View Full Version : Need new seats and would appreciate informed opinions
High-back seats or seats with headrests are now a requirement due to my wife's neck surgery. So it's a non-negotiable thing. I'd like to stay as close to the classic style as possible. I don't have any interest in adding headrests to the standard seats, and adding a headrest to the roll bar is not an effective solution. I'm looking at a couple of options:
GT3 Historic Classic or Classic RS by Cobra Seats (https://www.cobraseatsusa.com/cobra-gt3-historic-classic). These seem like a good quality seat by a company who has been doing this for a long time. However, the ability to customize at a reasonable cost is limited. I think I remember reading that they make the FFR seat?
Challenger by Intatrim (https://intatrim.co.uk/products/challenger/#). I know a few people on the forum have gone with Intatrim, but I don't know much about the construction/quality. They do, however, appear to offer a lot of custom options.
Can anyone speak to either of these based on experience? Are there other options I should be looking at?
Thanks.
65 Cobra Dude
08-25-2024, 02:24 PM
Not sure you know you can add headrests to the FFR seats?
Henry
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CraigS
08-26-2024, 07:17 AM
My experience w/ the Classic RS was it had too much layback angle. So be careful of that as you look. It had so much we couldn't tilt the bottom up at the front so it felt like you were sliding forward. I took it apart and bent the frame.
Not sure you know you can add headrests to the FFR seats?
Henry
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Thanks Henry - I think I've heard that, but I don't know much about it. Can you point me to any info about how to do it? I know I mentioned that I'm not really interested in adding headrests to the FFR seats (mostly because it's one more project LOL), but it could end up being a viable option.
My experience w/ the Classic RS was it had too much layback angle. So be careful of that as you look. It had so much we couldn't tilt the bottom up at the front so it felt like you were sliding forward. I took it apart and bent the frame.
Craig - interesting, thanks for pointing that out. I can see from Cobra's diagrams that the RS and GT3 (essentially the same seat) do lean back further than most. Would you do it again or go with a different option?
Another option that I keep seeing is the Cobra Clubman -- not as traditional looking as the RS, but people seem to like them. I understand FFR used to sell them as the "Street Performer" seat.
steno
08-26-2024, 10:24 AM
The Cobra Clubman is an upgraded version of the FFR Street Performer seat. I have them as an easy upgrade on my own car. I'm very happy with them!
OSU Cowboy
08-26-2024, 11:54 AM
Headrest mounted on roll bar not an effective solution? My pair of roll bar mounted head rests might beg to differ.
OSU Cowboy
08-26-2024, 11:57 AM
The enabler to that - for me - was finding phenolic-lined stainless U-bolts from McMaster Carr. From there, some design work, a trip to the metal store with my drawings, a trip to the welder, a stop by the powder coat shop, and then the upholsterer. Several steps yes, but quite effective.
Jeff Kleiner
08-26-2024, 11:59 AM
Another option that I keep seeing is the Cobra Clubman -- not as traditional looking as the RS, but people seem to like them. I understand FFR used to sell them as the "Street Performer" seat.
I had Street Performers in my car and loved them. They were the same seat as Clubmans but with a less robust cloth covering. Yes, they are not traditional like the classic low back roadster seats but their high backs and shoulder area are not as prominent and visually overwhelming as something like the road race Kirkeys.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=201952&d=1721258046
I mounted them with the front raised about 1 1/2" and they fit me well at 5'9" and 160#ish. My buddy Aaron who is around 6'1"/230 feels kind of squeezed in the hips in them so your size should be a consideration (although Sten is also a big & tall guy and has been comfortable enough to put over 100K miles in the saddle!).
Jeff
Headrest mounted on roll bar not an effective solution? My pair of roll bar mounted head rests might beg to differ.
What I was getting at is that the rollbar sits far enough back from the seat that I'd have to extend the headrest quite a bit forward to provide adequate protection, at least based on what I measured.
I had Street Performers in my car and loved them. They were the same seat as Clubmans but with a less robust cloth covering. Yes, they are not traditional like the classic low back roadster seats but their high backs and shoulder area are not as prominent and visually overwhelming as something like the road race Kirkeys.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=201952&d=1721258046
I mounted them with the front raised about 1 1/2" and they fit me well at 5'9" and 160#ish. My buddy Aaron who is around 6'1"/230 feels kind of squeezed in the hips in them so your size should be a consideration (although Sten is also a big & tall guy and has been comfortable enough to put over 100K miles in the saddle!).
