How about replacement seats recomendations?

[MJ]

I am considering replacing the worn out, sit on the floor, rocking chairs in my 72 911 with newer highbacks from an 80's car. It was pointed out that this may look funny and I think I agree. Any recommendations for favorite brands and models to replace the lowbacks? I am not a racer but would like more support than the standard seats give. Thanks in advance.
Marty

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I love my Recaro Sports, in an '83 SC, but you might feel they provide too much support, particularly if you're at all wide in the beam. They take slight extra effort--which I don't mind--getting in and out of, but I'd probably get tired of them in a daily driver that required lots of stops and exits and entrances.

Stephan

[Markus30]

I replaced the stock (non-sport) leather seats in my '80 SC with Black cloth Recaro SE's. Great fit, quality and value in my opinion. I prefer the cloth feel and good lateral support to the original (although I still saved the originals for later). The SE is not a pure race seat - it can be tilted forward for rear access.

Regards,
Markus

[lsolon]

All the after mkt. seat manufacturers make pretty good reclinable seats now w\ great support and in many colors. Check momo, konig, sparco, corbeau and of course reccaro. Have to agree w\the cloth type seat. Not hot and sticky in the summer, not to cold in the winter.

[Superman]

I wish I were the lucky soul that scored two cloth Recaros at the swap meet Saturday for $75!

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'83 SC

[pwd72s]

Anybody have a mint set of early 911 sports seats they'll sell MJ for a few hundred? (Just kidding) But MJ, if your stock seats are too far gone to repair, maybe look for a used set in good shape? Those not as expensive. Check PANO ads, other publications as well for the wrecking yards, upholstery services, etc. Anything bought new these days has "high backs"...and to my mind, they'd look weird in an early 911...
Kind of like standard 356 coupe seats installed in a speedster...Kudos to you for thinking low back. Oh, forgot to mention. ALL early 911 seats were made by Recaro. Standard seats and sports seats both. Back in the stone age, we simply referred to the sports seats as "recaros" as a descriptive term.

[This message has been edited by pwd72s (edited 08-14-2001).]

[Bob W.]

A major event happened to me yesterday that may have some bearing on your choice of seats. I drive my '82 930 every day to work and the worst finally happened. While sitting at a red light I got rear ended. Big time, by a dirt hauler with a full load of sand. Knocked me across the intersection like a toy car. The police said he was going about 35 mph. The car was hit so hard that the seat that I was sitting in broke at the hinges. I survived with a head ache and a sore neck with probably no lasting damage. I believe that because I was in the porsche with the thick and high back seates that have full body support I was saved from being severly injured. I won't know for a few days if the car can be saved.
Bob W.

[chrisp]

Just think about how much energy that seat absorbed!! In your one hit accident that's probably a good thing for the back to break. Now, in a multiple hit situation that's another ball game.

[Rot 911]

MJ, Corbeau makes a seat that looks very much like the stock sport seats that came in the 72 911. They can be ordered in vinyl or cloth; black or gray. Called the Corbeau Sport Seat and Tweeks sells them for $329-$369 each. You also need to get the seat rails for them. I'm thinking of getting a pair in black cloth for my 72.

Kurt V
72 911E

[pwd72s]

So, MJ, did you make a decision, still thinking things over? Whatever, keep us posted, okay? For what it's worth, my wife still claims the standard seats in my old 1970 T were a lot more comfortable than the sports seats in my '72S. I, of course, prefer the sports seats. Women can, at times, be a bit too practical. Then they can turn around & decide that perfectly functional home carpeting needs replacing. Go figure!

[This message has been edited by pwd72s (edited 08-15-2001).]

[Rod Walter]

Bob, I'm glad to hear that you suffered only minor injuries. I trust that this will remain the case and that nothing shows up later.

I had nearly the same thing happen to me with my second 914 - hit from the rear (but not by a truck, thank God) by someone not paying attention and walked away with only bruises and sore muscles. The car was totalled.
There is something to be said for the support of high-back seats (and in the case of the 914 a firewall immediately behind them).

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Rod Walter
'88 911 coupe

[MJ]

As Kurt suggested, I am looking into the Corbeau seats. I found a local dealer to check them out at. I think if they are similar to the Porsche sport seats and are comfortable, I will go that route. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Marty

[Rot 911]

Hey Marty, let me know how the Corbeau's feel. There are no dealers for them around here so it would be nice to get you opinion before I buy them.

Kurt V
72 911E

[MJ]

I went to a local dealer today and tried out various seats. I was expecting to be sold on the Corbeau because it somewhat resembles the sport seats for the 911. For me (6-1" and 170 #'s), Recaro was quite a bit more comfortable and seemed to hold me in while not feeling too tight. The Corbeau was a lot more open and felt like a chair comparably. The finish work on the two was similar but the fabric on the Recaro was somewhat nicer. The Corbeau is more original looking and the Recaro is shaped more like the racing buckets with the harnesss holes.
It's a tough comparison. The Corbeau was around $600 per set while the Recaros were around $1000. Something tells me that price should not be the final consideration though as a long trip can really do one in.
I have time. Any other suggestions?

[Fishcop]

Marty, I replaced the seats in my 69 for a set from a wrecked 76 Carrera 3.0 (I don't think you guys got that version in the US)IMHO they do nothing to detract from the car at all. I've kept the original seats wrapped in plasic in the roof in case I want to return to original. I replaced Porsche with Porsche and not many people pick it. The p-recaros are great to sit in with excellent support. I'm 6'1" too, so I actually fabricated seat adaptors that position the seats about 1.5" lower for even more head room. Just my input!

cheers

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John Forcier
69 911T

[Hep]

One more thing on the Corbeau. I ordered a set of the "Carrera" model seats for my '79 SC. I figured I could easily fab up some brackets instead of paying the additional $$ for their adapters.

To my surprise, the was a set of threaded holes hidden under some of the fabric on the bottom of the seat that EXACTLY matched the stock rails.

It was the simplest of bolt-ins, I'm surprised that Corbeau trys to even sell adapters.

Of course I don't know if all of their seats are this way, but it might be worth ordering seats first, then adapters later only if you need them.

BTW, I'm very happy with mine.

JH

[pbs911]

I have the Monaco RS in my 78SC Targa.
http://www.monacousa.com/RS.html
The seats are very comfortable and appear to be very well made. The only thing I don't like about them is that there is no memory for the backing. Whenever you move the back of the seat forward to gain access to the rear seating compartment you have to manually reset the positioning.
I also got the mounting sliders for the seats, but the seats were placed too high. I'm 6'1. The mounting holes in the OEM sliders bolted right up to the Monaco seat. However, I drilled new mounting holes on the sliders to position the seats about 2 1/2 inches back. I now have excelent leg room and excelent seats. The hip, waist and shoulder bolsters provide excellent support. The price is very reasonable for a well made seat. I would buy them again.


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Paul
78SC Targa