TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri May 30, 2008 3:15 pm

I have owned at least 4 type 1's never a Ghia but I've always wanted on. I currently have a 79 Transporter.

I looked at a Ghia today but I need the seat back just a tad more to feel it won't be to cramped to drive long road trips.

Would after market seats, like Scat get you lower and back? I'm 6'3" and really want a Ghia but it would be a struggle as it is.

This is a 68 coupe and I had the seat all the way back.

Andy

Fri May 30, 2008 4:29 pm

You could try different seats, or you might want to think about having the seat tracks welded further back onto the pan.

Sat May 31, 2008 4:44 am

You can move the seat rails back a good few inches before the seat back hits the rear seat.

Sat May 31, 2008 6:10 am

Thank you, I really think I want a ghia. A lot of aftermarket seats are lower and thiner of that makes since.

The price of being tall.

Andy

Sat May 31, 2008 6:21 am

Hi I just got my new Scat pro car seats installed and I am 6 foot tall even and I sit a whole lot higher than in the stock seats. I have maybe a 2" gap between my head and the roof. I think they do go a little farther back but they do sit higher. Otherwise they are good seats.

Sat May 31, 2008 7:37 am

I'm 6'4" and I can drive it with the stock seats in the stock position. But I do think I'm going to move the rails back a couple inches, and also fab some kind of bracket so that they recline a little more. It's not bad though. :wink:

Sat May 31, 2008 10:37 am

I am 6'3 and I feel great driving my 72 with the stock seats.

Zack

Sat May 31, 2008 11:48 am

I'm 6'-6" and the top of my head pokes above the windshield in our 65 vert. :shock: The biggest problem I see is the height of the seats. They seem to sit quite high in the car, which makes head room an issue. My suggestion would be change the seats, or move the seat tracks back.

Sat May 31, 2008 3:27 pm

I'm 6' 1" and my son is 6' 3" so have used Cobra seats on Cobra sliders with home made brackets. I left the original rails in place in case some one in the future wants to return to stock, plus they stiffen the floor.I mounted them at the same angle as the original rails but further back. The seat slides almost to the back seat which suits my son, and at that position gains about 4" in head room
ta
Ian G

Sat May 31, 2008 8:36 pm

Ian, do you have pics?, I've found a Ghia near me that needs paint but is solid otherwise, $4500.

I thought different seats and maybe a smaller steering wheel would help with the fit.

Andy

Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:11 am

I am 6'2" and am fine with the seat all the way back and reclined. Hard to get into the seat after my 5'1" wife has been driving it, but it is her Ghia. Also I w went to an aftermarker steering wheel which has less diameter and makes the ingress/egress easier and drivng room just better over all.

Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:07 pm

Andy, sorry no Pix, I can build a Karmann, but my camera still has film in it.
Ian G

Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:27 am

I'm just shy of 6'7'' and I'm just in the process of lowering the floor pan and moving bits about to improve the fit' of my 61... I'm taking the oppertunity to swap out the seats as well. I did drive it with for a year or so with the seat right back and a smaller wheel, it was do-able, but I was rubbing my head on the head liner!

Will

Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:22 pm

I'm 6 foot 2 and I have the stock seats in my 72 coupe. On a long journey, I find the legroom only very slightly restrictive, but its not awful.
I might look into some aftermarket seats if I can find something suitable.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:40 pm

wi11 wrote: I'm just shy of 6'7'' and Quote: I'm just in the process of lowering the floor pan and moving bits about to improve the fit' of my 61... I'm taking the oppertunity to swap out the seats as well. I did drive it with for a year or so with the seat right back and a smaller wheel, it was do-able, but I was rubbing my head on the head liner!

Will

Please share how you do that

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:09 pm

I'm 6 foot even (I know, I'm a shorty) and I drive with the stock seat allt eh way back, and the stock steering wheel. It's only a bit tricky getting in and out under the wheel when the car is offset on a hill, then I just have to sort of fall out, and hope no one is watching...

Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:33 pm

This is what I've done so far to make me fit! I'm still a long way off and I'm still not sure if it'll all come together properly in the end. (It's only in tack welds and brace lengths until I've made up the other side.)

Will

Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:53 pm

shit, you're going to need a baja suspension to clear speed bumps... Is that 4 inches deep? Because that's what it looks like...

Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:27 pm

Gonna be pretty close! Seemed OK when I was measuring stuff up. That's why it's bit of a suck it and see... I figure if I'm way to low I'll have to cut it move it up an inch. (Some adjustment for the suspension while on the go is something I've seriously been thinking about.)
Just have to watch it when I cross the white lines!

Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:35 pm

You're doing both sides, right? That would look really odd to have one seat 4 inches lower than the other.