Hi all, given the slight size and structural differences between the Spyder and Speedster seats, ie. width, base mounts etc..I'm wondering whether Speedster seats will fit successfully in a Spyder replica?
The Speedster buckets are easier for me to source locally, but if they're too wide then obviously I'll keep looking.
Cheers
Replies sorted oldest to newest
We use the same molds to make speedster and spyder seats, spyder seats are just trimmed more at the flange to make them narrow enough to fit between the spyder frame rails, but it is only the outer flange that is trimmed, the seat is otherwise the same (excluding cushioning, in which case the spyder cushion is traditionally thinner, but again the shell is identical).
Thanks mate, that's good to know, I'll press on with the speedster seats I can get here in Australia 👍
I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Cheers
hey just want ti chime in here a little. Something to consider other than just the seat is if yoyo car has a stretched or notched bulkhead. I have had a Spyder (early beck 90's) with Spyder seats and now have a Vintage Motorcars with (2004) with Speedster seats. Both of my cars were non notched bulkheads and I found I fit in the car better and was more comfortable wit the Spyder seats. If you have a cut car it won't really matter but if not you may want to consider the Spyder seats if you 6 foot or more.
For future winter work I will be cutting my bulkhead and adding a few inches to put the seat back further.
@ericthered posted:hey just want ti chime in here a little. Something to consider other than just the seat is if yoyo car has a stretched or notched bulkhead. I have had a Spyder (early beck 90's) with Spyder seats and now have a Vintage Motorcars with (2004) with Speedster seats. Both of my cars were non notched bulkheads and I found I fit in the car better and was more comfortable wit the Spyder seats. If you have a cut car it won't really matter but if not you may want to consider the Spyder seats if you 6 foot or more.
For future winter work I will be cutting my bulkhead and adding a few inches to put the seat back further.
Thanks mate, I hadn't considered that. I'm not quite 6 ft, so hopefully I'll fit ok. It's certainly worth mocking up the firewall and seat to see where I'm at though. Thanks 👍
Just a few thoughts on how a seat fits in a Spyder. I have a Spyder and I'm 5'10"ish, 32" inseam, and 12.5-13 feet, 170lbs. I shoulda been a swimmer.
For me to have my eyes looking through the windshield while driving, I have the rear of the seat as low as possible. It's actually on the floor. The front of my seat is raised 2.25". This gives my thighs plenty of support and my steering wheel just clears the top of my thighs.
I have a Vintage Spyder built by SM. My bulkhead has the cut out and my seat almost touches it. There is just enough room for me to tuck the Tonneau cover behind it. My seats are bolted to the floor with no adjustments possible. I'm the only one who drives it anyway. I did make a provision in the design to be able to move the seat forward two notches, but this will require tools.
My car came with the sliders, but they elevated the seat too much. If you are bent on having a slider of some sort, I think a slider like the one that came in a 914 would be what I'd go with.
This is just what "I" did. Hopefully some of this info will be helpful.
@Carlos G posted:Just a few thoughts on how a seat fits in a Spyder. I have a Spyder and I'm 5'10"ish, 32" inseam, and 12.5-13 feet, 170lbs. I shoulda been a swimmer.
For me to have my eyes looking through the windshield while driving, I have the rear of the seat as low as possible. It's actually on the floor. The front of my seat is raised 2.25". This gives my thighs plenty of support and my steering wheel just clears the top of my thighs.
I have a Vintage Spyder built by SM. My bulkhead has the cut out and my seat almost touches it. There is just enough room for me to tuck the Tonneau cover behind it. My seats are bolted to the floor with no adjustments possible. I'm the only one who drives it anyway. I did make a provision in the design to be able to move the seat forward two notches, but this will require tools.
My car came with the sliders, but they elevated the seat too much. If you are bent on having a slider of some sort, I think a slider like the one that came in a 914 would be what I'd go with.
This is just what "I" did. Hopefully some of this info will be helpful.
Thanks mate. I haven't quite decided what to do with seats yet, although I'm aiming for something that looks period correct.
I'm a similar height to you by the sounds of it, and I'll be using a cut-down screen. I don't want to have to have too much padding in the seat in case I sit too high. I was starting to think that a fixed mounting might be the go 👍
I did have some Lotus seats in an MX5 once, and they were ridiculously comfortable for a seat with little to no padding.
Cheers
I also had to take the seat adjusters out to drop the seat lower as my car I fit the plexi screen (honestly the only way to go to make the cars feel more correct). Ended up with 2inch wood shims at the front of the seat and direct bolt to the floor.
I also own a Lotus Exile I've put 80,000 plus miles on now with the thinest foam padding in any seat in the world. Lol. This Spyder seat either way will feel like a Mercedes compared. 
)
It sounds like a direct mount to the floor is on the cards then 👍
Now I've just got to decide on/find the seats. The fibersteel versions look the goods, but they're pretty expensive, especially when you add international shipping. There's a couple of cheap options, like Empi, who do a basic plastic bucket, but it looks a bit small, and it's probably more suited to beach buggy.
Speedway motors do a aluminium bomber seat that could work out nicely with upholstery?
I will say that the Fibersteel seats are super pricy. But if you want a buy and ship option they are very well made and the sewing of the seats and materials are of very high quality for the money. Sure there are cheaper alternatives out there, check out Sierra or Pelican for the bare aluminum versions.
May want to also contact Greg at Vintage Morotrcars, he may have a set to sell that would be less expensive then the Fibersteel versions.
Thanks mate, definitely some more options there 👍
At this stage I'm leaning (excuse the pun) towards an aluminium seat with some basic upholstery in the vein of an original race version. I think the one in this pic is from an RS60?
so I also have a Lotus Exile with carbon fiber seats with small seat pads. It's really not that bad in the Exile and I think it would be even better in the 550. The Exile rides much harder then the 550, first time you dive the 550 you will notice the suspension is pretty good and the car will ride much better than you think. Its not a Mercedes but for the size and performance you can get away with minimal padding.
Have you thought of Porsche 914 seats? They look a lot like original Speedster/Spyder seats and are basically the same fiberglass shell as the EMPI versions. They are narrow to fit the same space as a 550. I don’t know if many 914s found their way to Australia, but that may be an alternative with lower cost (in-country) shipping.
G'day mate, no, hadn't really considered them. There was never a huge number of any model Porsche brought into Australia, at least not in comparison to the USA. I could probably hunt a pair down, but the 914's have gone way up in value in the last couple of years, so I'd imagine the spares/parts have as well.
I've actually got a set of aluminium buckets on the way, with a view to upholstery like the rs60 seat in a previous post.
Thanks though 👍
