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Hot Rods Cheap seats

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by D2Denny, Dec 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM.

  1. D2Denny
    Joined: Jan 17, 2012
    Posts: 85

    D2Denny
    Member

    I'm building a low buck A V8. Somewhere a while back here on the hamb, it was suggested that Honda Civic Seats from the early 2000's were a good fit. I was able to purchase a complete Civic interior from my local bone yard for $50. The seats have fore and aft adjustable tracks backrest positioning, and the driver's side also has a two-way adjustable seat cushion. A set of Amazon golf cart seat belts completed the deal.
    IMG_1874.JPEG IMG_1875.JPEG
     
  2. Grumpy ole A
    Joined: Jun 22, 2023
    Posts: 316

    Grumpy ole A
    Member

  3. spudshaft
    Joined: Feb 28, 2003
    Posts: 706

    spudshaft
    Member

    Looks like they fit great, with the added bonus of being in good condition
     
    dana barlow likes this.
  4. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 4,348

    rusty valley
    Member

    Nice lookin old school car, that now has modern looking seats. Not how I would have done it
     
  5. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,527

    Squablow
    Member

    I have to agree. They do fit nice, but they look out of place, very obviously modern, especially in a flathead powered car. Obviously it's only gotta please you but for me personally, I'm not feeling it.
     
  6. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,900

    Kiwi 4d
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sorry to blunt but those seats make it look like rebodied Honda. Comfortable maybe . But there are plenty of seats out there with a little searching will look way more period . These to me scream I got them cheap and I don’t care if they look way wrong and overpower the final look of the car. I am sure with a little thought you could loose the plastic dials and put the seat release and recliner hidden underneath like we have done and still be a comfortable and mush more eye friendly seat. My son was given some late mode PT cruiser seats for his 28 Tudor , but he had genuine reason to return them , he said just plain ugly ,but the way they folded didn’t allow access to the rear . .He found some period perfect super comfy inner sprung 74 fiat coupe seats.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
    Johnny Gee and 05snopro440 like this.
  7. 05snopro440
    Joined: Mar 15, 2011
    Posts: 3,037

    05snopro440
    Member

    While it feels good to find a solution to a problem on your project like this, I don't expect you'll get much approval on the seats here on the HAMB. They remind me of street rods that were built in my area in the early 2000'S, and with the traditional style of the rest of your build I have to agree that they miss the mark. Just too bulky and too much plastic.

    That said, I bought a cheap Caravan seat for mockup for my roadster to see if I liked it. I was pleasantly surprised after removing all the plastic **** how much simpler and nicer it looks.

    In the end all that matters is your opinion, but I'd be trying to either make that seat look more traditional to align with the build or start again with something else. However, I did see that your roadster with the early hemi has less traditional wheels, so maybe you're not so worried about it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 8:18 AM
    Johnny Gee and Just Gary like this.
  8. finn
    Joined: Jan 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,502

    finn
    Member

    I put some junkyard Mitsubishi 4x4 seats in my 36 pickup. Fit nicely, comfortable (if one can ever be comfortable in that tiny cab), but look like ****.

    Best investment I made was a Mexican blanket to hide the plastic. After that move, they’re sort of ok. For me at least…..
     
    Driver50x and firstinsteele like this.
  9. X-cpe
    Joined: Mar 9, 2018
    Posts: 2,279

    X-cpe

    Close the doors and don't sweat it.
     
  10. dirt car
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,613

    dirt car
    Member
    from nebraska

    If you drive them any distance comfort is paramount !
     
    seadog, Butler 32, Algoma56 and 3 others like this.
  11. slowmotion
    Joined: Nov 21, 2011
    Posts: 3,689

    slowmotion
    Member

    In the mean time, black dye or Mexican blankets will knock some of the modern off it. Cool car, enjoy!
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
    Driver50x and lostone like this.
  12. JD Miller
    Joined: Nov 12, 2011
    Posts: 2,679

    JD Miller
    Member

    I concur,,, Messican blankets ! :D
     
    lostone and slowmotion like this.
  13. evintho
    Joined: May 28, 2007
    Posts: 2,578

    evintho
    Member

    Throw on a couple of mexican blankets and everyone will stop whining! Good cheap solution. They fit well and look pretty comfortable for long trips (which is a big deal for those of us north of the half century mark)! I like 'em. Well played!
     
  14. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,889

    Joe Blow
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you do decide to use a Mexican blanket....I have one like this behind the seat and use it on occasion. Looks damn nice with a black car/white firewall.
    Screenshot 2025-12-23 2.40.18 PM.png
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
  15. 57Fury440
    Joined: Nov 2, 2020
    Posts: 560

    57Fury440
    Member

    I think if all that plastic could be removed, they would look okay.
     
