Are all 996/997 GT2 & GT3's two seaters?

[mondie]

I have noticed some have scaffolding but not all, was there ever an option for the rear seats to be installed ex factory or were they deleted as a weight saving measure? Would seriously consider one or the other if l could have 4 seats. Has the aftermarket offered a rear seat option for the GT cars?

Cheers
Simon

[anonymous-user]

mondie said:

I have noticed some have scaffolding but not all, was there ever an option for the rear seats to be installed ex factory or were they deleted as a weight saving measure? Would seriously consider one or the other if l could have 4 seats. Has the aftermarket offered a rear seat option for the GT cars?

Cheers
Simon

From memory (and may not therefore be 100% correct): no factory rear seat option; after market rear seats available for 996 GT3; nor sure about 997 GT3; never heard of them for 6/7 GT2. And when fitted there is some insurance wrinkle that means you have to shop around for cover.

Someone who knows better than me will be along shortly with better info, no doubt.

[crisisjez]

The rollcages were fitted to the clubsport models and as an aftermarket to other cars too. The comfort spec came without the cage.
I am pretty sure rear seats would go straight into the (996) GT2 as they used the 4wd bodyshell so it must have the anchor points.

[RDMcG]

None to my knowledge, and no insurance if anyone sits there without seat belts. Assuming no roll cage, I would think an unofficial retrofit would be possible but seat belts a must. I have specced two GT3RS and there was definitely no option.

[mondie]

Thanks guys, so far this sounds promising. I had never considered the insurance aspect though, that could complicate things somewhat.

[crisisjez]

Just checked the logbooks for the Turbo and GT2.
Turbo deffo says 4 seats incl driver.
GT2 is blank...(ie does not say 2)

[Mermaid]

Greg66 said:

From memory (and may not therefore be 100% correct): no factory rear seat option; after market rear seats available for 996 GT3; nor sure about 997 GT3; never heard of them for 6/7 GT2.

I believe JZM Porsche Kings Langley have fitted rear seats to the 7GT3. Contact there is Steve McHale.

[Koing]

mondie said:

Thanks guys, so far this sounds promising. I had never considered the insurance aspect though, that could complicate things somewhat.

I read somewhere (sorry, would love to remember where but I can't) that the 997.1 GT3 has the anchor points or something to that affect for the retro fit. I think the 997.2 GT3 doesn't have these and you can't fit them.

Koing

[erics]

Had rear seatbelts in my 996.2 gt3 but no rear seats to spoil the looks. Insurance was fine to include four occupants. Very rarely used the rear seats though due to access with the hard back seats. You probably would not want rear occupants in case of accident with hardbacks anyway.

[Schnellmann]

A friend recently bought a 996.2 GT3 and had seat belts put in the back, but not the seat pads as the child seats fit fine without them. He specifically bought a comfort spec car with the normal sport seats (not the bucket seats). He checked with his insurance and didn't have a problem. Also didn't invalidate his OPC warranty.

[pete]

The 996 and 997.1 GT3 comfort (non-cage) versions can have rear belts and seats fitted, but not the 997.2 - it has a single-skinned floor in the rear seat area to save weight, so is mechanically weaker than the 4 seat shell used up until that point.

Seatbelts are simple, either using OEM parts, or a specialist like Quickfit SBS. Quickfit SBS even have photos of a fellow PH'er's 997.1 GT3 in their website gallery; he may be along soon to comment. I intended to do this mod to my GT3, but ended up selling before I got around to it. The only snag is that you need to cut slots in the C pillar trims, and holes in the carpet, so shopping for some secondhand Carrera 2 trim first would allow you to return the car to stock in the future.

Back seats are a bit more complex. Have a look on rennlist (I think) for the thread where someone in the US did the whole job. The main problem is the bracket which the seat backs lock on to when they're upright; all the other mounting points are there, but that bracket would have to be spot welded in to do the job properly.

Here you go, found this in my bookmarks:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/997-gt2-gt3-...

Hope that helps,
Pete

[mondie]

Thanks for all the excellent info and thread link, now l have some serious thinking to do.

