Seats

If you search the photos in this site, you'll see pictures of seats with "slots" in the vertical sections,....These are generally refered to as Speedster seats.....  They are very narrow where the vertical and horizontal sections meet...  I weigh 170 lbs and its comfortable to me,  but I can see where it would be a chalange for some one over 180 /190 lbs....  Roadster seats are flatter across the junction and don't wrap around the hips as do Speedster seats...

The only negative to the Roadster seats is that they make you sit up a bit higher.  They have more cushioning and more room.

That depends on what he's talking about, Lane. Intermeccanica's "roadster" seats actually sit very, very low in the car. They have frames and springs rather than a shell, so depending on your weight, a guy can actually be sitting almost on the foor if he wants. I'm unconvinced that they aren't actually lower than Intermeccanica's "speedster" seats.

Where a big guy runs into issues with the "roadster" seats is in getting them to go back far enough. The nice big, cushy back hits the body (and frame member) behind the door long before you run out of room on the floor behind the seat. Henry has begun to relieve the body at this point, but it's still the limiting factor. I have "ape-arms", am 6' tall, and weigh about 30 lbs too much, so I put the seat pretty far back. I started out with Intermeccanica's 2005 version of the speedster seats (Henry has improved them since), but ended up getting a set of Fibersteel seats to get as low as possible in the car. I'm as low as I can get in "roadster" seats, but can go further back. My Intermeccancia speedster seats are in garbage bags in the barn attic. I really ought to sell them.

The Vintage Speedster "cut-down-914-like" seats they put in every car until a few years ago are pretty awful if you weigh more than 200 lbs, or are taller than 5'9" or so (I had some in my first car).

Just a point of clarification. Forewarned is forearmed.

Just to add another variable, the height of the seat can be critical. Depending on your torso length and type of seat, you could wind up looking straight into the top edge of the windshield frame. That may or may not bother you. I am about 6'-2" but have a shorter torso length. In my speedster seats, with back slots, I sit low in the car and have a good view through the glass. -- Syl

Ditto what Stan said.   I had to have IM raise my Roadster seats 1.5 inches they were way too low).  I am 5ft 9 and a svelt 180 .  I could have raised another half inch and still been ok. 

Stan, ape arms are good for Italian cars

Above are VS seats with measurements for reference. I am a towering 5'8" and north of 200 lb. These are really pretty comfortable. Hope this provides some help or perspective.

Here's one with a different approach (a$$spect ratio)

Bob, thank you for posting those measurements.

Hi Guys, I'm 300lbs and use copies of Miata seats for my Speedster.

Bob I sold my VS seat right after I first put them in the car   I did not like um  AT ALL!! I went to a salvage yard an got 2 old Honda Accord seats and totally  re worked them . I set lower in the car and they hug me very nicly

Those look legit. I had an '80 Accord and drove it across the country three or four times. The seats were nice.

Barry-

Just a thought here: I know you've been trying like mad to end up with something to supplement (or replace) your income. Those seats are your ticket. Do them in the upholstery of your buyer's choice, and put them up for sale.

I bought a set of seats that cost an unearthly amount of money, and I guarantee I'd look hard at giving decent money for a set like yours in leather with seat heaters. I'd climb all over it if I had a pan-based car, as the seats that are available are pretty much unusable for guys that weigh over 200 lbs and are over 5'10" or so.

Seriously-- They'd be worth some serious money. Wiring cars is going to be a lot harder, as you'd need the car to do it. You can make these seats and ship them anywhere from your home.

Think about it. You've got some crazy skills. Make some profit on them.

 I have a friend here. that is disabled we have been talking about this, I make the frames and foam the up seats and he sews up the covers from my patterns ( that I still have).. He has kids in college.. and a big shop..

 I even still have the patterns for the full size spare  in a VS trunk upgrade. I sent out a set of patterns to Allen Merkin a few years ago.. cut out of wrapping paper. I wonder if he ever tried that conversion on a VS yeat?

I also have my friend learning how to do my fan shroud conversions  where I put a type 4 oil cooler on a type one shroud and remove and divert heater outlets to add air to the area above the heads. and a I have a oil fill kit that get's your oil cap level  we have pic's of that

Bob, are these specially made from VS? Attached is the the jpeg Mary sent me and they don't look the same. Not sure what I like better?  Thanks, Art

Look same to me -'cept stripes go wrong way.  Reminds me of old MASH episode. I like red ones better.

Of the 20 Speedster's that have passed through my hands, I still prefer my Vintage buckets over the so called "comfort" seats.  Only my opinion, but for me, the buckets are much more comfortable and look much better.

^ X2. For me, the ideal diving position is low in the car (so I am looking through the windshield, not over it... or directly at the top of the frame). I never was able to get comfortable in the "comfort" seats-- too high, and too narrow (my butt sat up on the side bolsters, which are rigid).

Seats make or break the deal for me. I've got a set of Fibersteel seats in my car, and a couple of very nice speedster seats from Intermeccanica in the attic of my barn. Seats that fit your... um... seat are worth whatever you have to pay for them. I continue to think Barry's seats are really cool, and that he could make a pretty penny selling a set just like them.

Your mileage may vary.

Some of the 356 guys run these in there coupes.  356 GT Seats.  They are wider than the Speedster bucket. Mi Piace'