Miata (MX5) Seats in TR2-3B

[Dan2]

I am planning to install Mazdz Miata (MX5) seats in my project TR2. Saw an install in Roger Williams book on how it Improve Triumph TR2-4A on page137 and he gives credit to one Trevor Gilks who I am assuming may be a TR Register member. Have been hoping to be able to contact him and determin the details of how he accomplished this feat! Or---perhaps there is someone else out there in TR land who has attempted this swap. I would be most grateful if you would reply to this post whith any information you can share.

Thanks, Dan2

[Louis Metelko]

Roger Williams has done more damage to the classic side screen cars than even he recognizes. The very thought of installing Mazda high back seats in a TR2 is pretty disgusting.

 

Lou Metelko

Auburn, Indiana

54 TR2LD

[jean]

Miata seats in a TR4-6 might be acceptable but in a sidescreen car it's an overkill. Would prefer to see some period looking sports seats. As my car had no seats when purchased it, I fitted a pair of secondhand Lancia rally seats, I think they came from a Stratos. They make " boarding " a little difficult with top on, but they seat great.

Spent 14 hours in them on The M5 two years ago , was quite a good test

[dykins]

I fitted a pair of secondhand Lancia rally seats, I think they came from a Stratos.

 

Jean

 

I don't suppose you were lucky enough to have the remainder of the Stratos offered to you at the same time??

 

Regards

 

Peter

[G.Guiot]

I am planning to install Mazdz Miata (MX5) seats in my project TR2. Saw an install in Roger Williams book on how it Improve Triumph TR2-4A on page137 and he gives credit to one Trevor Gilks who I am assuming may be a TR Register member. Have been hoping to be able to contact him and determin the details of how he accomplished this feat! Or---perhaps there is someone else out there in TR land who has attempted this swap. I would be most grateful if you would reply to this post whith any information you can share.

Thanks, Dan2

 

Hello,

I think it is easier to buy a set of COBRA CUB seats (ref ECOBCUB), they fit PERFECTLY to the TR2/3. see the photo attached

Rgds

GG

PS : see this page of my site http://www.trregisterfrance.com/TR3rallye/...allye_fin1.html

[BrianC]

I don't find the standard TR3A seats particularly uncomfortable (if properly refurbished), although lateral support is poor in comparison with the Corbeau GT4 bucket seats I had in my previous TR3A. My only concern is the lack of head restraints and I suspect this may be a factor for some in choosing MX5 or similar high-back seats.

 

Personally, I'd rather keep the original seats and fit removable head restraints. These used to be quite common in the 60s/70s, but have presumably been forced out by H&S laws and the fact that all new cars have head restraints built in as standard. I know Pilkie was lucky enough to find some (although not the design I was thinking of), but they are extremely rare. Anyone got a pair lurking in a dusty corner of the garage?

[Trevor S]

Can I ask those who have fitted alternative seats such as Corbeau or Cobra what sort of seat runners they used ? My TR2 came with no seats and I have purchased a pair of new seats from a supplier in Belgium for less than the standard vinyl seat covers costs on their own. I think they are Corbeau but look like the ones photographed above, so could be Cobra. The reason I ask is that I have had a trial fit, placing the seats on early TR4 separate runners in the car and the seat seems possibly a bit high for me being 6 feet tall. Final fit may prove different...I hope. The TR4 runners are not very high and not as high as the "standard" new runners I bought with the seats. Obviously I don't really want to bolt the seats straight to the floor pans without runners, particularly as my wife intends to drive it as well.

Dan , I don't know how tall you are, but it may be worth checking into before you buy anything.

Any thoughts welcomed.

[BrianC]

Can I ask those who have fitted alternative seats such as Corbeau or Cobra what sort of seat runners they used ?

These Corbeau Retro GT4 Seats are the modern equivalent of the seats I fitted in my previous TR3A and appear virtually unchanged. They only just fitted and I bolted them directly to the floor without runners, probably because there was very little room to adjust them anyway and also to keep the seat back below the tonneau level.

[jean]

Adjustment was an issue for me as I' m not very tall From person having fitted alternative seats in a 3A body I noticed that they allowed for almost no forward travel. Compared to newer BF Torino seats, having the same layout, mine are much narrower and so they gave me a rather good seating position in relation to pedal/steering wheel

The seats in the 3A are mounted on TR6 rails, a left-over when I fitted Recaro seats in the 6, what took place as early as 1975