Opinion about seats for coupe...

dang

dang

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We have some Dodge Viper seats at my work in really good shape. I can get them for a good price and was thinking about putting them in my coupe. What do you guys think about this style? I think they look fairly "period correct" even though they're much newer. They're also very light. I also have some Sport Recaro seats out of a 320is, which I think is nicer for the people sitting in the back since the seats are more narrow at the top (better visibility).

hennessey.jpg
 
Two thoughts for you....

The Viper seats look very nice indeed...

Back seats in coupes are for the wine and picnic baskets.

I'm 6'3 and 205 pounds- I would scream like a little kid if you stuck me in the back seat.
 
The Viper seats look a little too big and modern in my opinion. I think the sport seats out of the 320is would look more period correct and their size would not dominate the interior of the coupe.

Walt
 
Those seats belong in a ..............viper, not a coupe. I hesitate to even open posts that begin with "I have these.........and wonder if they'll fit. It's just me, I know, I'll shut up now.

:)
 
Agree with Chris.....please don't ruin a coupe by installing such seats.
 
dang said:
What do you guys think about this style? I think they look fairly "period correct" even though they're much newer.
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I can't see the "period correct" thing. They look like contemporary seats to me, and as such, incompatible with a 1970's vehicle.

I also have some Sport Recaro seats out of a 320is, which I think is nicer for the people sitting in the back...
Click to expand...

If you stuff people into the back seat of an e9, nothing you could do would make their experience "nice".
 
Agreed on period seats - vertical pleats preferred. What sucks about the back seats: leather replacement from reasonably-priced World Upholstery is still going to cost you a grand plus labor for the wine and cheese basket or the golf clubs.

I am thinking about losing the headrests altogether. That would really open the cabin even more. I am not doing any neck-snapping acceleration and the headrests are only going to help me if some fool hammers me in the back. I might take that chance for that open look that you see in coupes and roadsters through the late sixties.
 
Not a bad idea, at 6'5 i have to lay the seat back a little in order to fit in the cabin - therefore my head is nowhere near the headrest anyway.


JohnHein said:
Agreed on period seats - vertical pleats preferred. What sucks about the back seats: leather replacement from reasonably-priced World Upholstery is still going to cost you a grand plus labor for the wine and cheese basket or the golf clubs.

I am thinking about losing the headrests altogether. That would really open the cabin even more. I am not doing any neck-snapping acceleration and the headrests are only going to help me if some fool hammers me in the back. I might take that chance for that open look that you see in coupes and roadsters through the late sixties.
Click to expand...
 
Okay, well, its not a matter of not changing the seats, the stock seats are so uncomfortable that I would never drive the car if they were left in it. I have two different pair of Recaros, so I guess I'll try them both and figure it out that way.
 
agree

pls keep us posted on what you decide, plus pics if possible. i agree that stock seats are uncomfortable, and imo sit the driver too high.
 
I am 6'5" and the seats fit me well. I have no sunroof but did raise the front of the seat about 3/8" using a shim between seat and track to give me more thigh support. Maybe your seat pads are just shot?
 
Interesting idea - I'd like to try that, can you describe a little more how and what did you use for the shim to distribute the weight - thanks.


HB Chris said:
I am 6'5" and the seats fit me well. I have no sunroof but did raise the front of the seat about 3/8" using a shim between seat and track to give me more thigh support. Maybe your seat pads are just shot?
Click to expand...
 
Steve,

Without looking at my coupe I think I just bought some drill shims/bushings which are cylindrical sleeves instead of using a bunch of washers. I must have used a longer bolt as well. It may have been my `69 2002 that I put these bushings between the seat and the upper seat rail itself as the track mounts to the front of the seat support/body. HTH
 
Oranjeneer - those Recaro classics look real nice.

Were they hard to fit. or find?

My front seats are falling apart and I need to get some new ones so why not a comfortable pair...


/Johan
 
I changed the seats in my 73 tii to a pair of Recaros from a 320i. I would caution when buying any used seat, be sure the frames are in good condition. My used seat did not appear to have any problems until we stripped them. When we stripped them to the frame I discovered broken or bent seat frames. Once re covered they were very supportive and comfortable. I also shimmed the seat sliders to allow for better fit for my 6'2 frame. Orangener your interior looks really nice. Was you interior a swap or did you recover the back seats also to match the fronts?

I also agree that the stock seats are uncomfortable, therefore I changed them to Recaro Classic:

IMG_0002.jpg


My club-colleague Kurt has E34-seats installed:

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I bought those 2 used Recaro-Classic-seats for very cheap over Ebay, it was less than 150€ for both, as I remember...:



My complete interior was re-leathered with orange stitching in Bratislava, Slovakia, for 2500€, the upholsterer used 2 different leathers and did a great work:



New black carpet, middle console, dashboard, armrests in front and rear, the door pockets are off an E12:




For the front seats I had to make a special console, because they were 3-4cm too high... I´m 1,78 tall:



In the back I have installed E39-safety belts with a handmade cover:



For the front I found some used safety belts over Ebay and made a cover too:

 
Thanks for all the details Orangener, shame the pictures are so small ;)

Edit: I now see that you linked the thumbnails. Can you please link the gallery instead? Would love to see them bigger.


I did look at the German eBay and there were some there for sale, mostly reupholstered, it seems there is a company specializing in that.

About the special console, you are 1,78 and the seats were too high? Then if I am 1,90 it would never work for me? I am sorry but I do not understand that one. You mean too low?

/Johan
 
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