Retro Style seats anyone?

[Phatmiata]

I think these would look great in a Miata. There used to be a guy on ebay selling similar style seats, but I don't see his ads anymore?

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7109/6970463898_0a0c3a1e69_z.jpg


Got some cool retro seats, or have photos of some, post them up!

[atank]

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm351/atank_1/95%20M%20Seats%20Recovered/95Mseats.jpg (http://s316.photobucket.com/user/atank_1/media/95%20M%20Seats%20Recovered/95Mseats.jpg.html)

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm351/atank_1/95-M-Miata/95M-seats1.jpg (http://s316.photobucket.com/user/atank_1/media/95-M-Miata/95M-seats1.jpg.html)

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm351/atank_1/95-M-Miata/95M-seats.jpg (http://s316.photobucket.com/user/atank_1/media/95-M-Miata/95M-seats.jpg.html)

Okay maybe not retro after all..........

[Phatmiata]

You mean the Red seat in the background? :teehee:

[jnshk]

Copypasta of my experiment from last year:

OK. Seats are in. Pics first, then my thoughts/notes...

http://www.somethingsquare.com/temp/project_fail/GTSclassics_project/installed/20130529_173417_HDR.jpg


Gap between seat and rear bulkhead
http://www.somethingsquare.com/temp/project_fail/GTSclassics_project/installed/20130529_173825_HDR.jpg


Fully forward
http://www.somethingsquare.com/temp/project_fail/GTSclassics_project/installed/20130529_174037_HDR.jpg


Fully forward gap between seat and rear bulkhead
http://www.somethingsquare.com/temp/project_fail/GTSclassics_project/installed/20130529_174105_HDR.jpg


Seatbelt mounting point
http://www.somethingsquare.com/temp/project_fail/GTSclassics_project/installed/20130529_174235_HDR.jpg


Tight fit between transmission tunnel and door cards. Doesn't touch either while in rearward position, but very close to it. Rubs a little against transmission tunnel when pushed to forward position.
http://www.somethingsquare.com/temp/project_fail/GTSclassics_project/installed/20130529_183724.jpg


FITMENT NOTES:

1. Cannot be used with OEM armrest-style door handles. (Suggest using looped strap-type door pulls.)

2. REQUIRES USE OF 90-93 SEAT BELT RECEIVERS (or full racing harness).
2a. Receivers must be removed from plastic sheath so that the strap can be run through grommet.
2b. Seatbelt grommets necessarily need to be installed in seat.
2c. Driver Side Receiver P/N: NA01-57-680B-00 -- Passenger Side Receiver P/N: NA01-57-620B-00

3. Included sliders must be modified:
3a. New hole drilled in bottom rail of slider ~260mm from rear-most hole. You might be able to scoot this hole further forward (which would be better, generally speaking) on the brackets/rails, depending on what fasteners/hardware you use.
3b. Front edge of bottom rail must be beveled/angled with a relief so that front mounting bolts to attach brackets to car can be positioned. This needs to be done for both rails on driver side, and for outboard rail on passenger side.
3c. Release levers may need to be *modified* so as to clear the bottom of the seat. *They need to be bent/angled down in front of the pivot point, so that the release handle can clear the seat bottom and be pulled upward enough to release the locks.

4. Rearward seat travel is limited by the "seat belt towers" (and in my car by the roll bar).

---

My impressions?

They look amazing. They are very comfortable to sit in. But once they are in the car, I start to feel a little bit more cramped than I like to be. These are definitely not seats for tall drivers and passengers. Seating position is about the same (maybe slightly lower?) from stock height, but significantly further forward. If there were a way to get the seats further back, it would be a tremendous improvement.

Also, because of the width of the seats, they are centered in the floor pan between the transmission and the doors, which means that they are not centered to the steering wheel. Pedals feel nicely positioned but steering wheel is slightly to the right.

I haven't yet decided what I'm going to do with these seats, but I have a feeling that they will ultimately come back out of the Miata (and very possibly go into the '58 Volvo). I do like them a lot, but in a tiny car like this I really need as much space as I can get!

...

