not your average seat guy! Those ST's look like they'll hold you like two fat women in a bed.

Tom

51coupe · 09-09-2003, 08:00 AM

The "ST" seats will be sold like the "R" and "RS" model seats, fully upholstered. As soon as Auto's International finishes with one they are doing for me, I will put pictures up on the website. This should be in a week or so. As far as the specifics of the upholstery, it can be matched by Auto's (most likely) to the seats that are in your car now. Single seats are no problem.

Regards, Peter