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Vintage Racing Seats

April 15, 2016 2 Comments Written by Chris Myer

1970 Dodge Charger R/T

Thanks for joining us for this review of vintage racing seats. Here are Racing Seats USA we pride ourselves on offering the very latest in racing seat technology. But just because offer the $11,000 OMP HTE ONE Racing Seat doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten our racing roots. In fact, fully half the cars in our racing stable now qualify for Historic Race Car qualification based on production year and we’re proud to be carrying on that tradition.

You see, who we are as racers today was defined by racers who have gone on before us. And because we have lost many of those racers we respect the efforts of those who keep their memory alive by restoring, maintaining, and yes, racing vintage race cars. We’re proud of all of the seats we sell and are especially honored when we are able to meet the needs of vintage race cars with the perfect vintage racing seat from OMP and Corbeau.

There isn’t a specific definition or profile for a vintage racing seat but they certainly did not have many of the features of modern racing seats. Things like halos and broad shoulder bolsters were right out. Heck, back in the day, many of these cars had no support even for the head, which is made a bit less surprising when you realize that the use of seat belts is a concept that only came into vogue about 50 years ago. So without any more adieu, let’s consider the seats that are available today to those who would restore a vintage race car.

Open Cockpit Cars

Who can’t appreciate the look of a classic open cockpit car, nimbly pressing its way through a challenging set of turns on some English countryside? These seats can work in other cars just as well, but are particularly suited to cars like the Triumph TR6, the Porsche 356, the MGA or the Austin-Healey “Bug-Eyed” Sprite, to name just a few. If you have one of these cars and are in the market for seats, we suggest the following:

OMP Silverstone Vintage Racing Seat

OMP Silverstone Vintage Racing Seat

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or below for
OMP Silverstone Pricing

The OMP Silverstone Vintage Racing Seat is an excellent place to start our journey. The Silverstone takes its design cues from the classic Porsche 356 GT seat, but is able to do so in more refined, genteel way. It resembles the early Recaro sport seat but without the Recaro’s head rest. This seat has absolutely no head support and, as such should never be used on the street and only in very controlled situations where the risks are limited and understood. However, for those vintage race cars that use a similar styling it is the ideal seat to recreate that look in a seat that is thoroughly modern in construction and is comfortable to both the wallet and the backside. Note: There is limited U.S. stock of this Italian-made vintage OMP seat. Lead times may vary.

1960’s Vintage Cars

One of the biggest changes moving into the 1960’s was the introduction of Japanese-made sports cars. Japan had moved through it’s initial post-war period and in the late 50’s auto manufacturers were at a point where they could introduce true sports cars to what had been a fairly utilitarian offering. Styling cues came from the classic European sports cars but Japanese designers added their own twist. Headrests were becoming more common as drivers realized the apparent need for head support. Builders looking for a period-correct seat for their 60’s Nissan Skyline, AC Cobra, Alfa Romeo Spider, Ford Mustang, or Dodge Challenger might consider these seats.

Corbeau Classic II Vintage Racing Seat

Corbeau Classic II Vintage Racing Seat

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or below for
Corbeau Classic II Pricing

The Corbeau Classic II Vintage Racing Seat is resembles most of the racing seats of this era. Shorter than today’s seats but with an added adjustable headrest that will provide head support for all but very tall drivers. The design, too, is reflective of that era, with a bottom that very nearly mirrors the back. Although this is a fixed-back seat (as were so many of this era) this is a very inviting, comfortable seat. It features the Corbeau bottom-mount bracket fixing so any of the Corbeau brackets will work great for this seat.

OMP Brands Hatch Vintage Racing Seat

OMP Brands Hatch Vintage Racing Seat

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or below for
OMP Brands Hatch Pricing

Younger (or less international) racing fans may think that “Brands Hatch” is a strange name for a racing seat. But fans of Grand Prix racing of the 60’s and 70’s will immediately recognize this name. Brands Hatch Motor Racing Circuit outside of Kent, England is one of the world’s great classic race tracks. The British Grand Prix was held there for 12 consecutive years starting in 1964, and continues to be a fan favorite for it’s spectacular vistas. Similarly, the Brands Hatch vintage racing seat is a beautiful head-turner, with much to like. Quilted-look faux leather outer with a grippy black velvet inner is an immediate attention grabber. Deep bucketing and adjustable headrest are valued driver ammenities as well. This vintage racing seat looks fantastic in a broad range of cars and will be the ideal complement to an otherwise perfect 60’s muscle or sports car. Note: There is limited U.S. stock of this Italian-made vintage OMP seat. Lead times may vary.

