Are you sitting comfortably ??
Discussion
I'm thinking of changing my seats for some which are lower in the car and provide more lateral support, and I want to gauge opinion. I don't "fit" 
into the "classic" type buckets, but seem to fit into the later Cobra hi-backs ok.
Are the "alpine" type seats any bigger than the "classics" ?? Anybody tried the ones from Newton Commercial, I think they were used by Downton in their "specials" (Anybody hear what happened to Downton in the end ??)
Or anybody have any other ideas ?? I'm open to suggestions.
into the "classic" type buckets, but seem to fit into the later Cobra hi-backs ok. Are the "alpine" type seats any bigger than the "classics" ?? Anybody tried the ones from Newton Commercial, I think they were used by Downton in their "specials" (Anybody hear what happened to Downton in the end ??)
Or anybody have any other ideas ?? I'm open to suggestions.
I've got a basic set of Cobra Clubman 2's - very reasonable price and really comfy with lots of lateral support. My original plan was to go with the "classic" buckets but I was after a bit more back support, being 6'2
A lot of people go for seats out of stuff like Cosworths etc. which need a bit of subframe building to get set up, but seem to fit nicely.
A lot of people go for seats out of stuff like Cosworths etc. which need a bit of subframe building to get set up, but seem to fit nicely.
Whats the primary use of the car?
If its a track day special then Sparco/Recaro if its a daily driver then some 90 Ford RST seats fit marvellously and are good seats as they are OEM Recaro.
Any further pics of the build? I've only seen the subframe ones but that looked a bit special as I remember....
If its a track day special then Sparco/Recaro if its a daily driver then some 90 Ford RST seats fit marvellously and are good seats as they are OEM Recaro.
Any further pics of the build? I've only seen the subframe ones but that looked a bit special as I remember....
Mainly road use, but I try and get a couple of trackdays in a year at Cadwell which is my local, and occasionally at Mallory (anyone driven the "new" layout there yet? ??)
The main problem with the existing ('93 Cooper half-leather) seats is they are too high, and when wearing a crash helmet I hit me head on the roof !! I like the Forza type seat over the standard hi-back bucket type seat, and have fitted MG Metro seats in a previous mini. This was really good value, seats cost £8 a pair (!!) from a local scrapper, rear brackets cost £25 from the predessesor of MiniSpeed, front bracket I home fabricated.
As I'm 6 foot tall I need to get the seats mounted a bit further back, but I don't intend to remove the companion bins now, so something narrow enough to fit between them. Don't mind a bit of fabrication if required.......
The main problem with the existing ('93 Cooper half-leather) seats is they are too high, and when wearing a crash helmet I hit me head on the roof !! I like the Forza type seat over the standard hi-back bucket type seat, and have fitted MG Metro seats in a previous mini. This was really good value, seats cost £8 a pair (!!) from a local scrapper, rear brackets cost £25 from the predessesor of MiniSpeed, front bracket I home fabricated.
As I'm 6 foot tall I need to get the seats mounted a bit further back, but I don't intend to remove the companion bins now, so something narrow enough to fit between them. Don't mind a bit of fabrication if required.......
phil hill said:
As I'm 6 foot tall I need to get the seats mounted a bit further back, but I don't intend to remove the companion bins now, so something narrow enough to fit between them. Don't mind a bit of fabrication if required.......
Don't be so sure - I orignially fitted my Cobras with the aftermarket brackets to move the seats back (the little alloy L-shaped ones with lots of drilled holes) - and this put the seat far to far away from the wheel. It's currently set up on the standard seat mounts, and I have the seat at about 1/2 to 3/4 down the runners. This is at 6'2 and with a steering lowering bracket.
I've got Corbeau Forza Sports in my mini (they're the widest steel frame bucket available) and I fit in fine, lots of headroom with the corbeau subframes and my rollcage, and I'm 6'3" and 18 stone...
Edited to add: Mail me if you want pics of the inside, they're not online at the moment, but i'll pop them up if you want?
>> Edited by Fatboy on Friday 9th January 13:11
Edited to add: Mail me if you want pics of the inside, they're not online at the moment, but i'll pop them up if you want?
>> Edited by Fatboy on Friday 9th January 13:11
Talking about seat installations, a few years ago I had a scrutineer at the start of a rally tell me he didn't like the 3" x 14" x 0.625" thick mahogany load spreaders I fitted under the rear of my seat sub-frames in my Cooper 'S', claiming that they would split. I pointed out that the deHavilland Mosquito of WW2 had mahogany engine bearers for its twin 1600 bhp Merlins and that the Germans would have been delighted if that wood had split, but it didn't. End of argument!!
By the way, I had already calculated that at a 10g download the maximum compressive force on the wood was around 190 lb/sq.in and well within any sort of failure limits.
By the way, I had already calculated that at a 10g download the maximum compressive force on the wood was around 190 lb/sq.in and well within any sort of failure limits.
I have Forza 2002 seats in mine but for comfort I would go with Cobra Clubmans. They are a bit wider than the Corbeau ones as well as looking pretty good. Not FIA compliant though. Much more comfortable than the Forza as the steel bar in the middle of the back seems to get a bit uncomfortable on long journeys.
WildfireS3 said:
I have Forza 2002 seats in mine but for comfort I would go with Cobra Clubmans. They are a bit wider than the Corbeau ones as well as looking pretty good. Not FIA compliant though. Much more comfortable than the Forza as the steel bar in the middle of the back seems to get a bit uncomfortable on long journeys.
The cobra clubmans are no wider than the corbeau forzas from what I can see - see here:
www.corbeau-seats.co.uk/sport.php?cat=1
www.cobraseats.com/item.asp?pg=RD&id=CLUB
Just a pity you can't get the Forza IIs they sell in the states, which are a couple of inches wider...
cooper_ed said:
if your after a seat which gives good lateral support, i would strongly recommend the seats from an Escort RS Turbo. They may not have the nicest pattern on them, but give excellent support. i got mine off ebay for £98, for the pair!!
Yes, but you were bloody lucky dude
Damn nice seats though - you're not swapping them for my Corbeaus when you get the car though Been looking for seats for a while to fit to mine but never been to keen on new bucket seats because although they look good whenever im driving behind a mini with buckets or looking at a parked one they look out of proportion with the rest of the car!
So i was thinking either the Cobra classics with the head rest or put recliners in like the Corbeau GTB
Whats do you guys think of those seats?
So i was thinking either the Cobra classics with the head rest or put recliners in like the Corbeau GTB
Whats do you guys think of those seats?
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