Prices on the website are per seat. So yeah, this has been a very spendy experiment for me. (Thankfully, the seats will fit nicely in the Volvo if/when I pull them out of the Miata.)

The last pic is a little bit deceiving because of the angle it was taken at. The wheel is off-center, but perhaps not as much as it looks in the photo. Surprisingly the steering wheel didn't bother me as much as I thought it would, and actually my feet felt better centered on the pedals. However, being so close to the door and so far forward were a BIG change from the Elise seat that was bolted directly to the floor, and those do tend to bother me.

...



they look good.
how's spirited driving in them?
Not great (which is another reason they will likely go into the Volvo). I think that if you sunk down into them a bit more it wouldn't be so bad, but I find that I'm more sitting ON them than IN them, so I tend to roll, pitch, and yaw with the car during spirited maneuvers.

---

New comments (2014.06.19):

- If not for the seatbelt towers, and with the flat-bottom modification to the floor pan, these could be a great fit. I'm sure that someone creative and talented could come up with a good solution to make it happen, but it's more modification than I was willing to do at the time. I think that some minor adjustments could improve how well the seat holds you too, but with the other compromises that are already mentioned, it's not something I'm willing to attempt any time soon.

- I sent my prototype brackets to Stefan @ GTS Classics, as well as some production notes for alterations that I felt would improve them, but I never did hear back from him again, so I have no clue whether he has actually pursued that to make an easy-installation option for Miatas.

[Phatmiata]

wow those look great!! Thanks for the nice write up too!! Are these the same ones from the guy on ebay? I company out of Texas IIRC ??

[Rogue]

http://youtu.be/UU7HD-Av5RI

[theothersawyer]

I want some cool retro seats for my car but don't want to lose my headrest speakers!

[Rogue]

I want some cool retro seats for my car but don't want to lose my headrest speakers!

Me either.
I have a few 93LE thumper seats and a pair of 95M seats, just have to decide.
I do like those Leatherseats though.

[Willywongka]

I want some cool retro seats for my car but don't want to lose my headrest speakers!

You know I felt the same way for a while, but when I actually swapped out the oem seats with some aftermarket seats I really didn't miss my headrest speakers anymore.

[Phatmiata]

You know I felt the same way for a while, but when I actually swapped out the oem seats with some aftermarket seats I really didn't miss my headrest speakers anymore.

Kinda helps that your new seats are dead sexy too, please post pics!! :slayer:

[Willywongka]

Lets make a deal Randy... you post a CURRENT pic of one of your pair of retro inspired seats installed in one of your miatas and I'll post mine =).

[Phatmiata]

Man that's too much like work. I'd have to pull the seats outta storage bring them home, and install them.

[Willywongka]

Guess you didn't fall for my plan of getting you to finally build a car with all your damned parts! =)

[Rogue]

Guess you didn't fall for my plan of getting you to finally build a car with all your damned parts! =)

Maybe he should charge admission to that museum. :P

[Phatmiata]

Guess you didn't fall for my plan of getting you to finally build a car with all your damned parts! =)

I have to find the right Miata first, the ones I have are Tan, and won't look right in the 93LE :teehee:

[etikoner]

I'll mount em in my car for the photo op

[Willywongka]

These are a set of Nakamae Type-S bucket seats that I got about a year or two ago. I love them, my GF hates them =)... so I'm getting her a MS F-type seat soon, so I can store that sucker away.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nJHmRms9vzs/U6fq9gv4VMI/AAAAAAAAA60/-8NgRYQWQKo/w1049-h699-no/DSC_0566.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ldmX6FtzRZ0/U6fq6lGjlRI/AAAAAAAAA6c/sMIXFCRmskQ/w1049-h699-no/DSC_0565.JPG

[atank]

^^Very Nice!!!!!!!!

[Phatmiata]

Love this interior, looks like it belongs in an issue of HyperREV or Roads&Ster, just perfectly done.

Hey what happened the the Vintage MOMO wheel you bought from Ricky? Let me know if you want to sell it.

[Willywongka]

Thanks, maybe someday I will swap out the 1.8 dash and get a RS Product / Zoom center console, till then this is how its gonna sit for a while.