1970’s Vintage Cars

Continuing a trend that started in the 1960’s, vehicles built in the 1970’s were heavier, more powerful, and faster than their earlier counterparts. Because of this, the seats had to do a better job of protecting the driver. Even deeper “bucketing” became the norm.

Corbeau Classic Bucket Seat

Corbeau Classic Bucket Seat

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Corbeau Classic Bucket Pricing

Just look at the Corbeau Classic Bucket Seat. All by itself, even without a car in sight, this seat has you thinking of that amazing 70’s muscle car that you or one of your friends had. You can almost hear the break in the song in your head as the 8-track player searches for the next track (or consumes your best Three Dog Night tape, whichever came first.) Fortunately, you can relive the 70’s without the old-technology blues because this seat by US seat maker Corbeau features absolutely state-of-the-art construction. 70’s in appearance, this seat has a strong steel tube-frame design. With sides the wrap you into the seat and an adjustable headrest, it’s not difficult to get comfortable in this seat. Like the Classic, II, the Corbeau Classic Bucket has the Corbeau bottom fixing points, which means that adapters are available to fit this into literally hundreds of different year/make/model combinations.

OMP Classic Vintage Racing Seat

OMP Classic Vintage Racing Seat

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or below for
OMP Classic Pricing

We will conclude this review of vintage racing seats the way we started: one final seat from Italian seat maker OMP. The OMP Classic Vintage Racing Seat draws it’s inspiration from the early Recaro Sports Seat. In the day, these were the seats that only the elite or wealthy drivers could afford but now they are available at a price that is within just about anyone’s reach. With it’s long, lean design, this is a much taller seat than any of the others on this page therefore better suited to taller drivers. Like the other OMP vintage racing seats, this seat features a faux leather vinyl outer with a sturdy black velvet inner. It has bottom mounting points that work well with Planted Technology brackets. Note: There is limited U.S. stock of this Italian-made vintage OMP seat. Lead times may vary.

Seat Buying and Installation

brands hatch, classic, classic II, corbeau, fixed back seats, omp, silverstone, vintage racing seats

Leather Seats

February 26, 2016 Leave a Comment Written by Chris Myer

Read about our great selection of leather seats below or
click here to shop leather seats now!

Corbeau A4 Black Leather Seats

Having been the Internet’s leading resource for high quality car seats for nearly 15 years, there are a few things we can say without reservation. One is this: When it comes to seat materials there is nothing that beats leather. The look, the feel, the ability to resist wear and spills, even the smell when you get in a car with leather seats make it the best. Unfortunately, some buyers do not consider leather seats because of price concerns. Racing-Seats-USA offers a broad selection of seats available in leather and there are leather seat models for every taste and budget. Thank you for joining me on this quick tour of leather seats that you can find on Racing-Seats-USA.

Entry-Level Price With Race Styling

The Corbeau A4 in black leather (shown above) has a lot to like in what is a very reasonably-priced leather seat. The cloth version of this seat is hugely popular among customers who are looking for an aggressively sporty profile with passages for a multi-point harness and bolstering in the thigh and lower back region. But when you add leather, the A4 takes on an entirely different dimension. Suddenly a car that looked at home trackside or at a local enthusiast meet now gains comfort in a more refined concours setting. And at a price that is incredibly reasonable. Similar to the CR1 in styling and pricing but with a slightly wider stance is the Corbeau CR1 Black Leather Seat.