Jeff
Thanks Jeff, this is helpful. I may look into the Clubmans... everyone seems to really like them.
danmas
08-26-2024, 03:34 PM
I understand that these are relatively awesome:
https://intatrim.co.uk/products/stoneleigh/
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?40632-ATX-MKIV-9644-Coyote-Build-Thread-(Index-Post-1)&p=521867&viewfull=1#post521867
@dbo_Texas How do you like them so far?
Tooth
08-26-2024, 03:42 PM
I'm in the process of getting intatrim seats. If you haven't decided by the time I get mine I'll let you know what I think. Not inexpensive, but I've not heard anything negative about them.
dbo_texas
08-26-2024, 04:18 PM
I understand that these are relatively awesome:
https://intatrim.co.uk/products/stoneleigh/
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?40632-ATX-MKIV-9644-Coyote-Build-Thread-(Index-Post-1)&p=521867&viewfull=1#post521867
@dbo_Texas How do you like them so far?
Wish I could tell you! I'm still building my MK4 and haven't installed them yet. I am a little worried they put my body too far forward in the cockpit due to the angle of the backrest, but I haven't really properly tried to fit them into the car yet so I don't want to jump to any conclusions. For the guys that have installed them they seem to be pretty happy with them. Hacksaw84 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?40165-my_cobra_build-Graduation-A-more-modern-take) has probably had them installed the longest so has a lot of miles on them. It's Bruce (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/member.php?14690-Its-Bruce) has also had them for a while so maybe one of them can chime in regarding comfort/fit.
dbo_texas
08-26-2024, 04:27 PM
Wish I could tell you! I'm still building my MK4 and haven't installed them yet. I am a little worried they put my body too far forward in the cockpit due to the angle of the backrest, but I haven't really properly tried to fit them into the car yet so I don't want to jump to any conclusions. For the guys that have installed them they seem to be pretty happy with them. Hacksaw84 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?40165-my_cobra_build-Graduation-A-more-modern-take) has probably had them installed the longest so has a lot of miles on them. It's Bruce (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/member.php?14690-Its-Bruce) has also had them for a while so maybe one of them can chime in regarding comfort/fit.
I've got some good images from both Hacksaw84 and Its Bruce showing how they mounted the Stoneleigh. I think Hacksaw made a custom bracket, and Its Bruce used the Breeze seat mount if I recall. Both solutions look good. Feel free to message me if you want me to send you some reference pics that they shared with me.
65 Cobra Dude
08-26-2024, 08:04 PM
OB, the details to add seat rests to the FFR seats can be found here: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?37214-Got-my-seats-back-from-the-upholsterer&highlight=Headrest
Henry
MPTech
08-26-2024, 10:19 PM
I saw a couple posts installing these in MK4. Lots of options too,
Corbeau Sportline Evolution X (https://www.racing-seats-usa.com/corbeau-sportline-evolution-x.html?Wsm-section-filterswatch=64901FB)
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OSU Cowboy
08-27-2024, 01:40 PM
What I was getting at is that the rollbar sits far enough back from the seat that I'd have to extend the headrest quite a bit forward to provide adequate protection, at least based on what I measured.
I've got a 2" round tube that is just under 2" long that is welded between the roll bar mounting plate and the face of the headrest - and then the thickness of the headrest itself is built up about 1" or so from the guy that did the upholstery work to complete the project. This leaves room between the back of my head and the headrest itself in order to be able to wear a helmet in the event I decide to take the car for a track day. I think that round tube, if extended out from the current 2" to perhaps as much as 4 to 5" would cover the "helmet allowance".
Food for thought. If money is a concern at all, I'm pretty sure this approach would be less expensive than a new set of seats.
Hope it all works out well for you.
I've got a 2" round tube that is just under 2" long that is welded between the roll bar mounting plate and the face of the headrest - and then the thickness of the headrest itself is built up about 1" or so from the guy that did the upholstery work to complete the project. This leaves room between the back of my head and the headrest itself in order to be able to wear a helmet in the event I decide to take the car for a track day. I think that round tube, if extended out from the current 2" to perhaps as much as 4 to 5" would cover the "helmet allowance".
Food for thought. If money is a concern at all, I'm pretty sure this approach would be less expensive than a new set of seats.
Hope it all works out well for you.
That's pretty cool and well thought out, thanks for sharing. Appreciate the detail.
