UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

General discussion area. A place to take a break and share your buggy world with others.
Scott-Drolet
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Scott-Drolet »

UPDATED POST

After driving the Manxter almost 150 miles, I've come to the conclusion that the Corbeau seats have to go. The seat part is fine, but the back is just too stiff and seems to always be at an odd angle. I went to the garment district in downtown Los Angeles yesterday, specifically 9th Street and Los Angeles Avenue where all of the fabric suppliers are located.  The prices for upholstry fabric and supplies are incredibly reasonable, so I bought a couple yards of a few types of fabric to see how they'd look in the black OMP seat's center section.

First up: Sunbrella fabric in white with black stripes. This would look killer both on the seats and as a tonneau top. Unfortunately, though, it'll be really hard to keep clean.

Image


Image

Next up, Sunbrella again, this time grey, yellow, and white

Image


Image

The one shade of yellow matches the Meyers manx Logo yellow perfectly:

Image

Next is my personal favorite, polyester and silk blend in green, orange, rust, black and yellow with a herringbone pattern. It has a lot more detail and texture than the sunbrella fabric, and looks killer in-person.

Image


Image


Image


I'm going back and forth between the yellow stripe and the multicolor, but hope to make a decision today so I can take them to the upholstery guy tomorrow.   What do you guys think?

Scott




ORIGINAL POST

Tonight I got home from work and took my permanently mounted Corbeau driver's seat out of the Manxter to see if I could fit some universal sliding tracks under it. Coincidentally, a pair of OMP Vintage Brand Hatch seats I bought off of Craigslist in Texas arrived. I had planned to use these seats in my regular Manx, as I really like the look of lowbacks. Well, you don't have to be Nostradamus to figure I had the seat out of the Manxter and this other seat just sitting there . . . . So here's where I'd like your opinion: 

Heres' the car as it sits . . . Corbeau seats. Pros: they're heated, monogrammed & leather. Cons: Bolted directly to the floor I feel like I'm sitting just a little too high. They seem too big to me for the space.


Image

The Challenger:  OMP Vintage Hatch Brand seats. ("Vintage" is part of the name, these are a couple years old). Pros: I like the style of them. Lowbacks. Very comfortable, narrow and fit the space well. Cons: not heated, not leather.

Image

Image

Image

So there you have it! As far as style, I would also contemplate changing out the center fabric to either a bright pattern or solid color (red, maybe?) to make the seats pop a bit. Whichever seats I go with, I will have matching rear seat covers made and install the buckets back there to match.

Please vote and vote often!
Scott Drolet
MC Vice President

MC 47, DSB, RBC, Long Haul League, '64 Monocoque, '67 Manx, '73 Manxter, '64 Stainless Burro, '64 Corvair Burro, '65 Corvair Burro
http://www.ManxClub.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.SeaToSeaSafari.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.BurroBuggies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
dcamomanx
Posts: 89
Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 5:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by dcamomanx »

Scott,

I like the new seats, but here is my 2 cents. What I have learned is it doesnt matter what I think looks and feel right, if your passanger (in my case Jen) doesnt like the seats, I get to hear how uncomfortable she finds my suspension seats.

Good luck

Great looking Manxter by the way

Doran
Scott-Drolet
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Scott-Drolet »

HA! Thanks Doran . . .I hadn't thought of that. I do like the look of the tan color of the Corbeaus, but I also like the way the OMP's feel when I'm sitting in them. They have high sides and really hold you in.  I'll probably install them both this weekend and see how they drive.  
Scott Drolet
MC Vice President

MC 47, DSB, RBC, Long Haul League, '64 Monocoque, '67 Manx, '73 Manxter, '64 Stainless Burro, '64 Corvair Burro, '65 Corvair Burro
http://www.ManxClub.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.SeaToSeaSafari.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.BurroBuggies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
jsturtlebuggy
Posts: 652
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by jsturtlebuggy »

The Corbeaus' when I look at them they are so big at the top they detract from the lines of the Manxter.
If they were shorter or the Manxter body was raised it would change them to be more proportional in size in my opinion.
Last edited by jsturtlebuggy on Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Joseph
Manx Club #1095
Having fun with Buggies since 1970
Worked in VWs in shops since 1970
Ed-Chenal
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:00 am
Location: SoCal

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Ed-Chenal »

Choosing seats can be tough for the average buggy owner.
Perhaps you could switch the seats back and forth.
When you're looking at the car, put the good looking seats in.
When you're driving the car, put the comfortable seats in.
Ed
bhcrelaxed
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by bhcrelaxed »

Seats look comfy. But, where is the seat belt holes on the sides? How are you going to ensure seat belts pulling you down in the seat?
Scott-Drolet
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Scott-Drolet »

Good Point, There are seat belt holes underneath that come through the sides of the bottom seat cushion from the floor. While they would be just fine if I was using lap belts, I'd have to modify the sides to accept the over-the-shoulder three-point seatbelts I currently have.   Of course, I'm not all that skinny and I probably stick out farther than the depth of the sidesImage.
Scott Drolet
MC Vice President

MC 47, DSB, RBC, Long Haul League, '64 Monocoque, '67 Manx, '73 Manxter, '64 Stainless Burro, '64 Corvair Burro, '65 Corvair Burro
http://www.ManxClub.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.SeaToSeaSafari.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.BurroBuggies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
towd-dude
Posts: 279
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:00 am
Location: Gardnerville, Nevada

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by towd-dude »

Scott,
I like the polyester and silk blend in green, orange, rust, black and yellow with a herringbone pattern best too.

