by Seth
5. February 2009 04:00
Most if not all modified retro cars take styling cues or ideas from one or more existing, established approaches to altering cars. Be it one variety of race car or something more kustom orientated there are certain parts that almost become a necessity to fit if you’re following that style. This is the first post in a new series looking at some of these must-haves.
Bucket seats have been around since the very beginning of time itself. In fact I dare say if Fred Flintstone had wanted a more supportive seat in his car he’d have used an upturned turtle shell. Soon after those prehistoric days Model Ts were getting the treatment to go racing, stripping off everything not required and the leather or cloth covered bench seats getting thrown out in favour of tiny individual seats.
Even those with less racy but sporting cars wanted some of the action, this Lancia Lambda owner clearly going one better than most with wicker chairs.
Aircraft “Bomber” seats became quite easily obtainable after the Second World War and were particular favourites of US based hot rodders. With the supply of originals now sparse recreations, though not necessarily accurate replicas are popping up all over. New twists on this theme can be awesome like this set of four in a VW.
Here’s another great pair in a Porsche 356.
True race and rally cars are of course required to have better seating than original old slippy vinyl or saggy velour and many a track day car will be caged and fitted with harnesses too. As an example of this and tying in nicely with last week’s rear engine special, here’s the inside of a Skoda 130RS, as seen in this Flickr gallery of the 2006 Barum rally.
Other than being lighter in weight a bucket seat won’t make your car go faster but it will make it a more secure and possibly more comfortable place to be. Along with other similarly themed parts it might make it look like it goes faster.
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