It's time to put seats in the Corvette. But which ones?

by "cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
Published 12/14/2017 at 09:25

Tags: #cletusvette
STARS: 2

I posted earlier that I had sold the Poorvair and would use some of the funds to spruce up my ratty Corvette. Step one will be to replace the cracked and shredded seats currently in the car. Interestingly, for me in Canada, all three of my options cost just about $900 each. So the choice is down to preference, not cost. Option #1 is to re-foam and re-cover the originals. The stock seats look nice but have zero lateral support which means I slide around everywhere while driving it.

Option #2 is the cool Corbeau Classic bucket seat. I like that it uses the same vertical stitching motif as the original but provides much more bolstering for corners. Once I remove the headrests, they’ll look like period pieces to. Downsides are possibly too wide for the skinny Corvette and they don’t fold forward so I can’t access my behind-the-seats-cargo-area very easily with these.

Option #3 is just a little more crazy with these Corbeau GT4 seats. I love the GT40 and 911R vibes with these and they’re really close to a real period racing seat. Not sure if the buttons will “go” with my interior or maybe feel a little incongruous with the rest of the car. But I like them.

What do you guys think? Option 1, 2, or 3? I’m very determined to keep the seats retro looking so I have zero interest in a modern high-back seat.

Replies (45)

"Nibby" (nibby68)
12/14/2017 at 09:37, STARS: 4

no seats. add lightness

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 09:39, STARS: 0

SMRT

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
12/14/2017 at 09:44, STARS: 1

Option 1, but use velcro instead of vinyl. Then add some velcro to your pants and jacket. Boom! No more sliding.

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
12/14/2017 at 09:45, STARS: 0

3 looks fantastic.

"Sovande" (sovande)
12/14/2017 at 09:51, STARS: 1

I vote Procar Rally Lowback. I would post a pic, but Kinja really doesn’t want me to.

http://procarbyscat.com/seats/Rally-Lowback

"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
12/14/2017 at 09:54, STARS: 0

Option 3! Looks nifty.

"$kaycog" (skaycog)
12/14/2017 at 09:54, STARS: 5

#3...............something, something GT40 vibes.

"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
12/14/2017 at 09:56, STARS: 0

Something something corbeau something

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 09:57, STARS: 1

Of course you would :)

"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
12/14/2017 at 09:58, STARS: 0

Could an upholstery shop add some bolsters to the stockers? Otherwise I would say option 2 looks pretty rad.

"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
12/14/2017 at 10:00, STARS: 0

Number 3 seems to have a really large lump near the front. That would give me pause.

I would go with 2. They look great and will in 10 years.

"itschrome" (itschrome)
12/14/2017 at 10:01, STARS: 0

these!

"$kaycog" (skaycog)
12/14/2017 at 10:04, STARS: 1

Ms. Obvious is obvious.

"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
12/14/2017 at 10:06, STARS: 0

I guess it would actually depend on function for me with 2 or 3. Does one give better performance? option 2 looks to have an adjustable headrest so if you need that to have it fit properly that might help with the decision.

"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
12/14/2017 at 10:08, STARS: 1

Find some Saab Sonett seats.

"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
12/14/2017 at 10:09, STARS: 0

They are period correct. Have lateral and lumbar support. They are also supposed to be very light weight.

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
12/14/2017 at 10:10, STARS: 0

I say you should go stock. I like the look more.

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 10:23, STARS: 2

Those are so small they’d look like toys in a Corvette.

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 0

Like you, I’m naturally a conservationist but I also auto-x this thing and want to stay in place! 

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/14/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 0

What are other C3 owners running?

Reason I ask is because fitment is a big deal. The stockers have no lateral support at all but there’s not *that* much room to get fancy.

Personally I’d go for seats with harness cutouts in case you decide to add a bar later.

"kanadanmajava1" (kanadanmajava1)
12/14/2017 at 10:27, STARS: 1

Remember to test sit them before buying. Some of the retro style seats are horrible in geometry. I tested Corbeau’s GT8 (shown below) that local store is selling and it was way too short short for me. My head was almost completely above the headrest (I’m 190cm tall).

One other store is selling slightly similar seat than your second option. But with this one the lower area was horrible. I cannot properly describe what was actually wrong with it but it felt that I wasn’t sitting on butt but on my thighs. I could decide in 10 seconds that this isn’t for me.

My favorite seat with its appearance is the Japanese Autolook seat that is very shoght after within vintage Nissan circles. They are expensive and rare but some reproduction seats exist. Test sitting would be pretty much impossible. But it being a vintage Japanese seat I can easily estimate that I’m too tall for it.

