Seat recommendations

[Lotusfan]

I'm looking for recommendations on seats for a '93 Caterham S3 long cockpit. The car currently has the standard bench type seats. The intended use is primarily road, some extended drives, and some track days. Here are the issues that I'm thinking about...

1) The bench type of seat provides nothing between the head and the rollbar and this is a safety concern. There is much opinion to suggest that it's unsafe to drive with a rollbar unless you have a helmut on. Padding on the bar, no matter what isn't enough. I might take the bar off for driving on the street but it's painted bright yellow and probably provides some real safety in making me visible to SUV's.

2) I'm 5'10" and my wife is 5"2. While she is very unlikely to be driving the car often, she would like to drive it sometimes and it would be good to be able to switch when taking a longer drive. She really can't drive the car with the bench style seat as pillows behind her don't really work to make her feel comfortable and be able to get the clutch in. Maybe a moldable foam for her but that's not very practical to be carrying around all of the time.

 

I've put a WTB up for Caterham buckets, so far no offers, but I'm wondering what others are using and I'm looking for recommendations.

Thanks!

[Kitcat]

The stock Caterham gray cloth seats are very comfortable. Because they are mounted on sliders, they have fore/aft adjustment so your wife can position them to her liking. Rake of the seat back is not adjustable but I found it to be perfect. I added a gray lumbar pillow from Auto-zone and found the seats to be the best part of doing long cruises/trips in my car. They are grippy as well, so at the track your butt doesn't slide around as much as on leather. And they are very light weight, maybe 10 lbs each, maybe less. And of course, they fit perfectly, no fetteling needed. The stock fiberglass and composite seats are nice but not nearly as comfortable, I tried all three versions. I have hated the bench seats on the Cats I have driven that were so equipped: they are too erect, too far from the pedals and steering wheel, and the seat cushion seems to be thicker, so you sit higher. I really hated them (tho not as much as the stock seats in my Birkin, which would likely fit a Caterham).

[Lotusfan]

Thanks! Maybe somebody has a spare pair or something else will come up.

[coffee break]

I've done a minor seat position adjustment to my bench seat. I have a couple of short 1x4's placed between the seat back and the rear bulkhead at the floor. This moves the lower seating position a little closer. The previous owner showed me this tweek, he used 2x4's since he is a few inches shorter than me.

This trick might be useful for you but not your wife.

Anyone know what Caterham seats are going for these days?

[Croc]

The seats are not cheap - here is the link. Need to buy the headrest too.

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/seats/4561-cloth-seat-standard-new-seat-runners-2010.html?search_query=seat&results=32

 

or if you are feeling really rich buy the leather seat

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/seats/6055-sv-carbon-leather-seat.html?search_query=seat&results=32

 

 

That said they are a perfect touring seat for long hours driving.

[Lotusfan]

Thanks everyone for the replies so far. Does anybody have any experience with Tilletts? How about experience with getting seats from Caterham USA vs. from the UK?

I’m still hoping that someone has a pair that they have taken out and want to sell.

[Croc]

Tillets can be hit or miss depending on your body. I hate them because of a broken tailbone so the back pain rules them out for me. Others think they are fantastic. You can buy them direct in the US from Tillet but I would suggest you try them on first.

 

If you want the Caterham seats then you can try Bruce Beachman (Caterham dealer PNW) as he keeps a range of spares or may have old ones handy. The other dealers don't have the same spares range from my experience (but by all means give them a call and try) and it still may be cheaper to buy direct from the UK (they are UK made and US dealers buy through Cat UK and then ship them so the likely math is obvious). I can only think of a handful of times in the last 10 years when they came up for sale on the forum as second hand resales.

[centerfireman]

I installed the leather Caterham seats (on sliders, so they can be adjusted) and am very happy with them and find them to be very comfortable (I have driven up to 150 miles at a time). The original cloth Caterham bench seat should only be used as an "enhanced interrogation technique" after waterboarding has failed; they are WAY beyond uncomfortable!

[Jesse D]

I put these in my 93 two years ago as a response to head on rollbar issues resulting from putting in an FIA bar because I'm too tall for the standard bar.

 

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/seats/4144-seat-composite-carpet-slr-500-fixed.html

 

I've been pleasantly surprised by the comfort of these seats on the road. Mine are fixed location.