Bucket Seat installation

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JungleGus
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Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:24 pm

I'm going to be attempting a rebuild on the E30 sports seats as mine need a bit of love...I am also toying with the idea of having 1 or 2 bucket seats as an option also (Cobra Imola GT or Nogaro seem like good options).

I have the garagistic mounting plates that I've had sitting in the cupboard for years...and while I figure installation with side brackets would be easy enough, obviously that causes issues with access to the rear. Has anyone installed fixed back seats with some sort of slider that's managed to maintain access to the back seats? I use mine enough that not having access would be a PITA. I have recollections of the level of faff involved when I made my own brackets years and years ago and not super keen to go down that path again.

While I likely won't go down the expense of having them recovered (although I'd miss the Indigo leather greatly) - if I could get a nice installation that was road usable I could be pretty tempted
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flybynite
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Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:59 pm

I have had quite a few 2-door cars with bucket seats back in the day (mainly Escorts) and still have my Corbeau Monza kevlars somewhere :?

Most of the subframes hinged at the front or pivoted on the front bolt. The back was locked down by anything from a lever released locking mechanism to a long screwdriver. :D

I think you will find if you slide it forward it won't be enough, it needs to tip
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Satan
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Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:34 pm

flybynite wrote:
Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:59 pm
I have had quite a few 2-door cars with bucket seats back in the day (mainly Escorts) and still have my Corbeau Monza kevlars somewhere :?

Most of the subframes hinged at the front or pivoted on the front bolt. The back was locked down by anything from a lever released locking mechanism to a long screwdriver. :D

I think you will find if you slide it forward it won't be enough, it needs to tip
I have a pair of errrr padded Corbeau's in the Lotus and my first car was a poverty spec Escort 1100 Coupe........
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Lemon98
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Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:00 am

This is the one positive of having a 4 door hahaha
1990 4-door 320i SE
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Satan
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Sun Nov 01, 2020 8:19 pm

Lemon98 wrote:
Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:00 am
This is the one positive of having a 4 door hahaha
If you keep repeating that quote you'll eventually believe yourself........ ;o)))))
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Brianmoooore
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Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:32 pm

There are many advantages of a four door over a two door. Visually better proportioned is another one.
Five doors, even better!
Don't forget, the only reason the 'sport' was introduced was to stimulate flagging two door sales.
minesapint
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Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:51 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:32 pm
There are many advantages of a four door over a two door. Visually better proportioned is another one.
Not if it’s a Cab.
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Lemon98
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Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:49 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:32 pm
There are many advantages of a four door over a two door. Visually better proportioned is another one.
Five doors, even better!
Don't forget, the only reason the 'sport' was introduced was to stimulate flagging two door sales.
Ahh, a man of taste
1990 4-door 320i SE
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ChrisHC
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Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:27 pm

You might regret installing different seats when the time comes to sell the car, while values of E30s have been climbing rather happily, buyers always look for originality.
JungleGus
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Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:28 pm

Selling isn't really an issue, plus I'll be keeping the originals
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