914 seats

Does any have any pictures of modified 914 seats in there car?

Scott,

I had modified 914 seats in my car. You can see the trimmed down headrest from the back in the first pic and the second shows the driver side still in during the swap out.

Why? are you considering 914 seats? Still got mine.

Dave

Dave--good looking seats---I had no idea that 914 seats would fit in a pan based car.

What kind of place did you find to cut the tops off the seats---an upholstyr shop? What was the charge to re-form them and recover them?

Your finished seats look exactly what I have been looking for----are they as comfortable as they look?

What do you want for the extra set you have?---Thanks!----Jack

where did you get your 914 donor seats?

I got mine off ebay for $50 - they aren't that heavy to ship. Ensure you get the slide tilt base and the toothed tilt gear. The slider pot metal "D" handles are broke on 98% of them.

Jack,

I think the Tan seat is from a older Miata.

Jack,

They came with the car from Intermeccanica. Part of their early kit. IM used a lot of 914 parts then.

The 914 seats are the dark brown leather ones. The tan seat is a Miata seat that is very comfortable. The 350 mile trip to Morro Bay was way better than earlier trips to Malibu and Orange County in the 914 seats.

Dave

I like the 914 seats but have never cared for the look of the Miata seats. Cut down they look fine but that wierd top part looks like a costume out of an old Buck Rogers movie to me.

I tried junk yard searches for Miata seats with no luck. I like the 914 ones and hope to have then in the car before Morrow Bay. I don't think my a** could survive with my present seats for the 3,612 Hot Springs, AR-Morrow Bay, CA round trip.

I'll get serious about finding the 914 seats----anyone know if there is a "best" year to get?----Jack

Plenty of people use 914 seats, and I'd bet that the stock Vintage Speedster seats were based on a cut down version of the 914 fiberglass shells.

Also, a stock 914 seat is a pretty firm seat and could benefit from more cushioning IMO. Other than the fixed passenger seat of the early 914's (69-70), all of the adjustable 914 seats should be very similar.

I actually have a set in my attic waiting for a new life, black and require recovering.

Boston Bob E.

Bob--do you want to sell those 914 seats?-----Jack

Sure, they deserve another chance. Give me a day or two to get a photo or 2 and some idea on a box and shipping costs. I'm thinking $40 plus shipping if that's ok.

Bob---sold! Thanks----Jack

Wardrobe boxes from U-Haul work well for shipping seats.

Boy, you are not kidding. The wardrobe box is like it was made to ship seats. Thanks, there in the box and ready to go.

Jack, seats went out via UPS today, should be at your house on Monday!

Good luck with them.

Boston Bob E

Here's WIP - back cut down but not fiberglassed over yet.

Wolfgang, looking good. You can tape or hot glue a rubber hose at the perimeter to get the shape and use that as a form for the new fiberglass you probably will need to add. Find something that is similar to the rest of the seat.

Boston Bob E

Bob--why is fiberglass being added? Can't the seats just be re upholstered at this stage?

I need a tutorial!---Jack

I took a piece of the edge of the cut off headrest part and you can see it slightly rounds what would be a 1/8" thick top edge. The fiberglass at top add strength and eliminates the course, thin edge. Once that is done you could reupholster - suspect you would renew foam and add some. The original 914 seats were quite hard. Youd probably want backs that slipped on versus the complicated OEM system of pieces. Tempting to add seat heater kit too.

Jack - I sat in your car in '08 at Carlisle and admired your seats - I don't think the 914 ones will be much different - except maybe the OEM tilt mechanism would be nice (if you choose to use it). It may make the seat sit higher though.

Wolfgang--I am a bit larger accross the rear end than the average guy-39" waist, so I guess the seats fit me a little snugger than they do you. Believe me, after a 1,200 mile trip from Carlisle to Hot prings, AR I knew that improving the seats was in my car's future!

I am anxious to receive the 914 seats although they do closely resemble the Vintage seats. Except the sides of the shell seel broader
so maybe they will cut unto my rear end less---I'll just have to see.
I have found a good shop that does great work and will seek their advice.

