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New Seat Option? Looking for Interest..
Hi All,
My wife & I made a deal on a nice MKII. It has the FFR Street Performer seats which I like, but I prefer a vintage look rather than a high back. We own a seat company and are considering developing a seat for the roadsters, so I guess one question is: Is there a need for another seat? I've seen several options out there already. Cobra, Corbeau, FFR, etc.. all have vintage seats, and there are the aluminum options from a variety of manufacturers. Who makes the best vintage seat? Does the market need another choice? We specialize in composites like carbon fiber and Dupont Kevlar so if we made something the composite route is our natural choice. We can do a variety of upholstery including leather. Comments, opinions, feedback, please??:3DSMILE: |
Maybe a copy of an original comp seat would be neat. I know it would be something I'd look at for sure.
Larry |
There is always room for a quality option. I currently have Pantera seats in my Cobra. The harnesses come through the supports for the head rest and attach to the floor behind the seats. I've been considering looking at options for different seats. If I could find a low back traditional seat, with a bracket option or a retainer of some sort that would hold the harnesses coming up from the floor, I would have to give it some serious thought. I've even considered designing something myself. I personally prefer the leather option.
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Speaking as one SPF owner, there is certainly room for improvements. The factory seats are well crafted and use a really good leather, but the side bolsters are non-existent and it would be nice to have a slot for a crotch strap. Today most folks just bolt it to the floor/cross-member and wrap it around the front. The Kirkey appears well built, but it does require some welding for the mounting brackets and the leather pad/shell is on the thin side (i.e. more race car than comfort, and probably so because it's purpose built). Aside from the Kirkey, there really are not many other viable options to currently choose from.
-Dean |
Thanks for all your input so far. Let's keep it coming..
I will try later to post as many pictures as I can find of the current options. Please ad your own if it's not too much trouble. Maybe we can debate their positives/negatives and create something better. I know it sounds odd, perhaps just a dumb idea, but I wonder how a racing kart seat might perform in our cars??? There may at least be some design ques to be taken from one. I've raced karts in the past and some of those seats kick ass! |
I've heard good things about the Kirkey vintage low-back seat:
http://www.ioportracing.com/images/product/k41500.gif as well as the one that Sterling Replicars sells: http://sterlingreplicars.com/images/imageSeat3.gif I plan on replacing the seats in my Unique with one of the above options. Also, I think CSX 4027 on these forums makes a really nice custom seat. See this thread: http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/75037-ken-miles-alloy-comp-seat-special.html |
There are quite a few options for those who care little for authenticity and use their cars primarily for racing, but there is a definite need for a quality "civilian" seat that retains the basic look of the original with some comfort and safety features thrown in. Low profile mounts. A slightly higher seatback with provision for a removable head rest and harness slots (the seatback should not protrude above the rear deck). Larger or deeper side support bolsters with slots for the lap belt and finally, more thigh support. Some of the aftermarket seats have one or more of these features but so far I have been unable to find one that combines them all.
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Thanks again for the excellent feedback & the pictures. I haven't had time to get together any other pics yet (just swamped right now), but will do so ASAP. It looks like there may be a need/market for another seat, however, I have been down this road many times and it's impossible to please everyone. I will continue to investigate this especially since along with the seats I have in mind at least two other new parts that no one is making..
Dave - |
A long time ago on CC I saw a pic of a factory looking, comfy seat that had an integrated headrest built-in. It sloped down the back and conformed to the general shape of the seat, including the pleats (the center of the headrest was slightly taller than the ends, so the headrest 'peaked' in the middle but sloped downward on either side so that it completely blended into the seat back). Two chrome rods allowed the user to raise/lower it, or you could just keep it flush with the seat back when parked. One could also remove it all together and just place a couple black plugs in the holes. I wish I had a photo of it...it looked like a really nice headrest option, though the rest of seat did need better side bolsters and the notches for belts.
-Dean |
Both Corbeau and Cobra have some interesting choices to look at. The Corbeau classic has a removable headrest, but I'm considering the Cobra SR.
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Corbeau Sport Bucket - Removable headrest, deep side bolsters, no harness slots.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...ts_1936_666576 Cobra Seats Roadster SS: http://www.cobraseats.com/graphics/roadsterssfront.jpg Cobra Seats Classic - Optional headrest http://www.cobraseats.com/graphics/classic.jpg |
You wanna take a look at these guys:
http://www.interiorsseating.co.uk They are based in the UK but the will ship them over for you. Plus having sen thier work they do a fantastic job absolutely second to none. |
I like this one by Kirkey.
http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant...gory_Code=KRS4 |
I've got one of the Kirkeys for sale in the "For Sale" section (oddly enough ;) ).
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How do you like it? Is it the same model as in the link? I like the contoured area for the legs.
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Along with the posted comments and suggestions, provide for driver adjustments so the seat can fit a wide variety of individuals and driving styles, which may not necessarily be racing oriented.
By adjustments, referring to the fore/aft track slide, angle of the bottom seat ( front to back ) angle of the seat back ( top to bottom ) side supports etc etc, all individually adjusted |
Order two stock seats from Factory Five. #1, they fit the car. The look vintage and are so comfortable you can sleep in them if you need to. They come in A very rugged vinyl or leather. Don't forget the driver side seat track-John
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I have an interest for my ERA. I don't know what I am looking for just yet, but I think it will be something like the "kirkeys"....thinner frame, low back, same leather look with more support. I am sure the kirkeys are great seats, however I was unaware how expensive they were...I don't know if that is a true representation of the cost of materials and construction or if there's a lot of mark up, but a slightly less expensive model than $500 would better firt my budget for sure :)
Kramer Kramer |
I'm having a JBL built for me and am having nothing but trouble finding a high back reclining sports seat that is no more than 19" wide at the base. I like the protection of the high back and the way it cuts down on the wind whipping around your head. Also, being able to slightly adjust the back angle is great for different types of driving.
Most of the seats that are out there have multiple problems that I haven't been able to solve: 1. Most are too wide at the base. 2. If they are narrow enough at the base, they are also too narrow at the chest. 3. If they meet 1 and 2 then the base wings are so high it makes it impossible to get in the car. I would like to see something that opens up at the chest so you don't have to be skinny to fit in it and only a slight forward curve around the head. Also, no high wings on the side of the base to make it impossible to get in without major contortions. If you could come up with something like that, I'm sure there would be plenty of people waiting in line to buy it. Mark |
I like the seats in this link. They are just a hair to big though at 20 inches.
http://www.cobraseats.com/sidewinder.htm |
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