Help me find seats please

In reply to buzzboy :

My fuego didn't have small seats?  They were really wide at the bottom.  When we scrapped the car i put the seats in my 89 chevy truck.

If you like the NB1/ 95M miata seats, there's a company that parts out miatas in the UK that has been selling a lot of cheap parts. Here's a set of nice looking brown leather seats for $275 shipped, for instance Here

If you're not registered on MT and would like me to get in touch with them for you, let me know. I'm sure if you were interested in rattier seats that are more appropriate for reupholstering they'd be cheaper. 

cmcgregor said:

If you're not registered on MT and would like me to get in touch with them for you, let me know. 

Actually,  yes. Please do. I'm assuming that price is delivered in the UK. Ask what the landed price in the US might be. 

In reply to Jumper K Balls (Trent) :

How about Datsun roadster seats? They're pretty small and light. People swap them out for Miata seats to get more padding so you might be able to find some takeouts cheap.

Slight threadjack - I think I remember you suggesting a textured black plastic for cheap light door panels but I can't find the thread. Am I remembering correctly, and if so do you have any details?

I have put 914 seats in a Miata. They work pretty well. I did some foam work on them and they have decent shaping now - I've even driven them on track. They have a very square back to the headrest that can look a little weird without a bulkhead. If I could get my hands on that car again, I'd probably put a back brace on them for a little more stability in the long term.

The Honda N600 that was at SEMA was running seats out of a Polaris RZR. They would look great in a light small vintage car like a, umm, N600. They were finished in a black vinyl. Looks like there are different styles, but this is what was in the Honda: https://www.ebay.com/p/2084296927?iid=291954624504

Looks like there are aftermarket versions too.https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CK7btchfSXYT4ArXAtOUPq-OEkAbGqbTiWIjV9PixCu242PyjEQgEEAQgzfnCcCgoYMn-i4fMo5gYoAGfnMD-A8gBB6oEOU_Q5QTJJKvbdnqrxvP_kd-J77za_z8-SmSkmuBZ5b5JBwAZ7vwdKhaTDNp85Nu09T6oNWSx55pQ6cAE-9_QzZ4CwAUFoAYmgAfbgI4ViAcBkAcBqAemvhuoB9nLG6gHz8wbqAfz0RuoB-7SG6gHwtob2AcBsAgBwAgB0ggGEAIgpIACmgkhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWJheS5jb20vcC8yMDg0Mjk2OTI3sQlJLQ8r4Txb7bkJSS0PK-E8W-34CQGYCwHgErmzn5aDuLjsRPAVlPmpNfoVDDI5MTk1NDYyNDUwNIgW3NcguBawl6gY&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwiB__Xx7_LlAhVABzQIHcFZD9YQvhd6BAgBEFQ&dblrd=1&sival=AF15MEBmrU16aGPUJNq5XPi4EQnAoW6wqPt8FF93ceJRyb8ih99V0nVgupu7AuJDzSZdTgEuY9Mrz0w1W_qiidJRD-U4p1M12TSH12FKrfOVtBLwVMdxwUMvJvRODHt7-62_3opX5plAU6xabovmbREQhVcMjhtQzA&sig=AOD64_257xit1-EBRZP_hv9bcBCXAehRTA&adurl=https://www.ebay.com/p/2084296927%3Fiid%3D291954624504%26chn%3Dps%26norover%3D1%26mkevt%3D1%26mkrid%3D711-117182-37290-0%26mkcid%3D2%26itemid%3D291954624504%26targetid%3D593772289133%26device%3Dc%26mktype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D9029184%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D2086087905%26mkgroupid%3D76935344123%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-593772289133%26abcId%3D1141016%26merchantid%3D111836308https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CK7btchfSXYT4ArXAtOUPq-OEkAbGqbTiWIjV9PixCu242PyjEQgEEAQgzfnCcCgoYMn-i4fMo5gYoAGfnMD-A8gBB6oEOU_Q5QTJJKvbdnqrxvP_kd-J77za_z8-SmSkmuBZ5b5JBwAZ7vwdKhaTDNp85Nu09T6oNWSx55pQ6cAE-9_QzZ4CwAUFoAYmgAfbgI4ViAcBkAcBqAemvhuoB9nLG6gHz8wbqAfz0RuoB-7SG6gHwtob2AcBsAgBwAgB0ggGEAIgpIACmgkhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWJheS5jb20vcC8yMDg0Mjk2OTI3sQlJLQ8r4Txb7bkJSS0PK-E8W-34CQGYCwHgErmzn5aDuLjsRPAVlPmpNfoVDDI5MTk1NDYyNDUwNIgW3NcguBawl6gY&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwiB__Xx7_LlAhVABzQIHcFZD9YQvhd6BAgBEFQ&dblrd=1&sival=AF15MEBmrU16aGPUJNq5XPi4EQnAoW6wqPt8FF93ceJRyb8ih99V0nVgupu7AuJDzSZdTgEuY9Mrz0w1W_qiidJRD-U4p1M12TSH12FKrfOVtBLwVMdxwUMvJvRODHt7-62_3opX5plAU6xabovmbREQhVcMjhtQzA&sig=AOD64_257xit1-EBRZP_hv9bcBCXAehRTA&adurl=https://www.ebay.com/p/2084296927%3Fiid%3D291954624504%26chn%3Dps%26norover%3D1%26mkevt%3D1%26mkrid%3D711-117182-37290-0%26mkcid%3D2%26itemid%3D291954624504%26targetid%3D593772289133%26device%3Dc%26mktype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D9029184%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D2086087905%26mkgroupid%3D76935344123%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-593772289133%26abcId%3D1141016%26merchantid%3D111836308

