Mazda MX5 seats

[mpbarrett]

I have to say the MX5 seats in the spit look very nice! Anyone got pics of standard MX5 seats in a GT6 (mk3 so shouldnt upset Tim....:) ) just wonder how they fit and if they can be reclined, is there enough room?
Have driven the Gt6 to work the last couple of days, the seats def need sorting, the foam has had it and the back rest seems very lumpy! Maybe I have been spoilt by the MX5 seats in the Herald....
Please NO more pics of nice leather ones, too nice and expensive.... but then replacing the foam in the original seats is not cheap.......
mike

[mikeyb]

Don Cook has a pair of black cloth ones in his.  Lot's of MX5's had leather as standard don't forget!

[don cook1]

I'll have a look tonight for photos.

[sparky_spit]

2 pictures attached showing MX5/RX7 seats in a Spit 1500 and a close-up of how the headrest and seat-back fouls the narrowed type of rollbar (in this case Safety Devices).

[GT6 John]

I'm confused now.  So what's new?!  The MX5 seats I'm thinking of have the built in head rests.  Your ones, Sparky, appear to have seperate head rests.

Is this just an earlier seat?

[Clive]

Think they may be a later version.

[SteveJP]

And here are a couple of pics of my Mk2 MX5 (integral headrests) in my Spitfire - (Aley Aero Bar fitted).

I fitted these for last years 10CR - very comfortable, but may remove the Aley bar if I get into next years 10CR to allow a decent recline for snoozing!  ;D

[GT6boy]

After Clive and John's 'off-roading adventure', I will be fitting my roll bar, so the MX5's full range of movement options may be limited.
Any of you guys with them fitted live near Bristol/Bath- i'd like to see them in the flesh.

Come-on, someone must have a pair of US spec reclining Mk2 GT6 seats in Matador Red just lying around- they're common as muck ;)!

[sparky_spit]

John_Martin wrote:

I'm confused now.  So what's new?!  The MX5 seats I'm thinking of have the built in head rests.  Your ones, Sparky, appear to have seperate head rests.

Is this just an earlier seat?

They were sold to me as MX5 seats, but I have to say I've not seen this type before. Doug Foreman reckons they may be RX7 seats. They are Mazda, as there's a label on the underside saying so. I'd avoid this type if you want to use them in a Spit as they are wider at the shoulder than the built-in headrest type. In a GT6, with no rollbar or hoodframe to worry about, they would be perfect.

On the plus side, they look less modern and therefore suit a Triumph better.

[Timbers]

Hi Sparky, does that mean you'll be selling them??? ;)

[mikeyb]

the ones with the integral speaker is early mk1, the ones with separate headrests are late mk1/mk2.

[GT6 John]

sparky_spit wrote:

...I'd avoid this type if you want to use them in a Spit as they are wider at the shoulder than the built-in headrest type. In a GT6, with no rollbar or hoodframe to worry about, they would be perfect.

On the plus side, they look less modern and therefore suit a Triumph better.

On a personal level I prefer the built-in headrest type.  Somehow they are more in keeping with a sportscar type seat IMO.  I got hooked on built in headrest seats when I saw a Porsche once, and have wanted a pair since! I want a pair for my GT6 Mk1.  Many people will probably hate me for wanting to fit these seats into a Mk1, but I'm used to being hated! :P

They'll hate me more when they hear I plan to cover them in a deep red/burgundy leather! I hope to get the Mk1 GT6 badge logo sewn in on the headrest part of the leather, too.

This is waaaaaay in the future though.  Serious money for this, and more important things like a gearbox, diff and engine overhaul are first!

[Greeks]

The speakers are truly crap, however. Cardboard cones rot out and reverberate like nobody's business.

However, there are various improved and simple options available to replace with better speakers.

[GT6 Mike]

There's a bit on my blog about how I fitted them in my car,

http://gt6-efi.blogspot.com/2007/12/mazda-mx5-seats.html

Picture from the CT RBBR Photo Page - Thanks

[GT6boy]

Marvellous- thanks Mike :).

[Greeks]

Interesting to see you bolted the stalks to the seat. Whilst they look a lot neater I feel a bit better about using the original ones on the floor of my saloon. I'm sure it's unlikely, but if the seat were to move in a high speed collision then so will the belt.

[GT6 Mike]

Greeks wrote:

Interesting to see you bolted the stalks to the seat. Whilst they look a lot neater I feel a bit better about using the original ones on the floor of my saloon. I'm sure it's unlikely, but if the seat were to move in a high speed collision then so will the belt.

Not Ideal I know, they mount to the original MX5 seat belt point, I have my seats that far back that the standard Spit seat belt positions are just too far forward.

[GT6boy]

£26 off Flea-bay, with runners and ready to fit- just need some red leather seat covers- bargain ;D!