I am attaching a picture from a sheet about Speedsters to show the seats. These aren't what I think of as Speedster seats--I thought the "originals" had the thin backs with two cut outs in the back. The ones in this picture look a lot like 356 coupe and cabriolet seats
don't they. Moreover--they look more comfortable than the "shell" type seats. I had never seen this type seat in our cars except maybe for IMs. Anyone got seats like the ones in this picture in a pan-based car? And where did you get 'em?

Stay cool--supposed to be 103 degrees here today!!---Jack

Jack, have you considered liposuction?

I would not have expected to see those seats in a speedster ad - they appear to be the stock 356 seat which while comfortable is quite heavy and for a pan based replica is several inches too wide. I looked at your photos and couldn't see one of your interior. Know I took one at Carlisle. Can't recall if you had a pan or tube chassis --- seem to recall you had lots of room so must be tube. If that is case you could use wider range of seats to include the original 356 ones. They have nice chrome hinge adjustment/tilt back adjusters on sides. They measure 23" or so wide - vice the pan limitiation of 18" (which I read as a tight size 36 waist). With old steel springs and horse hair stuffing - I'm not sure how comfortable an old OEM 356 seat would be without modernization.

Here's a set of tan Miata seats local to me (tad costly).

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/1265080103.html

I've seen them reupholstered with the headrest removed and they look right in a speedster.

Michael--I removed my reply to your post . It was as inappropriate as yours was. Have you tried the Samba--I'll bet you would enjoy it over there.---Jack

Jack, I sincerely apologize.

After I posted it I regretted it but there didn't seem to be a way to delete it.

I value our friendship and am really sorry I offended you.

I sometimes think liposuction is the only way I would be able to reduce parts of my anatomy.

Michael--I appreciate your note and thanks. In the past maybe after a few too many obans I have made posts I regretted and Theron is always kind enough to delete them the next day.

Kind regards--Jack

...I would need BOTH liposuction AND stomach stapling to fit in my Speedy seats! :-)

Bob--the 914 seats arrived yesterday--many thanks.

El Guapo--I'm gettin ready for the long drive to Morrow Bay next spring! These seats are gonna be a great thing for my car.

---Jack

More comfortable seats, awesome engine/trans combo from Jake...ya done good , Jack!

Ain't it wonderful how these things continually evolve. At least for me that's a big part of the fun.

Thunder Ranch has the wide bottom seats

Big Butt Jack here.

I made a wonderful discovery today---no, not about a diet or liposuck me---hell, I'm not what you'd call "big" in the ass department anyway! But I digress.

--About the discovery. The 914 seats arrived as advertised and in really good shape. zero tears or anything.

I discovered that the bottom cushion of the 914 seats fit perfectly into the Vintage fiberglass shells---yes; perfectly!! They sit a tad higher which raises them above the sides of the shell that were cutting me on long trips and are soooo comfortable. About 2" wider which is just perfect. Nice and flat too and shorter than the Vintage seats that sort of raise up in the front which I find uncomfortable
under my legs behind the knees too.

I met with a good upholsterer today and he can use tghe same covers from my Vintage seats to put on the 914 seats and they will fit perfectly. So I'll have the same high quality vinyl (or whatever it is Kirk uses but great stuff) as I have now, and they will match the seat backs and look stock.

Also I don't need to use the 914 shells and switch them for my Vintage shells. Another plus.

They really are comfortable and are the answer to a two year quest! I'll post pictures after they are covered in two weeks. I are happy!!----Jack

Ain't serendipity wonderful?

What do you want for the shells Jack?

Hey Bill--the shells are yours as a gift, my friend---just pay shipping--fair enough?

Email me your address and telephone number and I'll see what shipping runs. I still have the excellent shipping box the seats came in.

My email is hsbroker@aol.com.

Regards---Jack

Geesh Jack, if you're in the gift giving mode, feel free to write me a check :) ~Alan

Alan-well, if I owe anyone a check, it's you!

These were offered to me for free so I'm just returning the favor.

Shipping is very expensive--like $100! the seats are in a large wardrobe box!

Take care---Jack

Shipping has gone out of sight, DHL was 35% cheaper than FedEx or UPS but DHL no longer ships within the US.

Greyhound does cheap shipping to - just have to drop off anf pick up at one of there terminals.