Seating positions
Discussion
But which do you prefer ?
On my 420 SEAC, the seats are a different design than the 280i. In the SEAC, I sit lower and catch a noticeably worse glare from the windscreen - but some of that glare may be the dash pad color scheme. My SEAC has the later, restyled console and seats with the pivoting headrest. Not sure which seats the 450 SE was fitted with.
I feel that the sight lines in the 280i are a little better - the SEAC's huge tail is always lurking in the side pod mirrors. The naked 280i rear deck, and the higher seating position, give me a better overall effect. Both are quite comfortable though.
On my 420 SEAC, the seats are a different design than the 280i. In the SEAC, I sit lower and catch a noticeably worse glare from the windscreen - but some of that glare may be the dash pad color scheme. My SEAC has the later, restyled console and seats with the pivoting headrest. Not sure which seats the 450 SE was fitted with.
I feel that the sight lines in the 280i are a little better - the SEAC's huge tail is always lurking in the side pod mirrors. The naked 280i rear deck, and the higher seating position, give me a better overall effect. Both are quite comfortable though.
Early Tasmins had an exhaust box under the seat (very early cars had nothing but black paint to dissipate heat! and you could smell the FG getting hot!!!later cars with the same exhaust had asbestos sheet as an upgrade, mine had it added!) and the floor had a Vinyl trimmed card covering under the seat and this reflects in the angle of the seat...I now have very late 280i with SEAC interior, that has the low centre and flat floor, BUT with earlier seats (so not 400 seat) and this is packed up on spacers (1/2" rear and 3" front) to 'mimic' earlier floor pan version. Seat that are fitted to the 280-350 are all the same (as in the foams are the same with slight mech differences) the 400 seats are 1. 1/2" inches longer in the base. A@
Over the years I have seen discussions about fiddling with the seats for longer-legged owners, it may be that your car had had it tweaked. Try sitting in the passenger side does that seem the same? Less likely anyone would fiddle with that. Also the seat on the passenger side is generally in better nick.
I am 6ft 4" and I am dropping the drivers rear to the floor and replacing the fronts with 2" which is what the passenger side is ...I too am presuming that those have never been changed and I fit in the passenger side fine. I have added, inside and outside, S/S 3 x 3" cropped and shaped to the convolutions of the ribbed floor. Adrian@
I'm a short arse and in the 450 with its lower seating position and saggy seat, plus the bonnet aero lip, I can't see the end of the nose!
I had the 280 seats, carpet and everything else out of it when I restored it so I know it's not been made artificially higher. Also had those seats professionally rebuilt so that's probably what has to happen with the 450 seats. Prefer the 280 seats due to the refurb, they feel like a new car even though they were done over a decade ago.
I had the 280 seats, carpet and everything else out of it when I restored it so I know it's not been made artificially higher. Also had those seats professionally rebuilt so that's probably what has to happen with the 450 seats. Prefer the 280 seats due to the refurb, they feel like a new car even though they were done over a decade ago.
The 450SE seats are similar to the SEAC which were from a Montego turbo IIRC...Its eye opening the changes to the foams went through compared to the frame...I think the 350i seat frame is the same as used in the Griffith and Chimaera...Adrian?......
Most foam will of sagged over the years...you can re-constitute it somewhat but heavy use will put it back again..Funny thing is im 5.8 and when I sat in a 450SE compared to the 350i I too couldn't see the rake of the bonnet ...when I fitted the Nissan seats in the 280i it felt like I was driving a van and I used to think my head would hit the Targa...although that was not on much...
With the Griff seats in the 350i they bring you up a little bit higher and thats without the risers...have you tried cushion and platform shoes...
Most foam will of sagged over the years...you can re-constitute it somewhat but heavy use will put it back again..Funny thing is im 5.8 and when I sat in a 450SE compared to the 350i I too couldn't see the rake of the bonnet ...when I fitted the Nissan seats in the 280i it felt like I was driving a van and I used to think my head would hit the Targa...although that was not on much...
With the Griff seats in the 350i they bring you up a little bit higher and thats without the risers...have you tried cushion and platform shoes...
Did some measuring. Straight edge across the transmission tunnel then measured distance to lowest part of drivers seat cushion - and the 280 seat is actually lower than the 450... But the front edge of the bolster of the 450 seats are almost up to the vinyl on the trans tunnel whereas the 280s are well below it. Means to me that the seat base it tilted back in the 450.
Weekend's coming so I might be having a very close look under the 450 seats...
Cushion: my Mum is 5' and shrinking fast. She has a cushion in her Merc and when I drive it even I bang my head on the roof if I don't remove it!
Weekend's coming so I might be having a very close look under the 450 seats...
Cushion: my Mum is 5' and shrinking fast. She has a cushion in her Merc and when I drive it even I bang my head on the roof if I don't remove it!
Adrian@ said:
Ziga, the lower frame on the Griffith is 1" longer BUT the whole rear upright frame changes to square section (the mech must change in 84 ish) I did post on the wire base frame here...https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=8&t=1787729 (copy and paste the link)
A@
Thanks Adrian...that is definitely something worth doing...A@
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