Newer Caterham 7 seats into an 80s Caterham?
Discussion
Never got to own a Caterham while I lived in the UK but now that I live in the sunny corner of the US of A I suddenly have a chance to buy a RHD '84 Caterham 7 with a freshly rebuilt engine for not much more than the engine rebuild. Well, it was a rather expensive engine rebuild...
The only problem is that it's got the old style bench seat and that just doesn't work for me. I need more support than 4" of air under my thighs as I've got iffy knees. The same seller also has an early 2000s Caterham with the later, much more supportive seats that's a much better fit for me but not necessarily my wallet. That had me thinking - is it possible to fit the newer style seats into the older chassis without too much fuss and still fit into the car?
Of course another option is to get Tillet seats, but that would be more of a last resort option.
The only problem is that it's got the old style bench seat and that just doesn't work for me. I need more support than 4" of air under my thighs as I've got iffy knees. The same seller also has an early 2000s Caterham with the later, much more supportive seats that's a much better fit for me but not necessarily my wallet. That had me thinking - is it possible to fit the newer style seats into the older chassis without too much fuss and still fit into the car?
Of course another option is to get Tillet seats, but that would be more of a last resort option.
Thanks. The seller is a local-ish Lotus specialist with a shop full of Caterhams and he's pretty sure it's a long cockpit one. I'll check the chassis number if I go down there again.
It's a little weird, the cockpit feels a little shorter than in the 2001 I also tried for size, but not massively so. Of course the 2001 has the newer seats so that makes a difference.
It's a little weird, the cockpit feels a little shorter than in the 2001 I also tried for size, but not massively so. Of course the 2001 has the newer seats so that makes a difference.
Thanks for all the answers.
My research suggests that long cockpit became an option in 1981, which would make a 1984 long cockpit reasonable.
Those Cobra seats aren't a bad idea if I can get them over here. Another option I hadn't thought of before is to have a local upholsterer re-create the seat cushion in a way that fits me better. That should at least be cheaper than springing for something like a Tillet.
My research suggests that long cockpit became an option in 1981, which would make a 1984 long cockpit reasonable.
Those Cobra seats aren't a bad idea if I can get them over here. Another option I hadn't thought of before is to have a local upholsterer re-create the seat cushion in a way that fits me better. That should at least be cheaper than springing for something like a Tillet.
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