CraigS
08-27-2024, 06:18 PM
I would find an alternative to the Classic RS. I made it work, but there was always a bit of wrinkle in the upholstery since I didn't mod it any. Also I used it in the passenger side only which is a lot more forgiving than trying to get the fit to pedals and to steering wheel right. You could cobble together some headrests like OSU did but make them out 2x4s, plywood, a piece of foam from a cooler etc. Just to get a feel for if you would like it. Jeff's pic of the street performers gives an idea of the space he would need to fill in w/ a headrest. Looks like maybe 6" to me. OTOH he is 5'9" so his seat might be further forward than yours. I would search for more headrest fab pics here and the other forum. There have been quite a few over the years, and some used some really neat clamps to fit around the rollbar tubes. An advantage is that however you go about it, fabbing a headrest is a less involved project than buying seats that you hope will fit, and installing them. If you decide to do headrest go to someplace like Pegasusautoracing.com to look for the proper foam. I have never needed to know the details but the good stuff feels closer to styrofoam than to even very firm foam rubber.
Thanks Craig. I did some measuring and I can see how the RS would be a challenging fit. At this point I'm leaning toward the Intatrim Stonesleigh or Odyssey, which get me away from the traditional look, but a good look nonetheless. Plus my boys and wife really like them, so there's that.
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phileas_fogg
08-27-2024, 07:10 PM
Do the Intatrim's have an option for the sub belt? That's a key piece of your harness system that prevents the lap belts from riding upwards & smooshing your internal organs... You can get by with the sub belt looping over the front of the seat, but it's not as effective.
John
Do the Intatrim's have an option for the sub belt? That's a key piece of your harness system that prevents the lap belts from riding upwards & smooshing your internal organs... You can get by with the sub belt looping over the front of the seat, but it's not as effective.
John
John - yes they can build that into the seat for you. I would likely do that or use a Schroth 4-point (https://www.schrothracing.com/item/profi-ii-asm-fe/fia-4-point-asm).
So, it's time to eat a little crow after making the "I don't have any interest in adding headrests to the standard seats" statement in my first post, because that's where I've ended up. I really appreciate all of the input throughout this thread, but after pricing out the Intatrim seats and getting ready to order, I couldn't get myself to swallow the almost $2K price tag (inc. shipping). But boy they are beautiful. Sure, I can get the Cobra Classic CS with headrests for half that, but then I might as well use the seats I've got and add the headrests. Plus they look nice as Henry posted above (in the first post of the thread!!), and as seen below (credit to alexmak (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?36838-Headrests-mod)):
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=203322&d=1724957976
I've got a set of 2004 Audi A4 headrests on their way, and I'll tackle that project over the next few months.
John4337
08-29-2024, 03:18 PM
I didn't post earlier as you indicated you weren't interested in adding them, but here's a shot of mine when I did them way back when. They've held up well. I have an album on the forum with photos of the process I used. If you have any questions, just reach out.
John
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=186698&d=1688347594
BEAR-AvHistory
08-30-2024, 01:12 PM
Cobra Monacos
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=201059&d=1719510428
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=201246&d=1719855681
Driver has full movement fore & aft. Passanger is limited by hand brake lever.
Blitzboy54
08-30-2024, 02:20 PM
I had the Cobra Monaco's as well on my first build. I am currently working with Rob at Intatrim on a custom set of seats and interior (I have a sketch of what they will look like but I am not ready to share until they are in hand)
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168816&d=1656620713
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168813&d=1656620713
I didn't post earlier as you indicated you weren't interested in adding them, but here's a shot of mine when I did them way back when. They've held up well. I have an album on the forum with photos of the process I used. If you have any questions, just reach out.
John
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=186698&d=1688347594
Thanks John! I stumbled onto your thread and album this week... very helpful, and nice work!
Purple Venom
01-30-2026, 12:37 PM
I know this thread is a little older, but, thought I would ask here. Since the Corbeau Clubman's are no longer available, I've been looking for a very similar seat. The Forza and Monaco did not work in my MKIII. Although these are a bit out of the price range I was looking for, they do appear to be a very comparable seat from Sparco. Has anyone Installed the Sparco QRT-R (https://www.sparcousa.com/product/qrt-r) Seats in a Roadster? I have an old Clubman that I use as an office chair, and I took measurements off of it.
Clubman
Widest Base width at the thighs: 19.5" or 495mm
Front to back dimension: 24.8" or 630mm
Height: 33" or 850mm
QRT-R
Widest Base width at the thighs: 19.29" or 490mm
Front to back dimension: 24.8" or 630mm
Height: 37" or 940mm
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