In reply to Jumper K Balls (Trent) :

Sent you a PM. 

E21 Recarros would be perfect.  So would their sister seats from an 80s Mustang GT, GTi or similar.  TR7 seats are are very comfy, have side bolsters, and sit very low.  The sliders are made to go on a flat floor and are easily narrowed or widened to fit any seat bottom.  The sliders are what I have used in every race car I have had to put adjustable sliders in.  Good luck finding them unless you have a buddy into TR7s and 8s.  Here is a picture of a set of seats my wife recovered for me last year along with an original blue plaid seat.  Wanted a white/gray/black plaid which was never available.  Used Alcantara and plaid

.

Feedyurhed said:

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.

Except for the whole tree falls on car part.

I was thinking early VW recaros also, Trophys or Helios maybe.

The problem with most VW seats is that they have that odd integral slider arrangement, not a flat bottom. I've forgotten the names of the various seats, but I have a pair of the ones from the 2L GTI 16V, and they had flat bottoms to accommodate the electric option. Any of the flat bottom variations would work and be very comfortable. 

I worked in the seating industry for 25 years and the thing that I found a little surprising was how consistent the seat width was across manufacturers and platforms. Go measure a bunch of cars ands see how often the answer is 21-22 inches. If the Fiat can accommodate  that width there are endless choices, but if he needs narrower then he's stuck with the same issue Miata owners have.

If it were me, I'd be looking at attaching a different back frame to a Miata seat pan and go from there. Second row SUV/minivan seat backs usually have separate headrests and the structure will be tubular or a stamping. Either could be adapted to weld to a Miata recliner and hinge and would yield a low back bucket with separate headrest. I think it could be made to look a little more vintage with the right choice of upholstery.

In reply to Jumper K Balls (Trent) :

How wide is the car between the B-pillars, right about the windowsill height?

How about Corbeau GTS-II seats? They are very compact for a full seat. Its like a cheaper knock off of the Recaro Orthoped and they fit perfect into old 911's which are pretty small of a car.

Cobra has some interesting vintage look seats.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to Jumper K Balls (Trent) :

How wide is the car between the B-pillars, right about the windowsill height?

