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Mon Aug 05, 2019 3:08 pm

OK guys the search feature gives me more info than the library of congress.

I'm struggling to find a set of seats that are narrow enough for my buggy. It came with fiberglass buckets and covers and frankly they SUCK.
Given the confines of a dune buggy, What seats are you guys running and what did it take to make them fit? Please be as specific if possible
My goal is to tow this behind the rv and use it for transportation on vacations. So I'm in need of something comfortable, and I'm trying not to spend more on a pair of seats than I paid for the buggy. :)

Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:05 pm

PRP Roadster seats, Mazda Miata, Porsche 914, Toyota MR2 are just a few of the seats I heard of that fit between the tunnel and side of the body.
There are more and I sure someone else will post what they have or know of.

In my own buggy I am using PRP Daily Drivers

Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:13 pm

Polaris RZR seats
seen lots on here with them as well as my own. also head that new slingshot seats work

Tue Aug 06, 2019 7:37 am

i used prp roadsters

Tue Aug 06, 2019 8:25 am

Hi All!!

I'm looking to keep our Manx as a Survivor. I don't want fancy high back bucket seats.
What seats were used back in the 60's when these buggies were being built?

We have no plans for long distance driving, but would like something fairly comfortable.

Also who makes the back seats for buggies? Mine came with plywood wrapped with canvas. Looks horrible!

Thanks!

Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:34 am

Most buggies were built with factory VW seats. As for the back seat, you got what most did and still do, Plywood covered in fabric. Fit and finish is determined by the builder or upholstery shop.

brad

Tue Aug 06, 2019 12:35 pm

mark.konney@alliedprintin wrote: Hi All!!

I'm looking to keep our Manx as a Survivor. I don't want fancy high back bucket seats.
What seats were used back in the 60's when these buggies were being built?

We have no plans for long distance driving, but would like something fairly comfortable.

Also who makes the back seats for buggies? Mine came with plywood wrapped with canvas. Looks horrible!

Thanks!
Some used 50s-mid 60s sports car seats ... like TR6 or Bugeye Sprite. Probably difficult to find originals now, but do an internet search for "Empi roadster seat" for a similar looking modern seat.

Tue Aug 06, 2019 1:14 pm

I got these out of a Chevy cavalier from the junk yard for about $20. Bolted right to the floor and they are very comfortable. With the sides of my dune runner being so low, the side bolsters are a little bigger and keep me in place.

Tue Aug 06, 2019 1:32 pm

Google Empi 62-2820 seats. They are 19" wide, and have a nice look to them. I think you can get either vinyl or cloth for the seating area. I have vinyl, because my buggy sits outside and sometimes gets rained on. Cloth is probably more comfortable.

Tue Aug 06, 2019 2:17 pm

Manx used seats from a FF Cobra kit car. Deserter used some generic racing seats.

If I were to do it again I would go with something like these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RETRO-CLASSIC-VINTAGE-RAC...SwyApcJsvK

Wed Aug 07, 2019 6:49 am

What's the look you are going for..I have modern seats from a Polaris slingshot very comfortable and adjustable.

Wed Aug 07, 2019 7:00 am

pro also makes a low back roadster

https://www.prpseats.com/product/roadster-lowback/

Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:46 am

The problem I have with most of the bucket seats are, well, simply put, I'm fat. My big ole butt aint going to squeeze into a slot that is only 19 inches wide. I'm going to need a pair of seats to sit on, not in. I was looking at RZR seats but I havn't found a local pair to sit in first. I know of a nice pair of Miata seats, but I don't know what it takes to install them.

Wed Aug 07, 2019 3:24 pm

I have the Cavalier seats and some out of a small Toyota car.
First time I removed the VW seat brackets on the floor and used the Cavalier sliders. Made some brackets and mounted to the floor.

Next buggy I kept the VW sliders and attached the Toyota seats to them.
Both seat pairs are a tight fit.

No right way or wrong way to do it. Just worked with what we had.

The size of your butt will be another problem.

Get the Miata seats. They are popular with buggy builders. Once you have them you can figure out the mounting .

Wed Aug 07, 2019 4:15 pm

The miata seats bolt up with the original tracks to a 1 inch by 1 inch block in the back under each corner,steel or whatever.Then I used 2x2 blocks in the front so that the seat had that natural angle(back of seat lower then the front).Then I thru bolted it all to the floor.I am a bigger guy(I love pizza) And they r very comfy.Plus I have speakers in my headrests.I think that was the easy way to mount them.i also was able to use the original seat belt that was attached to the seats (shoulder harness belts).Then I attached the other part of seat belt to the roll bar......I am sure theres other ways but this was down and dirty easy way until an upgrade for me...….Sean

Wed Aug 07, 2019 4:28 pm

I also used a long flat steel plate underneath the buggy.Going from 1 bolt to the other bolt with holes drilled in it (looked like a steel ruler). Put that plate over the bolts then put the nuts/washers on.I did that so my ass doesn't rip the bolts out in a small accident etc.just a little safer.my stock pan is paper thin.Hope that helps.I was worried about it until I got the seats.It went easy.Like I said down and dirty way........Sean

Thu Aug 08, 2019 4:39 am

62kellison wrote: I also used a long flat steel plate underneath the buggy.Going from 1 bolt to the other bolt with holes drilled in it (looked like a steel ruler). Put that plate over the bolts then put the nuts/washers on.I did that so my ass doesn't rip the bolts out in a small accident etc.just a little safer.my stock pan is paper thin.Hope that helps.I was worried about it until I got the seats.It went easy.Like I said down and dirty way........Sean

Thanks a million, That's what I was looking for.

Thu Aug 08, 2019 5:09 am

solo318i,no problem.One last thing I forgot to tell u.I believe the back holes on the seat sliders are angled down a little.So u just take a wrench or a hammer and bend them a little.Get them straight out to fit flat on the blocks.Its really easy.they bend really easy.....Sean

Thu Aug 08, 2019 6:09 am

solo318i wrote: 62kellison wrote: I also used a long flat steel plate underneath the buggy.Going from 1 bolt to the other bolt with holes drilled in it (looked like a steel ruler). Put that plate over the bolts then put the nuts/washers on.I did that so my ass doesn't rip the bolts out in a small accident etc.just a little safer.my stock pan is paper thin.Hope that helps.I was worried about it until I got the seats.It went easy.Like I said down and dirty way........Sean

Thanks a million, That's what I was looking for.

I did almost same thing, used a piece of 1-1/2 X 1/8 flat stock long enough to span pan (tunnel to outside edge) and tack welded them in place just to hold them during assembly... Made one for front and one for rear for each set of seat bolts...

IF not a piece of bar stock at least some thick "fender washers"....

Dale

Thu Aug 08, 2019 2:10 pm

go to summit racing
https://www.summitracing.com
and search seats I got a pair of seats with pads for 149.99
put them is the buggy i just sold