Sport Seat Mania

[sithot]

I bet some old timers have about half of what this person paid for these seats in complete cars WITH Sport Seats.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...1-sport-seats/

[911MRP]

True! There was one example in public domain on BAT concurrent to the sale of these seats (a one owner car belonging to very respected member here that didn’t sell) where one BAT image on car’s listing shows the original window sticker from 1973. I understand from when he bought the brand new. Total price of car on window sticker of five decades ago around $12k of which $110 was for the l&r pair Recaro sports seats that it listed as its equipment at new.*

Hopefully not being indiscreet by using using example since member has referred to his car’s BAT no sale today on another thread? Also the images with sticker are public on BAT. I will of course delete this topical example if not appropriate.

In U.K. in MY 73 Recaro Sports seats were standard on S and M472 RS but headrests were not standard on any 911 so cost about £25 a pair as M-option. I know a number of very original British 911 even by 73 that came originally without headrests; T E S and RS Recaro sports with just plastic blanking plates. Different to the early ones however.

Paying $30 k to reunite the car with its original great condition undamaged with some patina perhaps makes sense if somehow turned out these were from the car, but what’s the attraction of these orphan seats with so much new upholstery — possibly even finished better — by definition different than receiving car had new even if similar type ?

Strange market!

Steve
* I realise the car on BAT has different seats fitted now to what had at new but sticker shows factually the historical official price

[haul]

I think its time to increase the insurance
of the vault…

[Jesse-911E 1969]

I think its time to increase the insurance
of the vault…

100x better than the ones on BaT!

[66S]

Those who know know the BAT seats are not 67 seats.

[Jesse-911E 1969]

I know, Haul’s seat is a Recaro 67 seat, the real deal :-)

[sithot]

Yes it is.

Somebody really blew it on the upholstery of the backs.

Here's the seats from the dead nuts original Bruce Jennings 911-S that once graced the garage.

[911int]

I think the most surprised person of this auction is the seller

[ajwans]

Here's another real one. I have a set that I purchased for way less than the re-worked set sold for, and they came with a 911S attached.

-8649083662547808846.jpg

I'm thinking of installing this seat on the driver's side though:

364200670_660066499405581_1058988331560451880_n.jpg

andy

[911MRP]

What sort of value do the recipient cars eg that year’s 911S fetch even if concours? The (possibly incorrect?) pair on BaT and these two individual other examples (shown above if ever sold) must represent a high proportion of the completed car’s overall value and be a high proportion of any restoration budget. Disproportionate at these sums? Very wealthy may not care.

I have an original British road test report official reprint of a very well known RHD 911m. One of first handful RHD in England. Press demonstrator that was campaigned by Elford and Faure etc. Report dated end of 1966 shows these seats:
IMG_6423.jpg
However the writer makes mention of possibility of more supportive seats and other tweaks:
IMG_6424.jpg

I am fortunate to have an original of the accessories list that the road tested refers to in the piece — how many of these survive as wouldn’t have been many such lists produced for British market in the first place ? Here in England the sole importer had the options typed with British prices. Mineographed on the distinctive old size imperial foolscap size paper. It shows options with £:s:d some annotated to show what was standard on S — might just be a subset of popular options I suppose others might’ve been available by request.

From a a different road test this is photo of new RHD 911S —doesn’t look like sports seats were standard here. The source is official reprint by importer of road test of their demo 911S also published late 1966 but covering a new model:
IMG_6421.jpg
IMG_6420.jpg
In the British market late in calendar 66 a 911S MY 67 was priced £3556 9s 5d old money including taxes. The car as tested was fitted with seatbelts an extra price option.

Sports seats are not listed as an option according to my original British importers accessories price one pager — list is dated August 1966. I suppose that was applicable list here in England for the 67 model year 911.

However list does show the front seats (doesn’t specify comfort or sport but presumably the former ) could be ordered as an option trimmed in real leather for an additional £50. Sports seats not being promoted as an option here at that time but leather, lap/diagonal seatbelts and headrests were? Seating not forefront despite seating not a feature despite local boy Elford’s famously pioneering efforts pushing Porsche to take 911 rallying and using one of these importers demo cars in racing — the U.K. was hardly seeing potential of relatively new 911 in motorsport.

Headrest both in standard and in real leather were also available as a different option in that same list. The safety value of headrests wasn’t understood . Not helped by the misleading term headrest.
(Even by model year 73 headrests were optional paid for extra in U.K. and an extra £25. I know original TES and RS today that didn’t/ didn’t have them specified even in Recaro sports seats. Blanking plates remain).

The O-series 911S pulled a measured 0.78g and the one inch wider rims in July 1967 raised it a smidge to 0.785g on the 911S.

Perhaps more comfort and support for some (less lardy-ass?) drivers and maybe other benefits of more secure location in combination with seatbelts or or harness. However orvacky didn’t sleep down Quick Vic. Also according to numbers a 67 911S running on the rims and rubber of that era was not generating that much force. More modern rubber on a well set up car might improve those figures if driver is capable.

For comparison from a respected reference by end of the long-hood era the 911S was 0.897g and the lighter RS 0.912g — same as the new turbo. Over the approx 10year development 63-73 the cornering of the early 911 increased: 0.774g to 0.912 about 18 percent grip; cornering speed 8.5 percent. Low by todays modern standards of course.

Some owners will simply like the more sporty look so pay more for that along with a premium any perceived rarity factor. Suspect Peckham London-born Vic Elford who won the European Rally Championship and the 2-litre class in the British Saloon Car Championship in 1967 both in 911s would've been more concerned about the lack of a cigarette lighter in his car than the lack of Sports seats. Who needs poncy sports seats or a roll cage

IMG_6426.jpg
Steve