    05snopro440 likes this.
  16. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 10,738

    Rickybop
    Member

    Old sports car seats. MG, Triumph...
    And a reupholstery kit.
     
    Tow Truck Tom and X-cpe like this.
  17. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,826

    gene-koning
    Member

    If you drive them a lot, the comfort of the seat becomes more important. I like modern seats.

    Covering or eliminating the plastic dials will go a long way towards making those seats more acceptable. You will probably be the only driver, set the seats where you like them, and remove the plastic side panels. If you really want to fit in, replace the plastic with sheet metal, sort of like the original seats probably were.
     
    Algoma56 and lostone like this.
  18. klawockvet
    Joined: May 1, 2012
    Posts: 621

    klawockvet
    Member

    Oh my. Back in the sixties we went to the junk yard and tried to find something that would work. Looks like these work pretty well. Drive the hell out of it.
     
    Butler 32, RMR&C, Algoma56 and 3 others like this.
  19. Driver50x
    Joined: May 5, 2014
    Posts: 568

    Driver50x
    Member

    I like the idea of using Mexican blankets. Do you guys have any good tips of how to fasten them to a seat, so they aren’t constantly sliding around?
     
  20. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 4,057

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Hog rings, a friend of mine took his time and covers his seats with Mexican blankets and they look great. He trimmed the blankets and then clipped them with hog rings, he made sure all the stripes etc lined up on the top and bottom panels. He topped the interior of with a chrome chain steering wheel and a foot gas pedal. The whole job took him about three weekends but it turned out great!
     
    Driver50x likes this.
  21. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 16,099

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Wait. Seat belts in a golf cart? What the ...
     
  22. RMR&C
    Joined: Dec 26, 2009
    Posts: 4,950

    RMR&C
    Member
    from NW Montana

    Same seats with nice upholstery. You can't really remove the plastic bits,whats under it is uglier
    I drive my stuff, so I wanted comfort over someone else's idea of "correct"

    [​IMG]
     
    Algoma56, jimmy six, seadog and 6 others like this.
  23. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,993

    5window
    Member

    I'm almost certain that golf cart seat belts are not DOT approved for street use and might actually be more dangerous than no belts at all. Good,new belts are not expensive and this is not a place to cheap out.
     
  24. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,993

    5window
    Member

  25. Adriatic Machine
    Joined: Jan 26, 2008
    Posts: 941

    Adriatic Machine
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The more comfortable it is the more you’ll drive it. I got a set of third row seats from a Caddy suv with full belts. I really like them although they do need a more appropriate seat cover.

    IMG_1392.jpeg
     
    Algoma56, RMR&C and Driver50x like this.
  26. Onemansjunk
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 550

    Onemansjunk
    Member
    from Modesto,CA

    What’s Next??? Jim Beam shutting down a Bourbon Plant!!
     
    Bandit Billy likes this.
  27. Jokester
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 801

    Jokester
    Member

    Comfort is cool. Side bolsters add a lot of that.

    Best part of it is, the headrests are gone.

    Go for it.
     
    RMR&C likes this.
  28. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,889

    ALLDONE
    Member

    I use these jeep wrangler seats.. under 400 bucks a set all new... 4DC6C87C-57BB-4DF8-B047-2EA848BF391F.jpeg IMG_5463.jpg IMG_5968.jpg IMG_5969.jpg IMG_5980.jpg
     
  29. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 9,837

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I had the same Jeep seats in my Austin g***er and liked the looks, but not very comfortable. After about 13 years with them I saw the local wrecking yard had bucket seats on sale one weekend at $35 a pair, so went over to see what might fit my very narrow Austin. Only have about 44" door to door inside, so a lot of seats are too wide. I found a pair of late 90's Honda CRV buckets with manual adjustment that fit the width limits great. Had to weld up the bases to get them to fit my flat floor, and tossed the headrests, but they have all sorts of adjustment to make me more comfortable, and don't have huge bolsters, or too much extra padding. Three years now and I still love them!
    [​IMG]
     
  30. slowmotion
    Joined: Nov 21, 2011
    Posts: 3,689

    slowmotion
    Member

    I'll only add that I use a '99 CRV as a daily beater. Seats are definitely comfy (even on 2-4hr jont's) . Never even crossed my mind as hotrod seats (minus the head-rests). The Jeep seats look the part pretty good too.
     
    Algoma56 likes this.

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