Help me find seats please

OK so I have a very small car that is in need of some seats. Something sporty and bolstered but still vintage looking. So far this is proving to be the most difficult option to pin down on my build.

(note: the car will have a very different look/color/stance when it is done this time)

 No wingback chair style racing seats and no Kirkey or similar alloy seats. 

I had NA Miata seats in the 850 last time. They did fit the car very well but I don't care for the look of the surfboard/integrated headrest seat back.

I suppose my dream seats would be some Dino 308 GT4 units. That super thin backrest just does it for me, but those are well out of my price range.

I have seen companies who specialize in recovering the Euro market Miata seats with the adjustable headrest with a more vintage looking upholstery for use in old cars. Those seem perfect but didn't we only get them as 95 M edition seats and they go for silly money?

I would prefer to avoid the standard "clubman" seat but it is looking like they are the easy button. I don't really like the look of them but they at least wouldn't seem out of place.

I would prefer used since I will be having them recovered in red, unless something new is available in a nice shade of red.

It is very easy to go too big in a small car. Normal car sized seats can look ridiculous in little cars as seen here when Tim didn't check the measurements on these Honda seats. They almost touched in the middle of the car.

So small, lightweight, supportive, classic looking sport seat ideas please. 

First gen Camaro seats are tiny.  Like, an Integra seat is larger in every dimension.

Now, finding a cheap used set, there is another problem.

Porsche 914?

For size reference, I found a pic of some in a Miata.

In reply to Knurled. :

I actually have a set of those 914 seats but they are just so flat. I considered cutting them up and adding some support in with fiberglass but I'm betting I'd be better off selling them

Where are you?  I have a pair of the seats you posted last, and will be happy to see them get a new home.  Not perfect, as we used them a few years autocrossing, and they have head rests.

They would be available, cheap.

You might try googling Procar Seats by Scat they have a variety of fixed back and recliner type seats. Not exactly cheap. I have some Procar Rally seats in one of my cars and they are built pretty well. Website also has dimensions so you can judge if they will fit or not.

In reply to alfadriver :

Got a pic? I am in Eugene Oregon, so probably a fair bit of the continent between us but..

84 or 85 Rx7 seats would be worth a look. 

In reply to dean1484 :

I have a pair of those that I would be willing to trade for 914 seats but shipping would be a bitch.

Hit the junkyard with a measuring tape. I'd start with the seat pan and foam for a Miata seat and then look for a short, narrow back frame to make fit it. For example, 1990s GM 8-passenger minivans came with 2nd row seating that was three separate folding seats. They're not particularly wide and have a separate headrest, too.

Edit: The Chrysler minvan seats that fold into the floor are also relatively thin. 

Edit2: Look at the rear seat cushions from 3rd gen Firebirds. You would probably have to fab seat backs though.

Edit3: Look at the 2nd row of SUVs with 3 rows of seats. The 40 portion of a  60/40 split seat may be usable .

Jumper K Balls (Trent) said:

OK so I have a very small car that is in need of some seats. Something sporty and bolstered but still vintage looking. So far this is proving to be the most difficult option to pin down on my build.

(note: the car will have a very different look/color/stance when it is done this time)

 

 No wingback chair style racing seats and no Kirkey or similar alloy seats. 

I had NA Miata seats in the 850 last time. They did fit the car very well but I don't care for the look of the surfboard/integrated headrest seat back.

I suppose my dream seats would be some Dino 308 GT4 units. That super thin backrest just does it for me, but those are well out of my price range.

I have seen companies who specialize in recovering the Euro market Miata seats with the adjustable headrest with a more vintage looking upholstery for use in old cars. Those seem perfect but didn't we only get them as 95 M edition seats and they go for silly money?

I would prefer to avoid the standard "clubman" seat but it is looking like they are the easy button. I don't really like the look of them but they at least wouldn't seem out of place.

I would prefer used since I will be having them recovered in red, unless something new is available in a nice shade of red.

It is very easy to go too big in a small car. Normal car sized seats can look ridiculous in little cars as seen here when Tim didn't check the measurements on these Honda seats. They almost touched in the middle of the car.

 

So small, lightweight, supportive, classic looking sport seat ideas please. 

 

Your car looks perfect to me the way it is.......the exterior anyway.  It's awesome.

A month or so ago, there was a guy selling imported Miata seats on a Faceballs Miata parts group I belong to.  I've spent more time than I care to admit trying to find those adds because, you know, there IS no search feature.  IIRC he was getting $300-400 shipped for euro seats which were pretty similar to the 95 M seats.  Mainly dropping this comment here as a "place marker".  If I can find his ads or contact info, I'll drop it in this thread.  

My friend has Renault Fuego seats in his Austin Mini. Comfy, sporty and small. Then, finding Fuego seats...

I've got a set of E30 seats in my Amazon and I like how they fit and look. 

close to you

Try searching some of the suppliers to the Lotus 7-esque kit cars, such as europaspares.com . I don't know how much seat bottom bolstering you need (these cars tend to use the sides of the car as lower bolsters), but there are several seats they list that look like what you're after, at least on their upper half.

Can I suggest Elise seats?  Look on Miata forums because they are a popular upgrade. 
 

In reply to hobiercr :

I'm a fan of e30 sport seats but they are not on the lightweight side of things.

I'm really trying to keep this car around the 1400lb mark. I was at 1375 last time but I anticipate it is going to gain weight this time

In reply to Jumper K Balls (Trent) :

True, they are not the lightest saddle in the barn.

Turboeric said:

. I don't know how much seat bottom bolstering you need 

Interesting point. I think this car rewards hip bolstering more than back as it is a more upright sedan seating position.  

Streetwiseguy said:

First gen Camaro seats are tiny.  Like, an Integra seat is larger in every dimension.

Now, finding a cheap used set, there is another problem.

Came here to suggest this ^^^ and I'll add that bolstering with upholstery made for the bolstering is available. You can do them with the short 67-8 separate headrests or taller 69 headrests which both raise. Or no headrests at all if you want the short look and willing to risk whiplash.

Not great pics of the seats specifically, but these are bolstered 69's without headrests a customer put in a car I built.

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Brads%2069%20Camaro/006_zps029a6cf8.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Brads%2069%20Camaro/005_zpse489d456.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Brads%2069%20Camaro/004_zpse457ff02.jpg.html][/URL]

NOT A TA said:

I am not sure what bothers me more: the way the forum software kicks FIrefox around like an ugly puppy when trying to reply to a post that contains images, or the way that driver's cabin image makes me want a first generation Camaro.

It's all good, though, my first love was a first generation Firebird ('69, dudes!) and that's the torch I will carry.  Even though anything with a 4-speed and a Pontiac V8 is a rightous bitch to do anything on besides change spark plugs because of how the exhaust and starter and Z-bar all occupy the same space, in violation of at least one law of physics.

Old style Recaros may fit, like pre-1980.  They may be hard to find and maybe not cheap, though.  One source would be special edition VW Sciroccos or Golf GTIs, as an added plus they were plaid.  

Jumper K Balls (Trent) said:

In reply to alfadriver :

Got a pic? I am in Eugene Oregon, so probably a fair bit of the continent between us but..

I'll take some tomorrow.  But, yea, that's far from Michigan.

C4 seats are pretty light and pretty narrow, but might be too tall.  I can take measurements if you’d like.  These are ‘94 non-power.  They are shockingly light.

Car seat porn that I like to look at is at classiccarseats.com

Not cheap but some amazing styles, fabrics, and options.   I haven’t shopped their yet but really want to a LOT.