Seats, What to Consider

[Brett Proctor]

After trying out various types of seats and some that had all the bells a whistles this is what I found.
All these features sounded good at the time but later I found that they aren't really needed.

Seat tracks
once you get the seat in the position that works for you, they're no longer needed. Loose them and gain more head room
Passenger side doesn't need them.

Recline option
Again once you are comfortable with the angle, the feature is no longer needed.

Head rest
Angle of the head rest is a major thing to consider. Most seats have the driver in an upright position but when leaned back and installed in a Sterling they don't support your head anymore. Very uncomfortable and a strain on your head.

One feature that I like about the Modified Corvette seat that I use a lot is the feature that you can unlock the back rest and lean it forward so you have easy access to the area behind the seat.
I didn't really think about that feature, but it is used more than any of the other features.

 

[Sixbuilds]

to be honest with the limited space and adjustability. you were right as far as calling a seat rail and recline features unnecessary so your better off with a racing bucket seat this not only eliminates unnecessary functions and save weights but it also gives you more head room do to the seat it self being lower and more room in general due to it being thinner. you can go with any basic bucket seats such as nrg ect but in my case since ive been pretty much reengineering everything from the ground up including making a full interior i went with a set from this company because it better suits my interior design and over all general car needs and function but they are a bit pricy. ( https://kevmannz.com/honeycomb-carbon-fiber-seat-gt-max-series-with-orange-alcantara-padding/ )

 

[Brett Proctor]

You sure that seat will fit???
I couldn't find any dimensions on it

Looks like it doesn't lean back far enough also

 

[Brett Proctor]

so your better off with a racing bucket seat this not only eliminates unnecessary functions and save weights but it also gives you more head room do to the seat it self being lower and more room in general due to it being thinner.

If your set on getting these I would contact the manufacturer first and get the dimensions for those seats.
I searched for dimensions and couldn't find any anywhere. Even on the manufacturers site. Thats the first manufacturer that sized a seat buy the size of your butt (waist)
Just about all the racing seats that I've seen will not fit the Sterling. Sparco made a seat that would fit but it wasn't angled back enough. It had a tube frame so it was easy to modify and get the desired recline position.
I went through a lot of seats and money researching seats that will fit.

Just trying to help.

 

[farfegnubbin]

Because of the unique shape of the Sterling cabin I’ve never been able to make seats fit that have wide wings at the shoulders. For my Sterling the seat has to be unusually narrow at the hips with unusually thin padding under the butt, reclinable (and/or fixed at the correct, fairly reclined angle,) narrow at the shoulders and with a headrest that is fairly plush and which angles forward quite a bit… which is constant with what Brett said.

 

[rickjames8]

There is a serious lack of used car parts in France, at least for custom builds. I'm hoping to find a set of MG-F or MG-TF seats. But I've also wondered if you could use a 'gamer chair' and take off the base and arm rests. If you look on Amazon, most of those look really comfy, they have the right shape, they'd be narrow enough to fit, and they're designed to be sat in comfortably for hours. And at ~$100 each, they're less than half the price of racing seats (which are very hard to find in France).

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gamer+chair

It's crazy, but could it work?

 

[farfegnubbin]

Not a totally crazy idea! I’d say it is inexpensive enough to give it a try.

 

[Brett Proctor]

I think nbb350 got one of those and it didn't fit, but I don't know which one.
If it doesn't fit at least you'll have a cool looking computer chair, so its a win win any way you look at it.

 

[nbb350]

Yup! I bought one and the base was about 2" too wide for my dropped pans. The dims they gave in the listing (no longer valid) (and which I emailed to confirm - ha!) were actually for the TOP of the seat - the area between the "side bolsters". So, yeah, I got a new computer chair instead...
In theory it would work - IF you can find a chair narrow enough. The hard part is finding accurate dimensions without spending $$$ to find out the listing was wrong.

My current plan is to copy Brett and narrow some C4 seats (already bought them) and then put on new replacement covers. I originally narrowed some 90s bucket seats, but while they Function fine, they were BLUE, so the seat covers I put on are baggy (since the seats are narrowed) and look like crap. Long term I'll try the C4 seats - haven't decided on whether to install seat tracks or not...I'm 6'-3", so every inch of headroom matters to me! lol

 

[farfegnubbin]

I’m 6’2” and agreeing heavily with you.

 

[rickjames8]

Thanks nbb! I have a lead on some fiberglass bucket seats for €150 for the pair. Typical marketplace seller isn't replying though. Another thought I had was to use seats from the 3rd row of an SUV. They're super thin, look narrow enough, have an OEM look, and I can usually find a fair few for sale on Marketplace. These ones are out of a Peugeot 308 wagon (aka 308SW). Thoughts?

 

[farfegnubbin]

My thoughts are that that sounds like a clever option to pursue. I like it. Let us know how they fit and feel.

 

[sector]

I looked at few as well but most had thick seat cushion which would limit the headroom.

 

[Brett Proctor]

I looked at few as well but most had thick seat cushion which would limit the headroom.

Cut,- trim -modify

My thoughts would be is the back rest lean angle right for these cars. If it does fit and the seat foam can be thinned out can the back rest lean angle be modified so your comfortable sitting in these cars.
Never looked at one up-close so I wont be of any help.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Just did a search for seats. Shipping is around $250 - $300 each

Don't know if you buy them here, and if the business has to get them elsewhere, will the shipping costs be the same and then passed onto the customer or will there be no shipping costs passed on to the customer.

Pick a part yards are looking better all the time for parts. (depends on what the part is of course)