Leather Seats With Traditional Styling

Corbeau Sport Seat Black Leather

Maybe a racing seat isn’t what you are looking for–certainly, not everyone is. And that is why the Corbeau Sport Seat is also a big seller. The Sport Seat is perfect for those individuals who are not looking to add a set of racing harnesses to their car, truck, or SUV. Fully reclining and with adjustable headrest, this seat offers all of the features you expect in a top quality automotive seat. But, as with the A4, when you add leather, it takes on a whole new personality. As soon as you slide into the Sport Seat’s comfortable yet solid grip and smell the fragrance of tanned leather, you know you’ve arrived. If you like this seat but desire a bit more bolstering, consider the Corbeau GTS II Black Leather Seat.

Leather Seats For Bigger Drivers

Corbeau VX2000 Black Leather Seat

Ok, let’s face it: Not everyone who wants a leather seat is this svelte 20-year-old who doesn’t mind sitting hours at a time in a highly-bolstered, confining racing seat. Sometimes you just need a seat you can be yourself in. And the Corbeau VX2000 Black Leather Seat is just that seat. Comfortable for drivers of any size, this seat suits drivers up to 42-44 inches in waist size.

But you’re not giving up a single thing by going to the VX2000. This full-reclining seat has head-turning styling and features harness-belt pass-throughs in the event you need those. In fact, this seat is unique among the many excellent tube-frame reclining seats that we offer in that is has an injection-molded composite back. If you are looking for a leather racing seat but don’t want to be restricted by dimensions that don’t fit, give the VX2000 a look.

Leather Seats from Sparco

Sparco R600 Black Leather Seat

When you are going for top-of-the-line, when budget takes a back seat to European styling, when the biggest brand name matters, then go for Sparco. The Sparco R600 Black Leather Seat is handcrafted in Italy and features a modern design that is bold yet understated, sleek yet subtle, and without peer in its class. Sparco has replaced the notchy lever-style reclining mechanism with a smooth, continuously adjustable knob that sets you exactly where you want. It is an engineering masterpiece. Whether you are building a show-quality European touring car or if you simply demand something more from your seat, the Sparco R600 in Black Leather will not disappoint.

Shopping for Leather Seats

Leather seat Filter Selection If you’ve ever tried to shop for leather seats on any other website then you know what a challenge that can be. Because leather is such a big part of our business, we sought to make this process a lot less challenging. That is why we added seat material as a filter for our seat offerings. This means you can view all reclining seats and then narrow the selection to just those seats that are available in leather. So, by making the box check shown at right, you can produce the results shown below:

Reclining leather seats available at Racing-Seats-USA.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review of leather seats on Racing-Seats-USA. Please drop me a note below and let me know what you think.

Seat Buying and Installation

A4, corbeau, leather seats, R600, reclining seats, sparco, Sport Seat, VX2000

Video: Corbeau LG1 Racing Seat

November 14, 2015 Leave a Comment Written by Chris Myer

By Chris Myer

Corbeau LG1 Racing Seat Video Transcript:

Welcome to CyberAuto TV! Today we’re going to take a look at the Corbeau LG1 Racing Seat, a high-end touring car seat. The LG1 is a great seat for individuals who want show car looks but are not willing to sacrifice performance. The LG1 provides a relatively broad seating platform in what is overall a relatively narrow seat. It may be a bit wide for the smallest sports cars but the standard-width LG1 is narrow enough to fit the C5 Corvette with some accommodations. Be sure to compare the space in your vehicle to the dimensions shown on Racing-Seats-USA.Com to ensure the LG1 will fit in your car. The standard-width version of the LG1 will suit drivers up to about 38 inches in waist size and there is a wide version that is appropriate for drivers up to about 42 inches in waist size.

The LG1 is a reclining seat with a tough steel tube-frame interior comfortable padding, and moderate side bolstering. It is super-comfortable and not as difficult to get into and out of as seats with taller side bolstering in the thigh region. Still, customers find this seat to provide adequate support for sporty street driving and light track work. Take a look at the reviews provided on Racing-Seats-USA.Com to see what buyers think of this seat.

Because this seat is primarily used on the street it features harness slots for 3- and 4-point harnesses. When ordering, it is also possible to have the slot added for an anti-submarine belt. If you’re in a cold climate you should consider the optional seat heaters that Corbeau offers and the optional lumbar support is never a bad idea if you expect to find yourself spending longer periods in this seat.