Randy - I was actually thinking about selling the wheel, I'll keep you posted.

[Andy]

Those nakamae seats looks awesome. My one concern about them is if they provide enough distance between your head and say a rollbar. My main motivation to replace my seats is because I want my head farther away from the rollbar. Hence why I have considered lotus elise seats.

[Phatmiata]

Those nakamae seats looks awesome. My one concern about them is if they provide enough distance between your head and say a rollbar. My main motivation to replace my seats is because I want my head farther away from the rollbar. Hence why I have considered lotus elise seats.

My head is well below the rollbar on my Nakamae seats, it helps that they come pretty close to sitting you on the floor, they sit really low, and Im only 5'8" tall.

[Andy]

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of the seat in the car with the headrest at max height would you?

[Phatmiata]

You wouldn't happen to have a photo of the seat in the car with the headrest at max height would you?

No sorry, maybe Willis can hook you up with a photo of his? Mine are out of the car without seat rails.

[etikoner]

Damn Will, that interior is so on point. Even with that 1.8 dash. ugh.

Why not buy a recaro Pole position for your gf? Does she not like the seat bc it's too narrow?

[Cxmoney]

damn those nakamae seats look awesome! but looks like they fit the same as the corbeau classics, which means my fatass wont fit in them at all.

looks like ill never have any awesome seats.

[Willywongka]

No sorry, maybe Willis can hook you up with a photo of his? Mine are out of the car without seat rails.

I'll try to take a picture of them tomorrow with the headrests, but I know for a fact they are well below the rollbar. I am about 5'9" and my head is for sure below the rollbar.


Damn Will, that interior is so on point. Even with that 1.8 dash. ugh.

Why not buy a recaro Pole position for your gf? Does she not like the seat bc it's too narrow?

Thanks! Well the problem isn't exactly the seat, its more the fact that she wants to sit in a seat that can recline for long trips. It may look a little funky with mismatched seats. I'll swap them in and out for shows / meets and what not.


damn those nakamae seats look awesome! but looks like they fit the same as the corbeau classics, which means my fatass wont fit in them at all.

looks like ill never have any awesome seats.

Hahaha, well you know they need some breaking in. I have a buddy that is about a 36-37 waist and he says that my passenger seat is not bad. Then again we didn't drive around for very long so who knows. That passenger seat is actually a bit broken in so its a little bit wider.

[jnshk]

wow those look great!! Thanks for the nice write up too!! Are these the same ones from the guy on ebay? I company out of Texas IIRC ??

I'm not sure if he's on eBay or not, but he's located out of Austin. Mostly works with old Porsche and vintage racer/hot rod types. His Website: http://www.classiccarseats.com/ When we test fit a few of the seats he had, the Nurburgring was about the only one that would come close to fitting, but he's got a few new options now. Depending on the seatback height, the Monza might fit. I'm not ready to get involved in that kind of project again for a while though. I think I'd like to try to make my own seat eventually, but that's going to be a looooong time from now. The Elise seat just has to be OK for the time being.

[oldcafe]

My Nakamae

http://i58.tinypic.com/312v3eq.jpg

[Phatmiata]

Looks like your kid is rolling in style. ;)

[Quinn]

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r103/jdm_quinn/Jalopnik/DSC03207_zps974c57ea.jpeg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/jdm_quinn/media/Jalopnik/DSC03207_zps974c57ea.jpeg.html)

[atank]

That interior looks great!!!!!!

[tsingson]

What seats are those Quinn?

[kung fu jesus]

Are those out of Mike's car?

[Quinn]

I had them built by a classic seat guy. They are 70's Porsche RS replicas with headrests added, basket weave inserts, and stainless grommets.

[tsingson]

Looks good man.

[fwdtamiya]

Are those out of Mike's car?

I was wondering the same thing. They look good.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Project%20G%20Year%203/49_miata_custom_interior_3_zpsb44b260f.jpg

[Phatmiata]

damn those are sexy!! Nice to see you over here Quinn !! :bow: Don't be a stranger !

