914 Seat Options

[DonNewton]

All: I'm currently in the process of returning my 914 (-6 Conversion) to the street from it's life as a track car. STUPIDLY, I sold a pair of really nice 914 seats 15 year ago. Now, of course, those seats no longer exist in captivity. The question is: As an elder (dammit) "gentleman" who is 6'4", what seats would you guys recommend as replacements?
Originality is not required, although it would be nice. My old, ex-paratrooper bones need something supportive and being somewhat miserly, I really don't need expensive. Open for all options, just give me a steer (direction)! Thanks in advance.

[mepstein]

https://www.classiccarseats.com/
They make 2 seats to fit a 914.

[pingpong]

buy a pair of 914 seats and have them recovered win, win, originality and looking good with inserts for less than $ 1k. Good luck let us know what ever you decide.

mepstein advise would also do it for me, + $.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

For regular street-car seats, you probably won't find anything better than the stock ones. Most other seats don't fit in the car correctly, and you will lose a significant amount of headroom.

There are some aftermarket seats that do fit into a 914, but all of the ones I am aware of are more along the line of a race seat, with higher side bolsters. Great for holding you in place as you go through the corners, not as easy to get into and get out of. And they may not fit someone of more, umm, generous proportions that well either. (I have said on more than one occasion when trying out race-type seats, "I'm way too much of a fat-*ss to sit in this thing!")

I think your best bet is to check the classifieds here for 914 seats, and on the 914world BBS. And possibly Facebook as well.

--DD

[ppeters914]

What Dave said. Find a set of stock seats with good bones, and have them reupholstered by someone who knows what they're doing.

Seats and brakes are not items to go cheap.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

[DonNewton]

Thanks for the input guys! The car was raced, originally in the old SCCA GT4 class, with the Porsche club racing series and just about anyone else I could find. It currently has a Momo FIA racing seat that was left over from the Inquisition and Boxster six piston front and older 911 rear calipers. At 1900 pounds it will stop on a dime and give you five cents change. Cheap isn't in the lexicon.

Thanks to this forum, I have a line on a set of 914 seats that I'll pick up tomorrow (Wednesday 5/27). Looking forward to continuing the re-conversion process. I hope to scare all the neighbors. . .

[pingpong]

yes for sure your best option and the original 914 seats are looking good, fit well and comfy i my book.

Personal i like the houndstooth inserts the best, wear less than the plaid.

[DonNewton]

If you EVER doubt the efficacy of this forum, pay attention. After 4 weeks of chasing hints, allegations and out-right lies about the existence of 914 seats, Saturday, 23rd May 2020, I posted my original question. Saturday night, I had an initial PM from a gentleman of good taste and breeding indicating he had a set for sale. I immediately (well, Sunday morning) responded and today, Wednesday 27 May, I picked up a very, very nice set of 914 seats at an undisclosed location somewhere between LA and San Diego. If possible, the seats looked better than the photos and I've already dropped them off at Black Forest (repair shop in San Diego) who are overseeing the conversion from track to outlaw. BEST DAMNED FORUM, EVER!

Again, thanks to all who responded. Great guys! Pictures when available. . .

[911pcars]

Go to 914World.com

I believe a gentleman is selling a complete interior (black). Looks in excellent condition.

[dr914]

used 914 seats are the best way to go and commonly available, we also have about ten sets of NOS 914 seats here. The cheapest buy for the money however are the corbeau seats. They fit and are comfortable

[DonNewton]

Again, a big "Thank You" to all who responded. I would be interested in "dr914"'s organization to peruse as I complete this transformation. The seats I purchased (Thank you, again) have caused me to start the process of locating door panels/cards. Their appearance obviated my previous intention of just putting carpeting on everything. So, door cards and maybe a Getty replacement dash. . . Those concentric rings are getting bigger and greater in intensity. I have to stop this tsunami. . .

[Emo993]

Hi Don. I'm in the same boat....Getting a little old to climb in (73). Wanted the GT classic Nurgburging seats but my boss has them at work and its to hard to get in and out. Soo, took my old seats, cut off the head rest and refolded the leather back. It's got the old school look I like so I will buy a new upholstery kit for each seat and build. I'm going to round off the top a little and maybe add a little to the side bolster. Best, mark

[DonNewton]

Mark:
That's a pretty cool look. For a while, I looked at every thing/place I could find looking for seats. In '98 when I went straight racer with it, I dumped the seats and the rest of the interior. As I stated earlier, I was unable to find anything stock. After giving up, I posted the original request and within two days had made a deal on leather reupholstered seats. I'm on the prowl now for door cards that are somewhere close to San Diego, but I might have to go to Dr. 914 in Atlanta for those. I'll get the pictures the previous owner sent me and post them here shortly. Needless to say, I couldn't be happier. Lets get these things back on the road!

[DonNewton]

Oh, just noticed your inspection port for your timing (guessing it's a -6). I put an electronic ignition system on my 2.7 so I wouldn't have to crawl over it to check timing. Love to see your car! I'll also post a picture of mine on the track. .

[Emo993]

I've posted a number of image's (hope your not getting sick of them) my rebuild to a 914-6 GT is running a little long. Hope to be on the road/track this year. Mark

[DonNewton]

Yowzer! Guy I used to race with owned the Sonato 914 from 1970 Le Mans. He'd only let me sit in it and make engine noises. I'm not kidding about sitting in it, making engine noises, not so much. Anyway, yours is definitely in that realm. That's some fine work right there!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Don, ping Marty over at MSDS. He bought the #40 car a little while back. He might be willing to show it off some time.

--DD

[DonNewton]

I've certainly bought enough of MSDS' products to at least get a picture. My 914 currently has the 6AL system and it generates enough spark to literally start a fire. I also like the dialable rev limiter. . .

[PCA7GGR]

By removing the seat rails and mounting the stock tracks directly to the floor pan, you can install Recaros and Momo seats. The stock back pad seat cutout needs to be widened by opening up the seam, taking out some padding and then re-glueing.

The Recaro mount/slider has 90 degree mounting rails with 3 mounting holes. I attached the front ones to the boxed member by drilling horizontal holes thru the member and using long bolts. I then bent the rear rail mounts horizontally and mounted them directly to the floor. This lowered the back of the seats providing great helmeted head room.

Being a bit on the "manly" side (5'10" and north of 200lbs), I found this far more supportive and comfortable than the poorly padded narrow fiberglass stock seats.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by DonNewton

I've certainly bought enough of MSDS' products to at least get a picture. My 914 currently has the 6AL system and it generates enough spark to literally start a fire. I also like the dialable rev limiter. . .

You're talking about MSD, the ignition people. I'm talking about MSDS, Martin Schneider Design Systems (I think?), who have made exhausts for years and even made a 914 turbo setup way back when.

--DD