The Corbeau LG1 is available in broad range of colors and materials. The one you see here is finished in black cloth with a black center but it is also available with a blue or red cloth center. If you’re looking for an especially nice seat consider ordering your LG1 in either microsuede or genuine leather to add an exceptional look to your vehicle. You can browse all of the color combinations and ordering options of the Corbeau LG1 on Racing-Seats-USA.Com.

The LG1 features Corbeau’s bottom-mounting system which means you can use one of the hundreds of Vehicle-specific brackets to make the LG1 a direct bolt-in on your car, truck, or SUV.

That’s all the time we have for now. If you’ve enjoyed this video, consider sharing it on Facebook and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Be sure to join us again on CyberAuto TV where we bring performance to you!

Chris Myer Presents the Corbeau LG1 Racing Seat

Videos

corbeau, lg1, reclining seats

Racing Seats Buyer’s Guide

November 13, 2015 4 Comments Written by Chris Myer

By Chris Myer

There are essentially four easy steps in the seat buying process:

•Step 1: Select a Racing Seat Style That Suits Your Needs
•Step 2: Pick a Racing Seat That Fits Your Car
•Step 3: Pick a Seat That Fits You
•Step 4: Buy a Seat Bracket

Step 1: Select a Racing Seat Style That Suits Your Needs

For purposes of this discussion, let’s break racing seat styles down as follows:

Shop Reclining Seats	Shop Fixed-Back Seats	Shop Suspension Seats	Shop Bench Seats

These are ideal for the street car that wants to make a powerful statement without compromising comfort.	Doing some serious racing? These are your choice. Look here too if you are restoring a historic car or completing a kit that needs a classic bucket seat.	Including Jeep seats and offroad seats. Nobody knows more about them than Corbeau. Find the performance and comfort you demand for your offroad adventure.	Hey, why not? Sometimes a bench seat is exactly what is required. And nobody has a finer selection of bench seats than Corbeau.

Racing Seats USA makes it easy to select the right style of seat. Simply go to Shop By Style and select the style you prefer. If you are looking for a specific brand or use then you can also Shop By Brand or Shop By Use.

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Step 2: Pick a Racing Seat That Fits Your Car

Read below or check out this handy video post on vehicle fitment

This is generally only a big deal if you have a small car, but if you get a seat that won’t fit you will not be happy. So, unless you’re putting your racing Seats into a very large car or truck, you should do a few quick measurements. Corbeau seats have 5 measurements, as shown in the image at left. Other brands provide similar measurements. Take a tape measure, jump in your car and get an idea of the available space. The most important measurements are the bottom width and the shoulder width.

Measuring Available Shoulder Width

First, find the very center of your stock seat at shoulder height. Do this by measuring the width of the stock seat at the shoulders and then finding the spot half-way across the seat. This is your starting point. Now, with the door fully closed and the window up, measure from this point out to the window. That is half, so double that number. This is the maximum available shoulder width. We recommend you find a seat that is at least 1-2 inches more narrow. This is important since the location of the shoulder on different seats is at different heights, and you may not have as much room with the aftermarket racing seat.

Measuring Available Bottom Width

With the door closed, measure the narrowest width from the door panel to the center console. This measurement represents the widest seat bottom that will fit in your car. Select a seat that is at least 1 inch more narrow than this to be safe.

You will notice that we provide a diagram similar to the one above for every racing seat we sell. Now that you have the measurements you can compare the seats you like to your available space. Also, each section page provides a filter to reduce the seats shown to those that are wider, typical, or more narrow than the rest. Here are a few more pointers:

Aftermarket racing seats are usually taller than stock seats – Most high quality aftermarket seats are thicker in the bottom than the stock seat, so you’ll sit a little bit taller. If you already have head clearance issues you may need to consider the custom seat shaving service that Corbeau provides. They can remove, shave approximately 1 inch and replace the padding in the bottom of the seat. When you are ready to order your seat call and mention this when ordering.
Fixed Back Seats are not usually a good match for standard-cab pickup trucks – Fixed back seats come with a pre-set layback angle. Often, the rear window and cab wall require these seats to be installed too close to the steering wheel for most drivers. We recommend a reclining seat for standard-cab pickup trucks.

