Time to pick new seats, need suggestions

[Sicklyscott]

Hi -

I am planning an interior refresh as mine currently has 3 different color red panels. My eventual plan is to use the 69-73 dash with RSA door panels in black / charcoal alcantara (synthetic suede). The majority of the miles on this car will be weekend fun however there will be a couple track days thrown at it a year. I am also planning on a roll bar with 5 point harnesses.

I am not truly backdating the car, the way I like to put it is an updated backdate. The majority of the seats GTS Classics carries are to vintage for my liking. I like their PanAm seats but they require cores which i don't have (though it's unclear if they have to be sport cores or regular seats). I have been eyeing up the Recaro Pole Position seats but they don't really excite me.

What are you guys using that fits the above?

Also any experiences would be greatly appreciated.

-S

[mickey356]

There are lots of seat threads here.
My past experience was going to Hershey event and asking to sit in some of the different seats guys had in their cars. I settled on Cobra RS seats for my SC.
Until you sit in them you'll never know.

[KTL]

The Recaro Speed (formerly known as SRD) is a fantastic seat that is as comfortable as a stock sport seat. It's a great all-purpose seat. Of course it's a bit more supportive than a factory sport seat, on account of the additional leg and lateral bolstering. But it's not too confining & not lacking in cushion like most race seats are. I had the SRD in my car for a few years and it felt as comfy as the cloth RS America sport seats I had in the car

The Cobra Daytona is basically the same style as the above Recaro Speed and quite a bit cheaper by $200 retail. Cobra makes very nice seats. I've had a Cobra Imola S race bucket and also a Cobra Suzuka GT race bucket. VERY high quality seats on par with Recaros i've seen & used.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by KTL

The Recaro Speed (formerly known as SRD) is a fantastic seat that is as comfortable as a stock sport seat. It's a great all-purpose seat. Of course it's a bit more supportive than a factory sport seat, on account of the additional leg and lateral bolstering. But it's not too confining & not lacking in cushion like most race seats are. I had the SRD in my car for a few years and it felt as comfy as the cloth RS America sport seats I had in the car

The Cobra Daytona is basically the same style as the above Recaro Speed and quite a bit cheaper by $200 retail. Cobra makes very nice seats. I've had a Cobra Imola S race bucket and also a Cobra Suzuka GT race bucket. VERY high quality seats on par with Recaros i've seen & used.

I too use the Speed/SRD seats in my drivers.
Been using them a long time, and with a tweaked back, they offer me comfort that I can't get with stock seats unless I have a McCarty's Sacro-Ease incert in.

[BFT3.2]

Byron, nice Hutch Bear Trap pedals on the old school BMX bike. I lost some good shin skin to those in the early 80's!

[RDUNCe30]

S-

I went through a seat issue back in the fall. I have an 82 SC, Guards Red with clack interior. As per COA, the car was delivered with standard seats. I drove with those seats for about a year and then ordered a set of Nurburgrings from GTS. I opted for these seats after speaking with Stefan, who was very generous with his time as I tried to decide what I wanted.

When I bought it, the car had age appropriate sport seats that were marginal: passenger seat okay and driver seat cushion collapsed, couple of tears in the leather, part of the adjustment hardware is broken and or missing, etc. I pulled the driver seat and stuffed a couple of folded beach towels under the webbing to give me a more solid seat. I have put the sport seats in a safe place and will eventually have them re-done. I will look for replacement hardware, too.

Attached is a photo of my car's interior with Stefan's Nurburgrings and APPBIZ's RS door cards. All in vinyl - my car is a high mileage driver.

All this to say I am very happy with Stefan's seats - not quite a race seat, look period correct to me, comfortable to get into and out of for my wife and me (I am 6 feet, 180 pounds).

Good luck finding your seats. I look forward to seeing what you get.

Sam

[gtc]

What's your plan for those pretty recaros you have?

[Sicklyscott]

Sam - those seats look good. It's hard to say no to them but I don't think they fit the style I'm going for.

Graham - I haven't decided yet. I might give them to my father to put into his '65 Olds so he has some head/neck support. How much do you think they're worth?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Sicklyscott

I have been eyeing up the Recaro Pole Position seats but they don't really excite me.

I read this about them:
Recaro Pole Position No Longer Legal for Racing

Safety article from that link above:
Car Tech Stuff: Safe Seating

I've read good things about Sparco, and every other thread strongly suggested sitting in the seats before purchasing because what fits one person well, may not be tolerably by another body type.

Request for Clarification:
Sounds like you are looking for a fixed FIA approved race seat and not a recliner, right?

[Sicklyscott]

Not necessarily looking for FIA approved but I want to be able to use harnesses which then leads me to a roll bar (can't duck out of the way of a rollover if both shoulders are pinned back). Which then if you have a roll bar you don't want reclining seats. Additionally most DE's I've researched say either stock belts or 5/6 point harnesses and I haven't seen any reclining seats that accept the sub-belt.

So basically I'm looking for a seat that can do 5/6 point harness. I really like the Recaro Sportster CS seats but you can't have a sub-belt in those.

New option just popped up locally, 997 GT3 seats. I may end up doing the Alcantara thing on the door panels and dye the seats red. I think it might look cool.

As I mentioned the car was delivered with light red full leather. I'd like to pay some homage to that. Here's basically what she looks like now:

Untitled by sicklyscott, on Flickr

[blucille]

It's hard to beat what you've already got.

[KTL]

The Recaro Speed has a sub-belt provision. Costs a little extra but it's worth it to allow proper use of racing harness belts.

[gremlin]

Cantrell Motorsports has a modification to make Recaro Sportster CS have a sub belt, they did mine and they're fantastic.

[moneymanager]

Pay no attention to all these suggestions.
The seat you want is the one that fits you. Don't buy anything you haven't sat in for minimum 20 minutes.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by BFT3.2

Byron, nice Hutch Bear Trap pedals on the old school BMX bike. I lost some good shin skin to those in the early 80's!

Had that since new,

Pulled one of the Red Recaros out of my 911Cab, to use in the 944S while I have the drivers seat repaired.

[GTSinLV]

hi, apart from the classic looking seats we also have the Vallelunga seat

...just with the classic tough and operational with 5 point as well as the Trips device for the shoulder seat belts.

[Farrell]

has anyone sat in the above seat from GTS? Vallelunga? curious how comfortable this is. looks like it would be very similar to the recaro pole position.

for reference i am 6 foot about 170lbs (tall & skinny)

cheers

[GTSinLV]

Hi Farrell,thank you for your post.The Vallelunga is a bit wider than the Sportster and we added to te bottom duralastic belts for additional comfort- can also add an adjustable lumbar support.The seats are side mounted so you can adjustr slightly height and angle.We also can make the seating height inside the seat a bit lower if you are concerned.

[Farrell]

that is great. yes, i am tall and with the stock seats I'm already hitting my head. i meant to say the recaro pole position seat not the sportster.

[GTSinLV]

Hi Farrell,
yes so no problem, are you also using a helmet ??