What aftermarket seats will fit into my '81 Spider>

[sjwcougs]

I'm curious if there are any other seats that I could just bolt into the current patterns. I've read some modifications with honda seats. Any suggestions? I have the seats yanked out of the car and removed the original covering, but this is turning into a very expensive and timely project. I would like to maintain the stock appearance, but damn $$$

Steven
1981 Spider

[pope]

Hi
I there something wrong with actual frame of the seat, or is the vinyl just ripped.
This site sells seats reasonably, http://www.worlduph.com/fiat1.htm#SEAT

Maybe they will sell just the front seat covers?

[sjwcougs]

They frames seem to be fine. I have talked to the folks at world upholstery. Their price seems reasonable, but the install process sounds VERY tedious and may not work well if I do it on my own. The folks at worlduph.com were very forthcoming about the install not being too easy and not looking nice if not properly

[So Cal Mark]

any aftermarket seats will need some sort of fabrication to fit the mounts, but prices of seats these days is pretty reasonable. You'll lose that stock look though

[ga.spyder]

I have read some posts lately ,on this site re. using Mazda Miata and BMW E30 seats. This is the next area on my car to be taken care of ,but its gonna be a while.Maybe when 'W' sends my check....
Craig

[sjwcougs]

I bit the bullet! I ordered the complete set from world upholstery today for $399. Shipping out tomorrow. I found an upholstery guy who would do it for 150. I may try myself and if it starts look like crap just let him do it. Some people trying to get me for 200-250 per seat! Crazy.

[pope]

I thought you would come to your senses. Take some pics of the finished seats and if you are gonna try it yourself, tell us how its going.

[So Cal Mark]

Here are some pix of a seat I'm now carrying




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[spiderrey]

mark just got some seats, he hasnt installed them yet. i brought one home and threw it in my car, i like it and will be getting a set. they are a tight fit in my x though. the belts will need to be reworked.

[mbouse]

$150 is a very reasonable sum for hiring this work out. Make sure you are nice to that upholsterer, cuz you are gonna wanna talk to him about redoing your door panels, and rear quarter panels as soon as you see how they look compared to your new seat covers.

then...you'll be looking at your dingy seat belts....

yeah! an upholsterer is a good guy to have around. you did well at that price.

[sjwcougs]

Yes, you're probably right. I seem to get get A LOT of projects going at once. The seat belts are cleaning up OK. I have soaked them in hot water with some laundry detergent and scrubbed a bit. The rear quarter and door panels actually look beautiful. They cleaned up extremely well and are almost perfect. I'm sure there is going to be some color variance, but that is what it is. There was a lot more color variance when the seats had duct tape and one had sheep skin on it.