Anybody using reproduction vintage style seats?

[SoCal70RSR]

There seems to be 2 or 3 companies that make early style reproduction seats - vintageseats, classiccarseats and one other I can't remember at the moment.

Does anybody have experience with some of their products? I'm particularly interested in the STS or sport S style seat.

How's their quality? What material did you choose, leather, leatherette, houndstooth, basketweave, etc... Any problems mounting them on a pre-74.

One last question, anybody using 5/6 point harnesses with these seats?

[kucharskimb]

I'll be ordering some from stefan with classic car seats soon. When I was visiting Texas, he showed me around. He has stopped using the Italian company that was making his seats and has moved his production to the states for Quality Assurance reasons. He was showing me what he expects out of frame and finish and i was impressed.

some have baulked that his seats are not as true to original as some of the other companies. I guess you would have to compare it side by side to an original...

He is making all provisions for 5/6 point harnesses to meet PCA requirements.

Maybe he'll chime in and let us know when to start placing orders.

[jpnovak]

I have the ST seats from GTS (Stefan). I am using a 3" 5 point setup (2" sub). They work really well. Even past instructors have mentioned their relative comfort. I previously had a set of the Nurburgring seats but they lacked too much lat/shoulder support and I felt like I was sliding around too much. This is definitely not the case with the ST.

Mine have the vinyl sides and cord centers. you don't slide at all even with street belts on. The cord is nice since it doesn't get too hot in the sun. This is a big concern here in TX.

I had slight problems with the rear of the seat where the tunnel necks out by the rear seat bulkhead. Of course, I have my seats all the way back. This prompted a redesign with a narrower base.

Mine are mounted to the floor with custom brackets welded in place. I am using their sliders. I really like them and would recommend them to others.

[TRE Cup]

We have our own line of early seats as well. Four basic shell styles with the various coverings to achieve the look you are after. We have the

1) early recaro (also used as the RS lightweight passenger side when covered in the RSR material)

2) later recaro (used in the ST and 73 RSR NON recline version). These last two have exposed fiberglass backs

3) Scheel sport- looks like the ST BUT it is slighty wider (for the ahem.. larger physique), and taller for additional back support. < this last one has a vinyl covered back and sides

4) very early recaro shell that was used on the 911R- no head rest provisions. A very "square" design

The Scheel sport (SH) and the ST versions are available with seat belt slotting. All are available in a variety of coverings so you can get corduroy (original replica spec), wide corduroy, plaids, RSR sable, houndstooth, basketweave, perforated (3 styles), smooth, rough grain, leather, special order versions.

We use the Recaro supplied mounting brackets and sliders for ease of install

There are SOME pics of our vast offerings listed on our site. www.tremotorsports.com

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by kucharskimb

I'll be ordering some from stefan with classic car seats soon. When I was visiting Texas, he showed me around. He has stopped using the Italian company that was making his seats and has moved his production to the states for Quality Assurance reasons. He was showing me what he expects out of frame and finish and i was impressed.

some have baulked that his seats are not as true to original as some of the other companies. I guess you would have to compare it side by side to an original...

He is making all provisions for 5/6 point harnesses to meet PCA requirements.

Maybe he'll chime in and let us know when to start placing orders.

That's good to know. Stephan is a great guy. And, I liked my GT seats in the Ragamuffin. I ran a few track days and felt very comfortable and as well as on lengthy trips.

Dave's seats are awesome. Enough said.

[Ducman]

I will be in the same situation soon and need to research these various options. I have a couple other questions.

Most discussions focus on the pre 74 cars, but what would be the most period correct full bucket and fabric for a 74 Carrera? - btw my car tends to remind more of an early due to color and chrome trim.

Second - what do you call the seat back upholstery style that has the "grommets"? Not that this is appropriate for my car I just think it looks great!

[karlusmagnus]

i used gerrit from nml depot, for my scheel 300 seats.
Great guy ... he is in Worms Germany.
Der Fatherland for Der Seats.
http://www.nml-depot.de/nmldepot004.htm

Karl.

[Todd Simpson]

I had a set of the vintageseats ST replicas specially made a few years ago with belt holes. Pic of mine and original pattern below.

