fixed seats?

[NDT]

Which Caterhams cam with fixed seats?
I.e. - like a padded 'bench' type seat, rather than normal race-type seats.

If I bought a 7 with this setup, would I just be able to bolt race seats in?

[Eric Mc]

Until the 1980s, all Sevens had fixed seats. The "Classic" range continued to have them as standard until the demise of the Live Axle Classics a couple of years ago.

My Seven has these bench seats and they are no more than a seat squab resting in the floor and an easily removed one piece back rest. They actually give slightly more leg room in a standard Seven compared to most of the adjustable seats.

[NDT]

thanks Eric.
I'm looking at a 1990 supersprint - seems odd that it has these seats, although the owner says it is for extra leg room (he is 6ft).
Also, he says it may have been raced in the past...
However it could be going cheap so I might take a punt (was going to buy another Elise.....)

[dino ferrana]

A lot of early 90's crossflow cars have the bench seats. They were discontinued before the demise of the live axle cars with the Beaulieu model that accounted for the last 50 or so of the live axle cars being S-type only.

As Eric says, they are easy to remove.

[NDT]

dino ferrana said:

A lot of early 90's crossflow cars have the bench seats. They were discontinued before the demise of the live axle cars with the Beaulieu model that accounted for the last 50 or so of the live axle cars being S-type only.

As Eric says, they are easy to remove.

This is a 90 supersprint with de Dion - seems a bit incongruous that it has the bench seats.
But it's on eBay so I might take a chance if it looks like going cheap.

[Eric Mc]

Bench seats allow you to sit lower in the car too - which may or may not be something you desire. They can be a bit bum numbing over long distances.

[normalbloke]

yep, can vouch for the numb arse scenario, but then i just do not fit with regular seats.Mines a 96 deDion, and retro fitted the bench seats.

[barking]

Bought my deDion 1700 supersprint from new, specified a bench seat and smaller steering wheel to give more room in the cockpit, can rest bumb when re-filling longest single run Bruge to Berlin.

[murph7355]

My 95 deDion came with them too. 6'4" here. Can just about fit in a car with Tillets, but sit much higher up and legroom is more cramped.

With the bench seats, the 7 is one of the comfiest cars I've driven. Numb arse syndrome only usually came about if I had my wallet in an arse pocket. Otherwise the fuel would run out before my feeling did.

They can all have normal seats fitted if you're more Ronnie Corbett in size.