Anyone have suggestions for after market seats for a speedster. Maybe roadster seats etc.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
DrClock has used some Corbeau looking seats off eBay on several widebody speedsters. You're stuck with 18-19" wide seats if its a VW pan based speedster. 914 seats do work and the headrest can be cut off - be sure to get the rocking mounting base and sliders (although aftermarket sliders work).
I have two 914 seat shells, one with the headrest and one with the headrest cut off. You can have them if you have them shipped, but I think I saw some on eBay for $50 a piece, so shipping may not be worth it. Vintage Motorcars sells seats, already upholstered.
This is the seat I have used in wide body builds moorepartssource on eBay has had them for as low as $420 for a pair shipped no sliders included. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Premi...437fa23bdd2771717b36
Alan Merklin posted:This is the seat I have used in wide body builds moorepartssource on eBay has had them for as low as $420 for a pair shipped no sliders included. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Premi...437fa23bdd2771717b36
Those are the seats that came with my Speedie. EMPI p/n 62-2880-0. Not a big fan, mostly because they don't recline.
My wife has a 2017 Mini. I love its seats, and need to measure them, then go on a junkyard run if they'll fit. They recline, have adjustable thigh and lumbar supports, and as a bonus, they're HEATED, bottom and back. I can't think of a better way to extend my driving season into December. ;-)
McGruff posted:Alan Merklin posted:This is the seat I have used in wide body builds moorepartssource on eBay has had them for as low as $420 for a pair shipped no sliders included. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Premi...437fa23bdd2771717b36
Those are the seats that came with my Speedie. EMPI p/n 62-2880-0. Not a big fan, mostly because they don't recline.
My wife has a 2017 Mini. I love its seats, and need to measure them, then go on a junkyard run if they'll fit. They recline, have adjustable thigh and lumbar supports, and as a bonus, they're HEATED, bottom and back. I can't think of a better way to extend my driving season into December. ;-)
If you want to part with those black Empi seats pm me I may have a use for them.
Somewhere on here, in the archives, I wrote a long article about modifying a pair of 18” wide Chrysler seats to fit a CMC, so here is the salient part of it before you go looking in a salvage yard:
The available space for the seat base in a CMC, because the floor narrows as it goes toward the rear and also narrows left-to-right and top to bottom at the rear, is 16-3/4” wide. This is mainly because of the shape of the central tunnel, but the floor space curves inward the more you go back.
Mazda Miata seats fit (they recline), as do Porsche 914 seats (they do not recline). I have no experience with the seats in a Mini, but that is the available space for the lower seat frame, left to right.
You can install wider seats, as I did, but the bottom frames will need to be modified (narrowed) to fit the space.
The trick to using 914 seats is to use the OEM base (front toothed bit not shown) - not just adding sliders. The base allows the seats to tilt back even though seats are one piece (max about 3" tilt). The base could be added to the seats you currently have too to allow them to tilt back. The 914 parts have gotten costly though.
Attachments
Images (1)
These Triumph Spitfire seats were installed in the CMC when built in 1987. They have springs and are very comfortable!
Attachments
Images (1)
Most Miata seats have an integral headrest which looks out of place in a classic speedster. The 1990-95 M seats seem to be the best choice.
Not really after-market seats, per se, but saw Emory posted these up today and I like them!
Attachments
Images (1)
You won't like the price.! Those are very similiar to Porsche 914 seats. Headrests can easily be removed on the 914 seats. You could also add the vent holes if desired.
Here's 914 seats without headrests (cut off) but not yet reupholstered-
Here's current replica speedster seats from VM parts for $605 each in vinyl. They also have comfort seats which are more like the Roadster seats (see old VS ones below) - more cushioning and no vents -
Here's older VS comfort seats -
I seem to amassed a seat collection. I have the original CMC speedster buckets in red and the set of the black Porsche 914 seats shown above. Also, have VS comfort seats in tan that I will most likely be using.
Attachments
Images (3)
Greg will dig out and look at the tonneau tomorrow
OMG...So crazy. I've been looking at repainting my speedy and redoing interior and have been looking at seat alternatives too. Great thread.!! What do you guys think of these?? By Stryker? Right now they are like 500-700 a PAIR. SHSHSHS. These have all metal frames. If any of you guys are interested in these, maybe we could save more with a group order?
Mike
Attachments
Images (3)
Al’s point is important. You have 16-3/4” width for the seat base in a pan-based speedster which limits you to Porsche 914, Miata, seats from Vintage or anyone else who can provide a seat inside of that base width. Keep that in mind as you look, as it can be a big deal to make the bases narrow enough to fit. I did a thread on here a few years ago on how I modified a pair of Chrysler seats to fit a pan based car. Do a search on my username and “seats” and it should pop up.
VM (old VS) seats are now $605 each in vinyl - so those are priced well if they fit. I think all aftermarket sets (914 OEM too) have fiberglass covered shells. I've seen nice pressed one-piece aluminum shells but they are costly. VM seats come in 4 colors - black, tan, grey and brown.
Seats measure 17.5" x 21 3/3"x 23.5" (width x height x depth†) and have metal frames.
Mike