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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Seats that allow headroom

I have a 68 Sprite. A while ago I fitted a pair of black leather MGF seats as replacements for my collapsed standard items. They look great, are really comfortable and very supportive. My wife loves them. With the help of several people here including Guy, they fitted really easily.
I have one problem with which I have persevered for quite some time, but the poor summer this year has brought things to a head.
They're fine with the roof down, but roof up and there's a hood-iron/bald patch inferface problem. I'm only six feet tall, but I must have short legs.
I've tried some springs from Newton Commercial that replace solid wire hooks within the undercarriage. Thats gained me 1/2" or so, but its not enough. I could gain another 1/4" if I fabricate some more complicated seat fixing brackets, but really I need another 1"-2". As a bonus I wouldn't then be looking directly at the windscreen frame.
So what I'm asking really is, can anybody recommend some supportive, fairly traditional looking seats that fit low down in the cockpit. The money spent would be offset agains savings at the physio.

Ta, Mark


M Crossley

"there's a hood-iron/bald patch inferface problem"

Oh, I love that! Thank you Mr Crossley (Mark?) for making me laugh out loud. FYI, I have a 'chrome dome to iron-bar problem" when seated in the midget. LOL
Andy Hock

could you do away with the seat runner and bolt to floor
Nigel Atkins

fiat X1-9 seats in mine, really low, canted up at the front by about 2 inches so they follow my leg line.

I don't have a bald patch (yet) and I don't catch on the hood.

I'm 6'5

Will they go further forwards and slump more?

Rob Armstrong

I have the Mazda Miata (MX-5 over your way?) seats in my 1500, they ride high enough that I too can look through the windscreen frame if I'm not slouching, however at 5'11" I have no pate interference with the folding top frame. Your bad luck to be a bit long in the torso? Additionally, like Rob I have them canted up an inch and a half in the front for a more ergonomically correct ride. Nigel's suggestion to eliminate the runners may be appropriate as the tall amongst us tend to run seats all they way back anyway.


Richard Reeves

Lotus Elise seats are nice and low, should be plenty of thim over there Willy
William Revit

Thanks for the suggestions chaps.
I'll investigate how much height I'll gain if I remove the runners. Nobody else drives MOL very often.
Had a quick scan for X1/9 bits; nothing obvious yet.
I might check a couple of kitcar sites.
The MX5 and Elise seats strike me as just a little too modern with the integral headrest, however I'm eyeing up a collegue's Elise-alike VX220 in the carpark and they are very slim. I wonder if he'd notice...

Ta, Mark

M Crossley

" The MX5 and Elise seats strike me as just a little too modern with the integral headrest "

I actually agree, if I had to do it again I'd find something boxier, less curvy. They are very comfy, but don't quite fit the overall look of the Midget IMO. Mazda made the Miata seats with removable headrests just one year, 1995 IIRC.
Richard Reeves

IIRC UK MX-5s had seperate headrests and the Mk1 seats are smaller(est?)

Eunos roadsters I've seen had integral headrests with two speakers in each

I've never seen a Miata but whilst in France passengered in a LHD MX-5 the dash seemed all wrong of course to me

MX-5 seats have been used in classics and kit cars for many years now and many MX-5 seats were cloth
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2012 and 31/08/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.