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GaryLee
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2008
Posts: 22
Location: Waco
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 Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:47 pm Post subject: Seat choices |
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| I’m not a very good welder, but I can do a little something. What seats would be easiest to make fit into a 71 superbeetle? I’m trying to do things myself and the wrecking yard in my area sells all seats for $32. I’ve heard a couple of guys say they have Dodge Neon seats in their VW’s. My car is not original and I don’t care for the seats that are in it. I don’t plan on messing with the rails on the floorpans so I can always put the original seats back in if I choose. |
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OTTO 1303
Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2020
Posts: 635
Location: Louisiana
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| Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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You will probably get many suggestions, I limited my search to newer VW's.
Take a look at Sport models of Golfs, Jettas, and Passats, these may be the easiest to fit.
I also grabbed a set of really sporty seats from a 2004 Beetle, but they will have to be modified to work properly, the 3pt mounting on the newer seats is wider than the old ones.
Good Luck
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74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3200
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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| I think you can make anything fit. I have some BMW m5 seats in my baja, very wide, abought 22 ", but fricking comfortable. I suggest late model foreign sports car vehicle seats will be the best. If you can get ones that come from a 2 door they will have a latch for quickly folding the seat forward for back seat access. Many seats may not have that. |
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old gh bug
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2013
Posts: 197
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:35 am Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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| Audi TT in mine and heated also enough room to get to heater controls and hand brake and still be able to shut the door |
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bomberbob
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2015
Posts: 688
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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I grafted in seats from a 1990 VW Cabriolet into my 68 standard. Welded in the 3 point mounts like later bugs used. This presented challenges, as the MK 2 seats were wider than the space between the center hump and the heater channel. It took some surgery to make them fit. If you want to stick with VW seats, probably anything from a MK 1 Jetta/Golf whatever will be narrower, and will fit if you want to use them. I think you will have to remove your existing seat rails, as the front seat support for those seats needs to go there.
I looked at seats and seat mounts from later VWs like a MK 5 Jetta. They have sweet seats and mounts that would just bolt in. Problem is they are too wide. As time goes on car seats get wider (as our butts get wider).
If you go to a salvage yard looking for seats I would take a measuring tape with you and see how wide the mounts are. You may need to sacrifice those old seat rails though.
_________________
1968 Beetle (storage)
1990 Jetta GLI megasquirted, burning E85 (currently in heavy maintenance)
2004 Jetta turbo GLI
Marion, Iowa |
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hulbyw
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2021
Posts: 127
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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Mazda MX5 or Miata fit well as do early Porsche tombstones. I am fitting Opel 2 door seats in my '68 (Recaro copies) as well as aftermarket seat heaters.
Cheers |
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snowymonkey
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2007
Posts: 652
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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Mitsubishi Eclipse seats fit in the space. I used a set on a fiberglass dune buggy once... darn comfy 
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"The music moves me, but it moves me ugly"
- Nikoli Lee |
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HaggardMelon
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2018
Posts: 147
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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I just ordered a set of these. I don't weld (yet) and don't have access to one. This seemed like a decent choice.
https://www2.cip1.com/c15-80-1300-52-wa/
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1970 Beetle Sedan “The Buzz Bomb” 1914cc DP |
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Lingwendil
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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Chickensoup
Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018
Posts: 5368
Location: Good Hope, GA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Seat choices |
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BMW e30 sports(recaro) seats.
you dont even need to weld anything. just remove your old seat rails and drill 4 holes. and for peace in mind id weld the nuts to the pan underneath,
or, you can use the same seats, and make an adapter bracket. if you do a search, theres a thread on installing these seats and making adapter.
oh, and the e30 sports seats are sexy AF.
many of the 80s audi and vw seats will fit via the same install methods.
^^^ lingwendil's A4's also look fantastic in later model cars. check out his thread on install and review. i think they are a little pricy tho. |
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