Seat option I think some may like.

[Darrin]

Some purists will not approve, but I am just not a fan of the original GT40 seats nor of the cost they seem to run for something that isn't even adjustable so I set out to find alternatives. Well, after contacting about every seat seller and even some custom shops, I found out that, right now, there isn't a whole lot out there. So I contacted some seat manufacturers and one, Corbeau, seemed willing to at least be open to the possibility of developing a seat for our cars based off of their current A4 with some modifications made if there was enough interest.

Here is a link to the A4. It's too wide at the bottom right now but by removing the side bolsters, and making a small adjustment to seat tilt adjustment (how nice would it be to have a seat that you could adjust the tilt on eh?), they will come in under 18" wide which is I think what most of us need. The height may need to be adjusted a bit as well.

Here is a look at the seat. It's pretty much just what I am wanting and the cost is reasonable (the A4 sells for $329 in cloth....WAY under what a typical GT40 fixed seat costs).

Corbeau: A4

Let me know by replying here if you would be interested and I'll see what I can do to convince these folks to do this. If not enough want it, then I may just buy these myself and modify them with the old hacksaw method.

 

[David]

As I posted elsewhere corbeau usa will not ship to the UK (and are different companies with different ranges) so unfortunately not much use to us here in the UK.

 

[Darrin]

I wouldn't think that to be that big of an issue. Just have them shipped to someone here then have them ship to you. Would cost a bit more to ship to the first point, but not that much.

If they build them and you want them, I'd not have a big issue to forward them onto a fellow GTForte owner if it would help out.

 

[David]

Heh, thanks for the offer but not actually a problem for me, I have family who regularly visit and I've been over there on holiday rather regularly the last few years.

 

[Jayson]

I think I will be going for non GT40 style seats initially. 600 pounds plus for seats plus tax etc makes me wince. I'd prefer spend the cash I save on other stuff

 

[Darrin]

I think I will be going for non GT40 style seats initially. 600 pounds plus for seats plus tax etc makes me wince. I'd prefer spend the cash I save on other stuff

600 pounds for a pair is even on the low end cost wise from what I have seen from most (the ones from GT-Forte are about the most "reasonable" I have seen but most are closer to 900 pounds for the set...ouch!).

If someone wants to go original (and thus no tilt option) these look pretty good: Seats

I'm hoping enough want to opt for the "Recaro" style of the Corbeau though for them to warrant making a version of their A4 to fit our cars, but if not I'll get them and modify them myself by removing the fabric, cutting the side bolsters down and maybe taking some off of the top then having the things stitched back up by a local shop.

Does anyone happen to know the height limit we have to work with?

 

[David]

I'm not that keen on the original style myself (and possibly more importantly neither is my wife) but as you've found the biggest issue is that almost everything is either too wide or too tall. I can't remember exactly what the vertical limit is but from memory its 850mm from floor to roll cage. That's an absolute limit though and I'm not sure you'd even get seats that tall in the car with the body on!

The 'cheap' way is to make your own base (or buy one), either from steel/aluminium welded/riveted or fibreglass (or C/F). Darren is/was doing a set of un-upholstered fixed seat bases that were reasonably priced, IIRC about £60 ea.

Then buy a cheap second hand set of seats (off pretty much any car), remove the covers and foam. Trim the foam to suit and either re-trim using a modified version of the previous fabric or start from scratch.

For obvious reasons it'll work better if you or your other half is a dab hand with the sewing machine! If not and you need to get someone else to do it I'm not sure you'll save a significant amount of money.

 

[Ian Anderson]

I believe the B5 seat fits
Mounted from the sides onto runners or solid brackets so can be mounted with the seat on the floor

Tillett Racing Seats - Quality Comes 1st


Unless you are vertically challenged you will need every bit of height you can get or you will be fitting Gurney bubbles

Ian

 

[Darrin]

I believe the B5 seat fits
Mounted from the sides onto runners or solid brackets so can be mounted with the seat on the floor

Tillett Racing Seats - Quality Comes 1st


Unless you are vertically challenged you will need every bit of height you can get or you will be fitting Gurney bubbles

Ian

I am 6'2" and I am concerned with the headroom for sure! I did have the seating area lowered 1" on my chassis though and I am hoping to avoid the bubbles if at all possible. This seat you mention looks fine but doesn't have the ability to tilt and that is one thing I really want. The A4 does and it sits pretty low in the back (although there is some padding up front to form a more bucket shape...could remove some if needed).

The height of the A4 is 36.5 inches. If what I have heard here is right, we only have about 33.5" to work with. Adding in the seat rails will reduce that, but then you have the tilt factor. My guess is I will need to remove two inches from the top of the seat or so but we will see.

