Racing seats

[Jon Mello]

Warren Fairbanks' '67 Z-28 used a seat from a Shelby Cobra since Warren had raced a Cobra previously and liked the seat.
Warren's car is currently owned by Ron Tribble, who races it in West Coast Historic Trans-Am events.

[Jon Mello]

1971 ad

[Jon Mello]

Another 1971 ad, this one for a Yenko seat. The mention of a Yenko Stinger refers this time to the new Chevrolet Vega, which Yenko also modified.

[Jon Mello]

Ebay auction #280898795890 has an old Bug Eye Sprite race car for sale which appears to have an old Yenko/Bill Thomas style seat in it (minus a cover or seat frame).

[Jon Mello]

Yet another ad for a low-back fiberglass seat but a different manufacturer than others seen previously.

[Jon Mello]

1969 ad for the "Solar" seat.

[Jon Mello]

These pictures were sent to me by Warren Malkin, Jr. The seats below were found by Frank Profeta in the January/February 1986 issue of Camaro Corral magazine. They were in the classsifieds on page 67.
 
As the story goes the guy Bill bought them new for his Corvette, which is believed to be a '69. The reason he bought the seats is he was very tall and had no headroom in the car. He thought by ordering the seats and installing them it would give him more headroom, which it did. The seats were not in his Corvette long as he had a hard time getting in and out of it due to the high sides on the fiberglass seats. The seats were in storage until he put them up for sale in the Camaro Corral.
 
The seat 3931548 was discontinued on 2/75. Dealer cost before it was discontinued was $46.00.

[Jon Mello]

Fiberglass seat from the 1969 Shelby High Performance Parts catalog. (Jon Mello Collection)

[OG69Z]

I don't know if the seat designed by Solar Plastics was called the "Total Environment Plus" seat
or not but comparing these two ads, it seems like it may have been. Anybody know for sure?

The seat as found in the former State's A/S Camaro appears to be the Leslie "Total Environment" model. No track time on it yet, but I can say it is very comfortable sitting in the shop! Seems to be a very well built unit.
Robert

[Jon Mello]

Thanks for posting. Nice to see one "in the flesh". Can you show us what the backside and seat mount looks like, when you get a chance?

[OG69Z]

The rear of the Leslie "Total Environment" racing seat has their manufacturer's label attached:



The seat back is smooth with a nice finished feel to it. The back itself is reinforced and anchored to the roll cage.



The base of the seat is molded to fit snugly around and bolted to round tubing, or in this case solid round stock.



The steel base frame bolts to the original factory seat attachment points. The frame has two adjustment positions. The back support also has two corresponding positions.



When assembled, the seat is sandwiched between the solid round bar of the base frame and metal reinforcements. The quilted Naugahyde covers and cushions all of the hardware.
Robert

[Jon Mello]

Nice shots and an interesting seat mount. I like it. Thanks, Robert.

I've found a "Total Comfort" seat and am working on getting pictures of it. Will hopefully post those soon.

[OG69Z]

Jon, That's great that you found one of the "Total Comfort" seats. They are tough to find in good condition.
Did you find it with the cover, or are you going to have to have one made?
Robert

[Jon Mello]

Robert, this is not my seat. It is the original seat out of the John Putnam '68 Trans-Am Camaro, currently owned by Dave Doyal.
John Putnam was in the San Francisco Region of the SCCA at the time he was running this car. Many thanks to Dave for sharing
these seat photos with us.








Photos: David Doyal Collection

[OG69Z]

It's nice to see another seat variety. Considering all the different manufacturers back in the day, there just are not many left.

Is the Putnam Trans-Am Camaro currently track worthy, or under restoration? Either way I hope Dave Doyle is able to utilize the seat.
Many thanks for sharing.
Robert