[Quinn]

damn those are sexy!! Nice to see you over here Quinn !! :bow: Don't be a stranger !

I know, I always forget about this place. I wish their was an easy way to move my build threads over from CR.net. Too many forums to keep track of :P

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r103/jdm_quinn/1991%20Mazda%20Miata/IMG_4952_zps4c21d322.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/jdm_quinn/media/1991%20Mazda%20Miata/IMG_4952_zps4c21d322.jpg.html)

[TimTim]

Is it the angle of those shots, or are those bolsters on the seats asymmetrical with the door-side bolster being smaller to aid ingress/egress? If so, amazing! If not, amazing!

[CMP]

Not any of the ones I've ever seen in person are asymmetrical, but that doesn't mean they all aren't. I think it's just the angle of the shot.

[Quinn]

Is it the angle of those shots, or are those bolsters on the seats asymmetrical with the door-side bolster being smaller to aid ingress/egress? If so, amazing! If not, amazing!


Not any of the ones I've ever seen in person are asymmetrical, but that doesn't mean they all aren't. I think it's just the angle of the shot.

Angle of the shot ;)

[Roadster]

I love me a good basketweave material, its so old school....plus some new to me old bits.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141222_1016542_zps2783e4f3.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141222_1017322_zps72d50aa2.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141222_101517_RichtoneHDR2_zps07990a7e.jpg

[Phatmiata]

sexy interior is sexy !! Did you manage to find used Eunos door cards or did you make those?

[Roadster]

sexy interior is sexy !! Did you manage to find used Eunos door cards or did you make those?

I made these from scratch :D

These door cards actually belong to the M-Edition seats.

I made another pair of door cards for these seats and it has the same basketweave material as the seat cushions.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141204_174915_zps659dd138.jpg

[Rogue]

Man that looks fabulous!

[Willywongka]

Damn Mike, I should have stepped out to the parking lot to check out your car while I was at JCCS. Maybe next time!

[vote4pedro]

I made these from scratch :D

These door cards actually belong to the M-Edition seats.

I made another pair of door cards for these seats and it has the same basketweave material as the seat cushions.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141204_174915_zps659dd138.jpg

I would really like to see these mounted!

[Roadster]

and a last one for the year.

Merry Christmas everybody!


http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141224_135221_zps1df110fe.jpg

[Agent☣Orange]

Man, that is superb. What is your address BTW?

[Tkblazer]

Very nice Mike

[theothersawyer]

Beautiful!!!!

[Roadster]

Thank you. :cheers:

[Roadster]

Finished the other door card to match the current seats.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/kevlar_carbonfiber/Seats/20141230_113157_zps94d24e29.jpg

[Vegard]

Whoa, the seats turned out awesome Mike, and the doorcards!

Love it!

[Phatmiata]

That looks great!! you have really transformed the car into something else again! The interior looks more modernized, which matches the exterior really well.

[Roadster]

Thank you Vegard and Phat.

Yes the Roadster has evolved again from Retro to Contemporary. So cool how these cars can easily change its appearance with a few bits and pieces.
Next project will be my take on center console. :whistle:

Happy New Year!

[marlonthegreat]

Wow!

Seat and door card materials now match the steering wheel.

The stitching on the seats makes the seats look like it came with the steering wheel.

The attention to detail is just superb! Genius!

[marlonthegreat]

By the way, one thing I miss from my old door card is the armrest. I hope you don't get to use your door armrest before so that you won't mind not having them during long drives.

But who needs an armrest, the mere sight of these door cards instantaneously removes the numbness in your arm :)

[Roadster]

Wow!

Seat and door card materials now match the steering wheel.

The stitching on the seats makes the seats look like it came with the steering wheel.

The attention to detail is just superb! Genius!

Thanks bud, its a constant work in progress with no end in sight lol. I hardly ever got to use the armrest but I like that it feels so spacious now without it.

[Dave737]

These might be cool but hard to tell from just the one pix.

13257

http://www.europaspares.com/interior-parts/seats/custom-classic-kitcar-seats/gt40-bucket-seat-standard-black-vinyl-no-harness-slots-intagt40.html