 

[David]

That 36.5 will be with it in an upright position though not laid back.

Basically the car is only 40.5in high, at 4in ride height you're talking only 36.5in from the bottom of the chassis to the roof let alone inside!

 

[Ian Anderson]

Ok I am 6' 3" and far too heavy.
I have a DAX which is actually about a GT42
The reckoning when Dax designed their car was that the average height had increased over the last few decades so they increased the height of the lower portion of the door and the front and rear clips then sit at a slightly bigger angle

So I have about 1.5 inches more than a "standard" GT40.

I fit in my car with no bubble and no droped floor. And can wear a helmet although that gets scuffed on the roof.

I currently have RCR seats fitted and they hug like hell and support well.

Now the RCR seat is
Made so you can adjust what you want. The squab and back can be fittedtogether or apart so you can get whatever angle you want on the backrest bet then remember your bum moves forward and so the length of legs becomes a problem unless you can move the pedals forward.

And if I want to stop scuffing the helmet and roof I can remove the squab foam which is about an inch thick and get more head room.

My RCR seat is still bolted together and the backrest rests against the bulkhead from when ot goes from vertical to angled to right under the window. I know it rests on the bulkhead due to the heat teenager into my back - now reduced with thermal barrier.

This basically gives me max head and leg room - of I was being really picky I would want the pedals another 3/4 inch forward this would help my 33 inch inseam legs to straighten.

I do believe you can do a lot worse than tjis tried and tested route. Trust me at your height you need the seat on the floor and reclined against the bulkhead. Remember you build the car to suit you not a variety of sizes and shapes that may get to drive it occasionally.

Ian

Probably more than my 2c worth

 

[Darrin]

Ok I am 6' 3" and far too heavy.

I currently have RCR seats fitted and they hug like hell and support well.

Do you happen to have a photo of them you could post? Curious as to what it looks like.

 

[Ian Anderson]

I'll get some photos in the next day or 2 showing how the seats fit and work

Ian

 

[Jayson]

Europa Spares will do these original looking ones from £259.00 each

https://www.europaspares.com/produc...ET_SEATS/GT40_Bucket_Seat_Standard_Vinyl.html

Thats the cheapest Ive seen them

 

[David]

Those look like Intatrim seats (and the code of intagt40 would support me in that), probably cheaper to buy them direct:

IntaTrim Telford - GT40

 

[Ian Anderson]

Correct they are intatrim - I looked at buying some but they are a fiberglass molded unit and in my opinion do not offer the same protection . support as the metal ones I have fitted.

You could also approach Interiors Seating as they make proper adjustable seats that almost fit. In their previous guise - company name changed etc I was chasing them to do a GT40 seat that would allow runners to be housed in the side of the squab, and come with a full tilting mechanism, lumbar support blow up jobbies etc. It was at the time I was looking that they changed company name etc. Something lile the RX1380 trimmed accordingly would almost work
Interiors Seating - RX1380 - Classic and Kit Car Seating - Cobra Replica Seat Specialists

Ian

 

[Jayson]

I think your right Dave. Theyre listed at £425 a pair plus £20 each seat for harness slots

 

[Brett James-McCall]

Those look like Intatrim seats (and the code of intagt40 would support me in that), probably cheaper to buy them direct:

IntaTrim Telford - GT40

Originally made for the 40 replica that was shown at Exeter some years back. I think the company name was IKON and only 1 was ever seen.

Brett

 

[Brett James-McCall]

Yep, I knew it was IKON... here's a link from way back in 2005... I never really heard of them. Anyone know if any of their cars got built?

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/vendor-manufacturer-announcements/17070-new-40-mfr-uk.html

 

[Darrin]

Although I prefer the look and fit of the Recaro style seat (like the Corbeau), I have written the company you mentioned here as the seat is just a bit too wide and might compress enough on the sides to work (it's 470mm and we have about 455 to work with I believe).

Will let the group know what they have to say.

Thanks!

Correct they are intatrim - I looked at buying some but they are a fiberglass molded unit and in my opinion do not offer the same protection . support as the metal ones I have fitted.

You could also approach Interiors Seating as they make proper adjustable seats that almost fit. In their previous guise - company name changed etc I was chasing them to do a GT40 seat that would allow runners to be housed in the side of the squab, and come with a full tilting mechanism, lumbar support blow up jobbies etc. It was at the time I was looking that they changed company name etc. Something lile the RX1380 trimmed accordingly would almost work
Interiors Seating - RX1380 - Classic and Kit Car Seating - Cobra Replica Seat Specialists

Ian