Spitfire FYI - Miata seats in a Spitfire 1500

[t8nwa]

Well, the seats are in and I thought someone might like my learnings on the fit and finish.

- they do fit with some modifications to the miata railings.
- the rails are NOT the same between the driver and passenger sides on the miata seats. You have to fit each one individually.
- the major modifications come on the drivers front and the passenger rear.
- the miata seat bottoms sit much lower than the spitfire.
- once in, the front to back sliding travel is greatly reduced when the miata seats are in the spit because of the above. expect only about 1 1/2" travel.
- if you are six foot and under, the above is not an issue.
- the seats are MUCH more comfortable than the original seats.

Paul Tegler's site is great but does not tell the whole story. Anyone that wants more details, fell free to ask.

BTW - the Spit is a '79 and the seats were from a '91.

 

[tdskip]

Any pictures of the tough bits for us?

 

[t8nwa]

no, but I can put something together to show you what to do. Pictures would probably just confuse you since I had to make a few 'corrections' mid-stream.

 

[tr6_easyrider]

t8nwa, Confuse us!!!???

 

[vettedog72]

I see Miata new, leather after market seats on ebay and wonder if they would fit up. The sizes are different for some ranging from seat bottom width of 17" and length (front to back) 21" with 35" overall tall (not including the slide)

Then I see some a bit bigger with 22" wide seat bottom with over all height of 37".

I guess the real interesting part is the leather and the pair price at around $150; got to be more comfortable than my padless OEM’s.

If these will fit, I will make the change.

 

[t8nwa]

OK, I will confuse you soon.

vettedog, I saw those seats too on ebay. I went with the Miata seats because I knew someone else had used them before. Miata cloth seats are going to be ~$150 and leather for $250 and up.

The real trick with the Triumph is not really the width as the Miata seats have plenty of side to side room at the top of the seat bottom. It is the bottom of the seat bottom that is the problem. It is REALLY narrow in the back where the seat pan forms around the wishbone in the frame. This really pushes the seats outward (even with a good amount of hacking of the rails). Almost to the point of making them not fit. The plastic hinge cover on the miata seats hits the door seal as you slide backwards.

If the ebay seats were on tall rails, they probably would work. However, all the pictures of the rails seem to show short little rails that are maybe an inch tall. I do not think these would work.

hope this helps.