Early Race Seat - Appears Scheel, 65 to 66? Note the plumbing...

[914-6gt]

Just wanted to share these photos of an early 911 race bucket.

I believe it is a 'Scheel' but yet to confirm, was told maybe circa 1965-1966. I am thinking to do a light restore, not replacing any of the material and focusing on cleaning.
The tear in the vinyl at the back of the seat can be repaired without having to replace the entire section to maintain and not disturb the seat patina and originality.

Note the interesting hand activated rubber air-blower and how it is integrated into the seat, never seen that before...





The adjustment lever is a first for me also and so are the upper seat rails as well.





By chance, does anyone have a period photo of this same seat installed in a 911?



...larger photos can be found here

[IAA1963]

Very nice seats! I believe that I have seen this kind on elevenparts.com. They were announced as 65 seats.

[914-6gt]

I'm not familiar with the seat adjustment lever mechanism, the seat rails or the hand-actuated rubber air-pump. Do you recall seeing anything like this before? I wonder if this seat possibly came from a 356, I'm really puzzled by this one...

[Bullethead]

Very nice... I've never seen a bladder used on an early seat, but it does look like Scheel. I have one of the same FG construction that's almost identical except the bolster vinyl is plain, not perforated. Mine DID come from a 356, note the cobbled tilt console. Good score!

[914-6gt]

Hello Russ. "Bladder" is definitely a more appropriate nomenclature way to describe this unusual application in these early seats.
I really have no use for this particular seat in my project since I already have the proper co-pilot's Scheel seat, restored and ready for installation.
Believe it or not, I'm not particularly good at visualization and can't wait to see how this particular seat will look once restored.
Considering the age of the item, the vinyl remains in remarkable condition, the corduroy can be removed, dry-cleaned and re-installed.



Do you by chance recognize the seat rails and adjustment lever? I can't place them... Thank you for the post.

Armando

[Bullethead]

Hi Armando, just had the original corduroy cleaned and the seams redone on the Scheel in my GT. You'll be surprised... it'll look new.
I found another rivet-back Scheel not long ago, so still accumulating stuff for the project. Hope to get underway sometime next year.

Those seat rails look like they bolt directly to a riser... maybe Opel, NSU or even BMW? Whatever they're from it's a very cool chair!
Since it's not for your 914-6GT, any idea what you'll do with it once it's perfect? BTW, what does it weigh?

[914-6gt]

Funny Russ, I too had the original Scheel corduroy removed from the seat, 'dry-cleaned' and not just replaced with the new stuff, and you're right, it looks as good as new now!
BTW, I was extremely satisfied with the work and reasonable cost to cure by Autobahn in San Diego.

No idea yet on what it weighs. Once restored and depending on the outcome, I may decide to keep it. Hard to say at this point...

[uai]

Hi Armando, the sliders look like (Euro)Ford to me.
But what stays of the original seat is the shell, the rest has been done sometimes later to the seat.
So no need to save the upholstery, since it has been done already and it has been done wrong.
Depending on the headrest receptions, or at least what looks like headrest receptions it could be the same seat like Ricks (longranger)
Cheers

Uli

[914-6gt]

Hi Armando, the sliders look like (Euro)Ford to me.
But what stays of the original seat is the shell, the rest has been done sometimes later to the seat.
So no need to save the upholstery, since it has been done already and it has been done wrong.
Depending on the headrest receptions, or at least what looks like headrest receptions it could be the same seat like Ricks (longranger)
Cheers

Uli

Hi Uli, thank you for the post.

Are you 100% sure the Vinyl is not original? The overall look of the materials is very dated and appears period correct. My trusted source in Germany from many years tells me is original, but then again, I can't say for-sure I have personally seen this exact vinyl pattern in the past either. I also question why anyone would use some other after market materials when at that time the original fabric was readily available...

Could you post a link to the seat you mentioned? thx!

[914-6gt]

here is a copy of the email reply from my German friend.... Has several period seats, different sources, same vinyl and stiching.

"armando, definitively NO! this vinyl is origin. believe me. i do have several seats of mid 60s and it looks same. the stiches are first too. in mid 60s all they did this basket wave vinyl.

best"