The quality was amazing, they were very comfortable and looked great. For serious track work though, they just wouldn't have held my 220 pounds in place. I sold them soon after purchase.

I would *think* these would be incompatible with the new PCA regulations next year requiring seats with belt holes for harness use but I'll let you research that issue on your own.

These days I use an R3 H&N device and am about to put in a seat back brace so it's fixed buckets only for me.

[Todd Simpson]

Oh, but if a 935 "lollipop" replica seat is out there I'm all ears...

[Tim K]

Gunnar Racing made a mold of a lollipop seat for their "Ratt". Though I don't know if they sell repros.

http://www.gunnarracing.com/project/RATT/RATT-0401.htm

Tim

[SoCal70RSR]

Originally Posted by Todd Simpson

I would *think* these would be incompatible with the new PCA regulations next year requiring seats with belt holes for harness use but I'll let you research that issue on your own.

You bring up a good point... If PCA requires belt holes for the shoulder belts, than none of these vintage seats qualify. Choosing a early style seat that has lap belts and sub belt guides over one that doesn't, really doesn't make much difference in the eyes of the governing bodies. A Sport S is just as good as an STS seat, you'll be required to run an OEM 3 point seatbelt on either one. If we'd like to run a 5/6 point harness are the only choices modern seats? Sparco, Recaro, etc.

[Johan123m]

nml-depot in Germany.

Scheel 300's

PERFECT!


Regards
Johan

[Ducman]

Originally Posted by SoCal70RSR

You bring up a good point... If PCA requires belt holes for the shoulder belts, than none of these vintage seats qualify. Choosing a early style seat that has lap belts and sub belt guides over one that doesn't, really doesn't make much difference in the eyes of the governing bodies. A Sport S is just as good as an STS seat, you'll be required to run an OEM 3 point seatbelt on either one. If we'd like to run a 5/6 point harness are the only choices modern seats? Sparco, Recaro, etc.

But it looks like these seats can be ordered with harness holes. So why wouldn't they qualify for PCA DE?

[SoCal70RSR]

If I'm not mistaken, some seats can only be ordered with lap belt and sub strap belt holes but not "shoulder" belt holes. That's were only a modern seat would qualify.

I plan to run both belt styles in my car, an OEM 3 point and a set of schrotch ASM belts that can be configured to run in 4, 5 or 6 point configuration because the camlock is on the lap belt. However, if I'm reading the PCA rule correctly, they won't let you run a harness if the seat is not configured for it - with 5 harness belt holes, lap, sub and shoulders.

[jpnovak]

Call Stefan. He has a solution to the shoulder harness problem. He is very aware of the issue. I spoke with him about it in April when I was at his ranch for a visit. I am hoping for the same solution when it becomes available.

[berettafan]

Have Nurburgrings from Stefan at GTS. i haven't done any driving in them yet as car is in for pan operation. i am impressed with the quality and they certainly feel comfortable when i sit in the drivers side and make 'vroom vroom' noises.

[kucharskimb]

+1 jpnovak
stefan said he is making a low profile bracket that will bolt to the tubular subframe and have two loops up top to run your harness through.

jamie
i'll be moving to austin this fall. look forward to meeting you.

[70SWT]

From limited interaction with him, I would say that Stefan is a class act - I can't imagine you going wrong dealing with him. If I didn't have an impending major out-of-the-country commitment, I would be buying some seats from him right now.

[BlueSideUp]

How do you guys like driving around with fixed back seats? I'm really the only one who drives my car but do you find the non-adjustability annoying at all?

I'd love to get a set of seats but I don't know if something like this Rallye ST....



or this Nurburgring



would end up being annoying vs.

this Monte Carlo....



The passenger's seat will probably be the adjustable type but I'm specifically looking for opinions on the driver's seat. I am a bigger guy so I'm not sure how these seats fit someone my size, I'm 6'5" and 230lbs. The Rally ST looks like the bigger of the two fixed back seats.

I found the Recaro SRD to be a good tight fit, however the narrower bases of these seats can be mounted lower.

Fernando
Have you tried TRE? They are making Vintage racing seats with the coolest material inserts. Im thinking of Green plaid for my car. Call Dave!