Reproduction Early Sport Seat Rails

[Rob Channell]

I talked to a machine shop acquaintance today about the early Recaro Sport Seat Rails.

I am removing mine from the car this weekend to send to the buyer and am going to make some measurements so I can build some adapter rails for a later model seat. The thought occured to me that I could have some drawings made to create a reproduction part of the early seat rail.

A perfect reproduction part would be outrageously expensive. (Well over a thousand even in quantities)

A similar function part could be made in the same basic design but for use with later model seat rails(easier to come by) and still maintain the fore and aft motions as well as the tilt motion. The machine shop guy gave me a rough estimate of $1200-1500 for one not including the rails or plastic knobs. He indicated that the price would drop with larger quantities. With the upfront drawings/design cost the breakeven point was estimated to be $400/rail if the quantity was 40-50. Thought it was probably a little too expensive to pursue until the supply drops and demand increases a little more. I thought I would pass along the information.

What do you guys think? Has anyone on the board done something crazy like this before? I've seen the 3.6 badges and REALLY liked them. I'd put one on my car except that would make me a poser because I only have a 3.2.

Has anyone reproduced or made these rails? Surely someone has.

Rob