Anyone tried Tillet B5 seats in a Chim?

[Pupp]

My seats came out out in (many) crumbly pieces whilst stripping out to facilitate a body off.

More supportive seats have long been on the list and the B5 Tillet seems a good bet (don’t give a stuff about originality on this car). Anyone done this or even measured up?

[phillpot]

More track day than touring

[magpies]

I have a pair of Lotus Elise seats in my TVR S1 - very comfortable / light / little padding - driven to Le Mans and may other destinations 100's of miles from home. The Tillet ones look similar

[Pupp]

Think the Tillets were originally designed as an Elise/Exige replacement… they can be upholstered to a degree but still pretty minimal. Going to have a measure up this evening

[QBee]

I did try some Tillett seats when looking for track day seats,
My boney arse must be the problem, because I found them achingly uncomfortable.
I say that despite being nearly 14 stone, because I wasn't keen on Lotus Elise seats either for the same reason, but I do know someone who had some and loved them.

Other alternatives are certain MX5 seats, any other TVR seats (though these tend to be expensive), and I have heard of Audi TT and Jaguar XJS seats (with some modification) being used.

Your main problems when choosing seats from other cars are that most seats tend to have too much depth in the base, so you sit too high, are too wide at the base, and too wide at the shoulders. A tape measure is your friend when looking.
Even the Tillett seats shown might be a width problem at the shoulder region. Our cars are particularly narrow there.

I ended up with Tuscan seats, which I love. The seat pad is removable for track days to give you extra "bucketyness", if that's a word. And the headrest is actually behind my head to save me from whiplash if I get rear-ended.

[Pupp]

Thanks QBee… I will not be committing without having a sit in one.

I didn’t get to measure up last night but hopefully will this eve… have also asked Tillet whether they are aware of any going in a Chim or Griff.

No rush anyway; the car is going to be in bits for ages

[Pupp]

I reckon they’ll fit, if I fit them… only place they’re wider than the stock seat is at the shoulder level wing but there seems to be space enough to accommodate that at the height it will sit at… they are a bit higher overall but again there looks to be adequate clearance, especially when allowing fo any additional lay back dialled in on the mounts. The original mounting holes are very close to being right too… if using runners it might need the holes glassing up and re-drilling but fixed to floor would be fine, assuming pedal reach is acceptable. That’s the big I’m struggling to assess from the manufacturer dimensions.

[QBee]

Here's my Chim with Tuscan seats fitted - you can see how close even these are to the rear section of the hood at shoulder level.



The standard Chim/Grief seats don't actually come up to your shoulder.

[Geoff391]

Hi , I have Tillet seat from my wedge racer that I can test in a chim shell later today. You are welcome to come and try it for size at our barn. I have only sat in it in anger on trackdays in the wedge but it is supprisingly comfortable for short periods.
Cheers
Geoff

Edited by Geoff391 on Sunday 3rd October 11:59

[Geoff391]

Top view , loads of room all round , this is a B6 seat. Sits very low with sliding runners on so would need raising up.

[Pupp]

Thanks Geoff; that’s very helpful

[JQ]

I can't comment on them fitting in a Chim, but I have a carbon fibre B5 in my track / weekend car and despite having no cushioning it's very comfortable. Only comment being that you have to place yourself in the seat rather than slide into the car - I'm not sure I'd want them in something I'd be driving regularly.

[Pupp]

And the B5 is supposed to be one of the easier ones to get in and out of… the car won’t be a daily but I am getting older and less agile!

[TVR 801X]

I have used the B5's in carbon in my Chim and they were great, super comfortable on longer trips despite their looks. Getting in can be a touch awkward and you do need to drop into place really rather than slide into them.

Fitting wise I used some modified Motamec universal brackets, and had a rail for the drivers side to allow for some adjustment. They are quite a bit taller than the standard seats and so need to be positioned low in the car to avoid contact with the roof/ roof locking mechanism.

I'm now selling mine due to selling the Chim. If anyone's interested, just drop me a message on here.

Included a photo of mine, I think they definitely look the part and had many positive comments on them.

[AKA PABS]

My word I can see why you got positive comments, they have transformed the look of the interior. They will go quickly for those not after originality.

[Pupp]

That does look good; great to have it confirmed they fit and work.

[andrew_r]

TVR 801X said:

I have used the B5's in carbon in my Chim and they were great, super comfortable on longer trips despite their looks. Getting in can be a touch awkward and you do need to drop into place really rather than slide into them.

Fitting wise I used some modified Motamec universal brackets, and had a rail for the drivers side to allow for some adjustment. They are quite a bit taller than the standard seats and so need to be positioned low in the car to avoid contact with the roof/ roof locking mechanism.

I'm now selling mine due to selling the Chim. If anyone's interested, just drop me a message on here.

Included a photo of mine, I think they definitely look the part and had many positive comments on them.

Those seats look great. Are you still looking to sell? If so, I may be interested.

Many thanks, Andrew