Bob
DIESELDOOG
Posts: 265
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:00 am
Location: Northern Illinois

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by DIESELDOOG »

Have to agree with Towd Dude on the fabric choice.
1856
Posts: 365
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by 1856 »

AHaa... Have you tried an Irish plaid ?
MnC
Tom-Kathleen
Posts: 610
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:00 am
Location: Vernon, CT

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Tom-Kathleen »

Scott, here's my $0.02.  This is from the female perspective.  I like the sumbrella fabric that matches the Meyers Manx emblem.  It's colorful and primary colors are pleasing to the eye.  Now having said that, I would use some of the colors of the seat elsewhere in the buggy.  Using touches of the color will make the seats and other items stand out.  Things like brake calipers, cofee cups, shifter boot, nobs, instruments and the list goes on....
I would also purchase extra fabric.  If you ever decide to upholster the sides of the car, it would be a really nice touch to have some of the fabric there, say like map pockets.  You could also have a bag made that matches the seats.  No, I don't mean a purse,Image I mean like a PRP bag or beach bag.
Kathleen
Tom & Kathleen Iacoboni
# 1030
Vernon, CT
1968 Meyers Manx, 1971 Manxter S, 1972 KickOut SS (WIP)
Scott-Drolet
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Scott-Drolet »

A funny thing happened on the way to the upholstery shop  . . . . Frank, the guy who does my upholstery repairs in Glendale, California (as opposed to Guillermo at Tapiceria 70 in Ensenada, Mexico . . . long story) crapped all over the fabric I wanted to use.  Apparently, since it was made for interior use, it would fade (badly and quickly) because I needed to use fabric intended for auto interiors. So, back to the drawing board! 

Frank has literally thousands of fabric samples from every era, for every car model that has been manufactured. I am not exaggerating. It is daunting to look at the selection he carries. After spending more than an hour looking at samples, they all start to look the same. But, I did come up with something I really like that was originally used on a 1960's British sports car. The choice surprised me a little bit because it's not a color I ever thought I'd go with. But, it just feels right for the buggy. I even had Frank order an extra two yards so I could use the fabric for some of the items you suggested Kathleen, including center sections for the rear seat covers and side panels. I can't wait to get the seats back. Frank will have them done by the end of next week. I'll post pics as soon as I have them.

Thanks for the advice Kathleen. Having seen your Manxter close up, I know you know what you're talking about. You have a killer interior.  By the way, I hear that you actually broke your ankle in Buellton. I'm so sorry to hear that, I hope you mend quickly!
Scott Drolet
MC Vice President

MC 47, DSB, RBC, Long Haul League, '64 Monocoque, '67 Manx, '73 Manxter, '64 Stainless Burro, '64 Corvair Burro, '65 Corvair Burro
http://www.ManxClub.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.SeaToSeaSafari.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.BurroBuggies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Tom-Kathleen
Posts: 610
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:00 am
Location: Vernon, CT

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Tom-Kathleen »

Too bad your first fabric didn't work out.  It can be very difficult to find just what you want.  I'm glad you found another choice you're happy with.

Yes, sadly I did break my ankle.  I walked around on it for 3 days before I went to the emergency room.  We even hiked (or rather I limped) Point Lobo. Image  Tom has been a good nurse-maid.  The crutches made the rest of vacation interesting.  We're home and I see the orthopedic doc this afternoon.  I guess I find out if I go back to work or not.

Kathleen
Tom & Kathleen Iacoboni
# 1030
Vernon, CT
1968 Meyers Manx, 1971 Manxter S, 1972 KickOut SS (WIP)
towd-dude
Posts: 279
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:00 am
Location: Gardnerville, Nevada

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by towd-dude »

So sorry to hear the bad news. I hope chasing our dogs around didn't aggravate the brake... I hope you mend quickly. Leaving the dogs at home for MOTB. Looking forward to seeing you both then.

Bob
Scott-Drolet
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:00 am

UPDATE - New front and rear seats are installed.

Post by Scott-Drolet »

Talk a put being a trooper, she bounced around in the back of the Burro for eighty miles, too. She didn't complain once! Hope you're back on your foot soon:)
Scott Drolet
MC Vice President

MC 47, DSB, RBC, Long Haul League, '64 Monocoque, '67 Manx, '73 Manxter, '64 Stainless Burro, '64 Corvair Burro, '65 Corvair Burro
http://www.ManxClub.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.SeaToSeaSafari.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.BurroBuggies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post Reply