41 inches and it starts to taper so at headrest height it is around 40. For comparison a 76 911 is 48 inches at that point

Many years ago I put in a cheap pep boys style "racing" seat because the seat at the time needed repair and I couldn't close the door with the window up 

So the gent in the UK cmcgregor contacted for me has located a pair of leather seats at a price that allows me to also have them reupholstered. I am quite happy about this. I will most likely dig up some old foamectomy threads for more clarification 

I do love those corbeaus. They aren't available in colors other than grey or black though. 

I have found that Corbeaus generally put you quite high in the car. We put in a set of the first ones pictured above and it was a fairly shocking gain in altitude. We took them right out again.

Here's everything you need to know about Foamectomization:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Height isn't an issue. The seat rail adapters I made for the old miata seats were 4 inches tall.

The seating position in the fiat is closer to a Morris minor/vw bug/classic mini than anything else. 

They'd work well in that arena then. 

I assume you've looked at classic Mini seats as well? Mine don't have anything in the way of lateral support, but they are small and tall and vintage looking. They're from some sort of special edition, I think. There are certainly no lack of aftermarket options.

hobiercr said:

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

close to you

I'd say, try getting the E30 seats for next to nothing, then work with LSeat!!! The replacement leather seat covers are second to none, quality-wise. I've used them several times (@ $325/set) and you can have basic customizing INCLUDED in the costs! If you want something really bespoke, they can do it for you as well.

https://www.lseat.com/categories/genuine-leather/bmw.html

Seriously, take a look as these covers are an excellent option. I love them.

Jumper K Balls (Trent) said:

41 inches and it starts to taper so at headrest height it is around 40. For comparison a 76 911 is 48 inches at that point

Many years ago I put in a cheap pep boys style "racing" seat because the seat at the time needed repair and I couldn't close the door with the window up 

Oooo....that is narrow. Two seats from any other car will be virtually touching each other. Good luck !!

Jumper K Balls (Trent) said:

So the gent in the UK cmcgregor contacted for me has located a pair of leather seats at a price that allows me to also have them reupholstered. I am quite happy about this. I will most likely dig up some old foamectomy threads for more clarification 

I do love those corbeaus. They aren't available in colors other than grey or black though. 

Awesome! Glad that worked. 

Might be the same guy that you've had contact with, but a "Freddie Evans" just posted up some UK spec leather seats in the Miata Buy, Sell, Trade group on Faceballs.  Pretty sure that's the guy I was trying to find earlier.  Sounds like you're set, but if not, he's advertising $275 "shipped to your door in the US".  That's stupid cheap. 

Freddie in the UK had sold the first set of seats, we discussed a cloth set but I held out for a tan leather set. Paypaled $240 this Monday at 11AM and they arrived today! I can't recommend him enough. Super fast, really reasonably priced.  

They were wrapped in carpet for protection.  Nice touch there.

As expected the now drivers side is almost perfect but the passenger side (RHD drivers side) has bolster wear. Not bad though. 

I am going to discuss dying them red with our upholsterer or if I need to recover them.

And Keith,  I finally watched your foamectomy video and I realized you and I were looking at the same car at Monterey. I saw the flyin miata logo on your shirt and was going to ask if you were Keith right when the group I was with insisted I  check out a car a few blocks away.  Now I feel silly for being too shy to speak up right away.

Jumper K Balls (Trent) said:

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

They are flat, but they have fore and aft, as well as tilt adjustment.  Tilt makes the flat less of a problem.  You can also recontour the pad that goes under the butt.  They are also hella light

Maybe seats out of a AC VW bug?

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Thanks, awesome video.

I wonder if the seats in a Ford Probe (aka Mazda MX-6) are similar enough to be foamectomied... *goes looking for pliers*

Patrick said:

In reply to buzzboy :

My fuego didn't have small seats?  They were really wide at the bottom.  When we scrapped the car i put the seats in my 89 chevy truck.

TIL that you used to have a Fuego.

My condolences