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Step 3: Pick a Seat That Fits You

Is your midsection diameter 34″ or smaller? Great–you can skip to the next section. If you are over 34″ you will need to read on. With most racing seat descriptions on this website we offer guidelines for how big a driver will be comfortable in that seat. For other brands, the guidance is limited to suggesting that the seat is a better fit for a small, medium, or large drivers. Even the waist size suggestions can’t strictly be compared to your pant size. Man men, in particular, are able to fit into one size pant and then carry far more weight just above that point. Don’t kid yourself here, it is your comfort that is at stake. Measure yourself at the broadest part of your midsection. If you enjoy a snug fit and are not spending hours at a time in the car then a slightly smaller seat may work. But we recommend that you get as much seat as the manufacturer recommends for your size. Other tips:

Consider the bolsters – Bolsters are the padding at the thigh and back that keep the driver securely centered in the car during high G-Force maneuvers. A tall bolster is going to be more limiting for bigger passengers. It can also be challenging for handicapped drivers when entering and exiting the seat. This is especially true on a tall vehicle like a 4WD truck.
Don’t forget your passenger’s needs – If you are small and it is at all likely that you will have some not-so-small passengers riding with you, you may want to consider a larger seat. This is particularly true if that person will be riding with you frequently or over longer distances.

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Step 4: Buy a Seat Bracket

Aftermarket seats come with either bottom mounting points, side mounting points, or both. Seat brackets are available to allow bottom-mounted seats to bolt directly into most year/make/model combinations. This is definitely the way to go. Unbolt your old seats, bolt the bottom-moun racing seat to the bracket and the entire assembly directly into your car. Too easy!

Racing Seats with side mounting points present additional benefits and challenges. By placing the mounting points on the side of the seat, it allows the seat to be positioned as low as possible, physically touching the surface on which it is being mounted. And it is possible to use a sidemount seat with a bottom-mount bracket by attaching the seat to the bottom-mount brackets with a set of sidemount brackets. This allows you to take advantage of the ease of installation even on sidemount-style seats. View the entire list of Racing Seat Brackets here!

While the paragraph above covers 90% of our customers, there are a few points to keep in mind:

Mounting Baja SS, Ultra SS, Baja Low-Back and Baja XP Seats – These seats are unique in that Corbeau designed them with four vertical mounting tabs. This makes them especially well-suited to custom applications like a sand rail or rock crawler. However, this is one of our best-selling seats for ALL applications. A special adapter is an available option when ordering that allows these seats to be used with the entire range of Corbeau custom brackets.
Mounting Corbeau Seats in Jeeps® – Corbeau obviously has a special spot in their hearts for Jeep owners. While any Corbeau seat can be mounted into Jeep applications using a custom bracket, some of the Corbeau line are manufactured so they can be mounted directly into the Jeep CJ and YJ without the purchase of a bracket, including the Baja JP, the Baja RS, the Moab, and the Safari Bench Seat. They also offer direct fit adapters for the Baja SS, Ultra SS, and the Baja Bench Seats.

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Any Other Questions? Call Us!

We love to get phone calls! You’ll find our toll-free phone number at the top of every page on this website. We always have someone here between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM Eastern. It is our priviledge to take your phone call!

Seat Buying and Installation

bench seats, buyers guide, fixed back seats, racing seats, reclining seats, suspension seats

Posts tagged street seats

Open Cockpit Cars

OMP Silverstone Vintage Racing Seat

1960’s Vintage Cars

Corbeau Classic II Vintage Racing Seat

OMP Brands Hatch Vintage Racing Seat

1970’s Vintage Cars

Corbeau Classic Bucket Seat

OMP Classic Vintage Racing Seat

Entry-Level Price With Race Styling

Leather Seats With Traditional Styling

Leather Seats For Bigger Drivers

Leather Seats from Sparco

Shopping for Leather Seats

Corbeau LG1 Racing Seat Video Transcript:

Step 1: Select a Racing Seat Style That Suits Your Needs

Step 2: Pick a Racing Seat That Fits Your Car

Measuring Available Shoulder Width

Measuring Available Bottom Width

Step 3: Pick a Seat That Fits You

Step 4: Buy a Seat Bracket

Any Other Questions? Call Us!

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