Seat height per model

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David Aronson
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Seat height per model

#1 Post by David Aronson »

I have finished my project (61 Karmann Hardtop). I had Autos International completely remake my seats. I think they are too high. Much higher that they were originally. Are the bottom seat surfaces
higher in coupes than in cabriolets? I have put 200 miles on the restored car, running good but my head is hitting the headliner and my legs barely clear the steering wheel. Yea, I am older and larger than I
was back in the sixties when this car was new to me. But not that bigger.
61 Karmann Notchback 200831
67 Karman 912 461567
74 911 Targa (3.0 SC motor)
83 911SC (Concours award winner, still)
95 993
09 Carrera S
69 Triumph TR6, 2004 BMW K1200GT, 2012 R1200RT, 2013 MOTO GUZI V7 RACER
64 VW coupe
Vacaville Ca.

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Seat height per model

#2 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

No, the seats sit at the same height, coupe -cab-hardtop. Perhaps the seats were redone with too much support in the seat bottom, that is the most common cause of this but AI is really good and does not typically make that mistake.

The other possibility is that, even back in the day, the seat bottom springs were weak, worn and did not give the correct amount of support but that is how you remember them to be and many years later they were redone correctly but now feel "too" firm and you sit "too" high?
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Seat height per model

#3 Post by Mike Wilson »

I was thinking along the same lines. The seat padding was older and had degraded. That said, if new materials were used, the seat bottom may be higher.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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Harlan Halsey
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Re: Seat height per model

#4 Post by Harlan Halsey »

My new Autos seats are higher and firmer than my 50,000 mile McKenna seats. The older Seats are more comfortable and a little lower. I have thought of asking Autos if they can simulate my older seats but haven't done so yet.

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Mark Roth
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Re: Seat height per model

#5 Post by Mark Roth »

I sat on AI seats years ago. Maybe 20 or more. Although they looked perfect, I felt that they were way too firm. Very little give. My seats were were done by the late Howard Cox who retained the give in the springs. Someone once told me that AI stuffs the old springs with foam to give them shape. I have no idea but that one experience put me off. Maybe that was a one off but the degree of “give” should be considered if one is discussing rebuilding seats.
Mark Roth
65 C Cab (Black/black)

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Seat height per model

#6 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Mark Roth wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:44 am I sat on AI seats years ago. Maybe 20 or more. Although they looked perfect, I felt that they were way too firm. Very little give. My seats were were done by the late Howard Cox who retained the give in the springs. Someone once told me that AI stuffs the old springs with foam to give them shape. I have no idea but that one experience put me off. Maybe that was a one off but the degree of “give” should be considered if one is discussing rebuilding seats.
But that still makes me wonder how they were originally, not after years of sitting on them when they get "saggy".

I would love to hear from an original owner or someone who remembers them back in the day.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Seat height per model

#7 Post by Mike Wilson »

Good point, Adam. I've disassembled several originals seats and there were no foam blocks in the springs but rather padding in the corners. The springs had more " give" and "horsehair" was used rather than pre-formed foam.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Seat height per model

#8 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Mike Wilson wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:10 pm Good point, Adam.
LOL, I know we both live in those square fly-over states but it's pretty easy to tell us apart, he has a mullet and I am completely grey now!
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Bruce Smith
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Re: Seat height per model

#9 Post by Bruce Smith »

My '63 T6 coupe has original seats that are in very good condition, probably only slightly less firm that when new. I installed AI restored seats in my '60 T5 cabriolet last year. Yes, they are a bit firmer that the T6 coupe seats, but not by much. And the ride height is nearly the same. This, in spite of the differences between 'early' and 'late' seat style and mounting. I'm 6'2" and both at are a comfortable height.
Bruce Smith

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Seat height per model

#10 Post by Mike Wilson »

Adam, sometimes I live in the State of Confusion!

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
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Jim Liberty
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Re: Seat height per model

#11 Post by Jim Liberty »

Mike, I was born in that state, and still live here. I put Fiber Steel GT seats in all my drivers. Nothing beats them for long trips, and driver position. ............Jim.
Jim Liberty

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Jules Dielen
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Re: Seat height per model

#12 Post by Jules Dielen »

Autobahn did mine in my D and stuffed every single spring with a dense foam even though i requested them not to do that. Many restoration shops apparently do this to compensate for 'tired' springs. I ended up redoing the newly restored seats (and many other thinga they did wrong including replacing their brand new top and door panels) at another shop and was very happy after that ordeal was over.

Tried 'speedster seats' but they do not work for me, my legs cramp up after a bit of driving.
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Seat height per model

#13 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Jules Dielen wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:04 pm Autobahn did mine in my D and stuffed every single spring with a dense foam even though i requested them not to do that. Many restoration shops apparently do this to compensate for 'tired' springs. I ended up redoing the newly restored seats (and many other thinga they did wrong including replacing their brand new top and door panels) at another shop and was very happy after that ordeal was over.

Tried 'speedster seats' but they do not work for me, my legs cramp up after a bit of driving.
Jules,

Was it Autobahn Interiors, as you stated, or was it Autos International that did your seats? Autobahn is the company of an ex-Auto's International employee. David's were done by Auto's International and I have not heard of their seats being overly firm.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Seat height per model

#14 Post by Mike Wilson »

Autos International did my seats and they are not overly firm. As we know, you sit in a Porsche seat, not on it.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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Jules Dielen
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Re: Seat height per model

#15 Post by Jules Dielen »

Ah, thanks Sebastian. Mine were done by Autobahn, not Auto's. Autos does great work, I should have used them in the first place.
Last edited by Jules Dielen on Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

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