Are you sitting comfortably? ...

[GazDavies]

Originally Posted by BazMason

Did you get that Se5 then?

No, it was a complete mess and would have needed a full rebuild so I walked away. I've seen a few with great potential that I will have a look at when I get back from holiday this week.

[Paul L]

Gaz - Sorry mate, one last question...
Do you have standard, or lowered floor pans?
As I think these seats may be a winner as the price includes the runners & they clearly fit.





I particularly like this description:

"This design features a non-absorbant pvc making them a favourite for open sportscars in an English summer!"



Cheers, Paul.

[GazDavies]

Paul, yes I liked that comment also and can conform that they do not absorb any water!

I do have lowered floor pans. I think I have a 2.5 inch drop from memory but my build thread should confirm (sorry, I could look myself but I'm on my iPhone, sat by the pool in Ibiza at the moment and the beer is free). My pans are the same depth all of the way around and I've used some hardwood wedges to tilt them back and enable me to move them forward and back. I would of course just make the floor pans slope next time but I hadn't thought about that when I had them made up! I haven't seen them in person but Gary's new floor pans look like they would be spot on.

[Mister Towed]

Lowered pans and the right seats make a huge difference to the driving position and overall look of the car.

I made my own using phenolic coated ply and fibreglass -









It took me about three full days and cost around £70 in materials. Then, just in the nick of too late, Gary announces his at £90 a pair.



Spot the difference

They look like pretty good value to me and will take the driving position from this -



To this -



It might not look much but it makes a big difference to the amount of exposure your skull gets to the elements.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by GazDavies

... sat by the pool in Ibiza at the moment and the beer is free...

Did I mention it was raining here, again!
Jokes aside, thanks for your feedback, it really helps.

Mister T - Another great reply, thanks.
If you are 5' 11", then at 5' 8" I will only be marginally lower that your new position.
Given that we share a similar "aerodynamic" hair style, this can only be a good thing.

Looks like lowered floor pans are the way to go.

Cheers, Paul.

[WorldClassAccident]

Not sure if this helps the seating debate but could be used for a caption competition.

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

OK, I'll start with "IVA compliant my ar$e!"

[MoriniMan]

James Hunt's first races were in a Mini. At the first meeting he attended he failed to convince the scruitineers that a modified garden chair was a race seat.

[WorldClassAccident]

might need some work on the drinks holder

[lancelot link]

How about the caption .....

Gary , where the f*ck is my body ? !!!!

[froggyman]

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

Not sure if this helps the seating debate but could be used for a caption competition.

With a body like mine who needs one of Garys!!!!!

[tlrtone]

I am actually really impressed with 50's style glove-shaped "trafficators"

[WorldClassAccident]

No rush on the body Gary, my pick up is broken so I can't collect it at the moment anyway

[oxford1360]

In an idle moment I was wondering whether I could use some rear seats as fronts, and I came across these. They are leather.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-GTV-r...#ht_500wt_1317

The colour is wrong for me, but they are still tempting. There are quite a few available in black, but without the stitching.

[Nike55]

Originally Posted by oxford1360

In an idle moment I was wondering whether I could use some rear seats as fronts, and I came across these. They are leather.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-GTV-r...#ht_500wt_1317

The colour is wrong for me, but they are still tempting. There are quite a few available in black, but without the stitching.

Alfa seats?? Not good - they look great and will handle well but will break down every other weekend...

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by Nike55

Alfa seats?? Not good - they look great and will handle well but will break down every other weekend...

Tut tut. You really shouldn't go stereotyping on the basis of national characteristics. That's what they do in Russia...

The alfa seats look very nice. The backs might be a bit wide though, I'd check the dimensions. You might get away with using them if you fit a low profile prop tunnel, don't lower the floors so you can fit the seats as far inboard as possible, fit the squabs quite a way forward and fit the backs at a shallow angle. That'll give you the long arms, short legs driving position known as 'The Italian Ape' (which I find quite comfortable) and have you sitting as low down in the car as possible. If you fit them right at the back you'll be sitting bolt upright and your bonce will be sticking so far out of the top it'll create loads of unnecessary drag and you'll end up with a neck like David Coulthard's. Good luck, if you can get them to fit they'll look the business.

[Nike55]

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

Tut tut. You really shouldn't go stereotyping on the basis of national characteristics. That's what they do in Russia...

That'll give you the long arms, short legs driving position known as 'The Italian Ape'...

...you'll end up with a neck like David Coulthard's.

..any other physiological downsides then?

[oxford1360]

I'm planning on a semi-reclined position. I'm just lazy.

[Nike55]

Originally Posted by oxford1360

I'm planning on a semi-reclined position. I'm just lazy.

Didn't Rubens used to arrange his subjects in a semi reclining position?? They all seemed to look comfortable and very well upholstered..

(...and I don't mean Barichello)

[oxford1360]

I could do with a few Rubenesque beauties to brighten my workshop.