Been looking at GT2/3's and getting a little excited. Love the mad looks of the 996 GT2 but they nearly all have cages and seats that wont work for rear access from what l can tell. Some of the 997 GT3's however look like they could work, a couple of examples.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3993846.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3991025.htm

However welding the brackets to the car for the rear backrests is a bit of a mod I had not counted on. i guess if l can find a reputable company to do the work then no harm will be done. What would you budget for a conversion like this including seats, belts and bracket install,, 2-4k?

Cheers
Simon

[GrahamSaunders]

I have a 997.1 GT3 with seat belts installed in the rear. THe mounting points for the belts are behind the carpet and trim, but you can buy the trim bits from the Carrera 2 to make it look neat. I had JZM do the belts with OEM parts which were reasonably priced. I think it was around £700 to £800 quid for the parts and installation and looks very good.

The seats are more tricky. I use some "Graco" booster seats with integrated backs and use a couple of cushions to make sure they are positioned correctly and this works well with my kids, although they are both pretty small for their age.

You can buy the seat bottom's which just velcro onto the carpet but these were pricey new from Porsche, around a grand I seem to recall. I didn't explore proper seat backs as this was a more extensive modification. Using the kiddies seats as I do means you can easilly remove them when you aren't lugging the familly around.

I have seem some GT2 comforts recentely with the bose stereo option which includes a sub on the rear shelf, this looks like it would provide additional support for the kids seats as it appears to extend the height of back by around 6 inches.

My kids actually prefer the kid seat arrangement as they get more lateral support and also the seats are slightly more reclined - the standard seats are rather upright. Kids seats were 150 each plus a few cushions from Dunhelm to match the interior :-)

Finally, mine is insured with Manning UK. They understood the "mod" and there was no additional charge.

My understanding is that this mod can be done with 997 Gen 1 shells as the seat belt mounting points are in the shell behind the trims. As a previous poster mentioned the Gen 2 GT3's have a single skin rear bulk head and so you would have to weld in seat belt mounts etc - not worth doing.

[DiscoColin]

mondie said:

I have noticed some have scaffolding but not all, was there ever an option for the rear seats to be installed ex factory or were they deleted as a weight saving measure?

There were a number of stories doing the rounds quite a few years ago now that several 996 GT3s left the Exclusive (Special Wish/Werk 1) department at the end of the production run fitted with rear seats but it was certainly never on the options list. To compound the situation - some 996 GT3s have 2 seats on the V5 and others have 4 (despite not actually being fitted with rear seats), but I have yet to hear anyone explain whether there is a pattern or explanation to it.

[mondie]

Appreciate the many informative responses to my original questions, thanks fellow PH'ers. I am still giving this much thought, I am comfortable with all aspects of this mod except the welding of brackets for the seat backs. If l lived near a reputable Porsche workshop then I am sure this could be handled professionally and with little fuss but being in NE Scotland (Aberdeen) my options are probably more limited. I am new here so need to see if there are any good shops around and talk this over with them.

Good to know its possible, I need to narrow down the field of 911 models and see where the GT2/3 fits with our priorities and second car duties

Cheers
Simon

[Whitean3]

There was a grey 997.1 GT3 for sale here in Switzerland a couple of months back, that came with rear seats and belts from the factory; also has a sunroof and rear spoiler delete. And yes, it was a genuine GT3!

[Jd27]

Whitean3 said:

rear spoiler delete

What is this world coming to???

[bno]

I am actually looking to buy a GT3 .1 at the moment, but have the same issues, need to take my two boys in it occasionally, I have physically seen one and it's advertised in the classifieds http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3366016.htm, it's got belts fitted and all the scuffs to the back of the painted seats to prove its been used!
Had a quote from an OPC for the parts, around £350, not fitted.

[Pugley]

The Mk1 996 GT3 has all of the bolt holes and trim to allow direct fitting of standard 996 rear inertia belts without any modification whatsoever.

I have fitted them in mine and it was dead simple - just remember to make sure the inertia reels are level when fitted in the rear wing cavity or they lock up!

Any breaker should be able to find some and they are usually in mint condition.

[Martian O]

bno said:

...2 posts in 9 years...

Top lurking!