Need help from the seat Gurus

70SATMan · 03-13-2004, 07:34 AM

I'm trying to figure out if I have the 72-73 sport seats or the 70-71 in my 70S.

They are leathergrain vinyl. I know the leather 70-71 had the perf. bolsters. What about the vinyl? I also know that sport seats were standard in 71. What about 70? Optional?

TIA

70SATMan · 03-13-2004, 07:41 AM

Thought I'd get a jump on the inevitable pic. request.

70SATMan · 03-13-2004, 07:43 AM

here's another one.

70SATMan · 03-13-2004, 07:47 AM

#$% Wrong one.

Try again

pwd72s · 10:10 AM

Hard to tell without seeing one released, tilted forward. The release mechanism gives a clue. But from what I see, if I had to guess, I'd say your car's original owner checked the sports seats option box,but the seats have been recovered since then? '73 is generally recognized as the better way to go, because of it's double latching mechanism. I'm hoping Eric Linden will weigh in on this...he's really an expert on these early sports seats...In the meantime, I can give you another tip...want to save those floorboards from rot? Not concours correct, but decades ago, I sanded, stained and varathane coated mine. Did the same to the board in the trunk carpet. Looks great, and they've never rotted! P.S: My understanding is that '71 was the only year that sports seats were standard on the "S" models. But what do I know? I just figured out that my '72 gearshift lever is painted satin black!

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Probably one of the easiest ways to tell is with the seatbelt receiver. 1970 and 1971 definitely had the receiver which has a small handle on the side with a little White knob on it.

1973 , had a center pushbutton seatbelt receiver. 1972 , I'm not sure of.

One other item on the 1973, is that it has a double locker slider mechanism. This means that when you lift the seat up and look underneath, there would be a crossbar going to the other slider on the other side, that would also be actuated by the fore and aft release mechanism.

From first glance , those seats look like 1973.

Sport seats were only stock in the 1971 911s.

In the end , no one really gives a crap.... because you've got the seats!

Regards,

Eric
multiple sport seat owner

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

my 73 stock recaro's

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Okay,

Re-looked at the pics....you've got the early (69 to 71), seatbelt receivers......but that may only mean that you've got the correct seatbelt receivers.....!!!

IF you don't have the double locker....then you've got 69 to 72 seats......

If you post a pic of the underside of the seats, I should be able to tell if they have been re-upholstered....providing they didn't re-use the original webbing (very distinct).

For practical purposes.....69 to 73 sport seats are identical with the exception of the double locker. Headrests I've found to be interchangeable.....either flat bottom or peanut shaped can be found on all years.......I owned a set of 68 seats with peanut shaped (all in original upholstery....), which surprised me....

The only caveat to this......Recaro offered the "Porsche" sport seat in the aftermarket. However it only came with the D shaped (flat bottom) headrest, and also had the 67/68 type slider tip bracket mechanism. These seats could be purchased through Recaro vendors into the early 70's.

regards,
Eric

70SATMan · 03-14-2004, 10:33 AM

Thanks Eric,

Here are a couple of bottom webbing pics. So the double locks you are referring to are the hook catches for the tilt? Definitely have the dual. I'm not really surprised that these are later seats. The PO went to some great lengths to make the car look like a 73. To bad he didn't fork it up for the 2.7 RS spec

Maybe I'll get lucky and find he had it rebuilt as a 2.4.

Michael

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Well,....

No, the double locker actually means the slider mechanism release has a separate bar that goes to the other side of the seat....a DOT requirement in 73.....which your seat does not have...(double catch's for the seat "tilt" are on all the 69 to 73's).

Based on the fabric webbing it appears that your seats have not been recovered.....or re-used the original webbing.

However, what I do see is the electrical wiring for the seatbelt warning system in the seat base.

Given the fact that you have the wiring (72 and later), and NO double locker (on all 73 seats I have seen), I will assume that your seats are from a 72.

regards,
Eric

ubiquity0 · 03-14-2004, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soterik

In the end , no one really gives a crap.... because you've got the seats!

Amen. These are pretty much unobtanium now & $$$$$ if they show up. Maybe I shouldn't have sold mine

Cornpanzer · 03-14-2004, 03:01 PM

Michael,
Its too bad that those seats are wrong for you. I have a mint set of "correct" black standard seats in my 70 S that I will trade you for. Its kinda a bad deal for me, but I want you to have all the right stuff on your car.....hehe

70SATMan · 03-14-2004, 06:54 PM

What a LURE cause I know for a fact that you have a potential offer for those sweet standards.

I'll make you a deal though. I'll trade the horn button off my racemark wheel for those seats you're trying to unload on some poor unfortunate. You just have to lose your other buyer.

You can't imagine my suffering by having to put up with these seats. I will do the honorable thing and save you from the pain.

Thanks for the lesson Eric. I think you should be Chief of the SSSP by the way.

Later

JCR · 03-14-2004, 08:24 PM

Since it was a DOT requirement, was the double lock slider only on US cars in 73, or ROW as well??

Good to know my US car sport seats are correct, although that much heavier.

Thanks Eric.

campbellcj · 03-14-2004, 08:50 PM

IIRC the 73's also had electrical wiring for the "fasten seat belt" indicator lamp. It can be easily removed, but there are telltale little wire hold-down tabs...

ubiquity0 · 03-15-2004, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by campbellcj
IIRC the 73's also had electrical wiring for the "fasten seat belt" indicator lamp. It can be easily removed, but there are telltale little wire hold-down tabs...

I think they had the wiring in at least some '72s as well?

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Guys,

I guess I just labeled it wrong....my below statement is in regards to the "fasten seat belt light".

However, what I do see is the electrical wiring for the seatbelt warning system in the seat base.

Given the fact that you have the wiring (72 and later), and NO double locker (on all 73 seats I have seen), I will assume that your seats are from a 72.

No idea on ROW 73's having double lockers....

Eric