Autolook seats

"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/14/2017 at 10:29, STARS: 0

What’s the overall vibe you’re wanting to go for? Looks like the seats you show are “Near stock”, “Period hotrodded street car”, and “retro future race car”

Personally, I like the last ones, especially if they’re installed along with some wider fender flares (or cut fenders) with some wide tires and deep dish wheels.

I’m only asking because I don’t want you to buy some seats and then want to buy different seats when you decide to go in a different direction. There are cheap options if you want something that holds you in place better, especially if you want to take the time to decide which seats would work best. These $40 Poly seats from Jegs are pretty comfortable (though not sure how they’d feel on a bumpy road).

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 10:31, STARS: 0

C3 owners seem to be running the stock seats or brand new Fast and Furious full race seats. No one seems to be putting retro race seats in these.

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/14/2017 at 10:37, STARS: 0

FWIW I would not do the stock C3 seats if you aren’t looking to “stay original” with your project. Speaking from experience...

Of your choices I’d go Corbeau classic or something similar.

"S65" (granthp)
12/14/2017 at 10:40, STARS: 1

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
12/14/2017 at 10:43, STARS: 0

Number 2. They seem like they’d be more comfortable and you seem to like long trips.

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
12/14/2017 at 10:43, STARS: 0

I’d rather have a recliner. The Procar Rally comes in a houndstooth version .

Only thing is the lowback doesn’t have the houndstooth option. The closest is this velour , but honestly the lowback looks weird with the big bolsters and no headrest.

"lone_liberal" (token-liberal)
12/14/2017 at 10:47, STARS: 0

I prefer something with separate top and bottom bolsters so they don’t look so bucket-like. These Procars have the option of no headrest and look ok.

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 10:55, STARS: 0

Yeah? I’m not a NCRS purist anyways. Do you have experience with the Corbeau classics?

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 10:56, STARS: 1

Man, those Autolook seats have a real gangster lean!

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 10:56, STARS: 0

I want it to look like a period SCCA weekend car.

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/14/2017 at 11:01, STARS: 1

I do not, sorry. The Corbeau classic just seems like it would fit the rest of the interior best. Procar Rallys would look good and be comfy too but I have a feeling they may be way too big.

I do have experience with stock seats in a ‘69. Professionally redone with top quality stuff. Honestly they are still like stadium seats with 2" of foam on them. The doors do an OK job with some lateral movement because I’m a bigger dude I guess. I still wouldn’t bother with stockers.

"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
12/14/2017 at 11:05, STARS: 0

option 2, by far

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 0

Really appreciate the feedback. I’m a string bean guy and weigh all of 135 pounds so I can’t really utilize the wedge against door technique because of my size.

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/14/2017 at 11:31, STARS: 0

No problem, happy to help!

And not trying to be pushy... but just consider if you want harnesses in the future.

The stock lap belts weren’t self tensioning and you can fab brackets to use the stock mount locations so that’s a straight upgrade. Two shoulder belts (where there may have been none) will really keep you planted in the seat.

Just sayin’.

"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/14/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 1

So, fat tires, deep dish wheels, maybe even ditch the popups for covered lights? (I think it’d look cool with a racing style livery with no number or sponsor stickers).

I’d vote the blue seats, that’d let you go for some retro-future styling elsewhere too, like LED taillights or something.

"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
12/14/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 0

Why not seats from a newer Corvette? Or seats from a different car? Mid 90s Integra seats really hug you. My 2001 Subaru Forester seats were amazing!

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 1

Gotta keep it classic. I don’t like the look of modern seats in a classic car.

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 13:04, STARS: 0

The plan is: Covered headlights, white sidepipes, number circles, Torq thrusts and fat Avon semi-slicks.

"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
12/14/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0

For Classic Torque Thrusts: Seat option 2

For modern style Torque Thrusts: Seat option 3

I guess that’s an easy way to compare the two styles.

Either way, I think it’ll look awesome.

"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
12/14/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0

here is my choice.
scat rally seats.

497.99USD each

http://www.jegs.com/i/Scat/942/80-1000-41L/10002/-1

also cuz houndstooth all the things!

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
12/14/2017 at 14:18, STARS: 1

Oh the classic ones 100%

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
12/14/2017 at 17:12, STARS: 0

For what I want to do to a C3 I would pick #3

"MM54" (mm54mk2)
12/14/2017 at 19:05, STARS: 0

#3 looks really uncomfortable. I’d go with #1 or #2, but I’m not sure which. I have a similar conundrum with the seat in the Chevelle. I really like the factory bench (with optional fabric inserts!) but it’s torn, the foam/springs worn out, and has zero lateral support whatsoever.

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
12/16/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 0

The car doesn’t have a headrest so it would be easy to mount a racing harness yes?