Miata Seat Mock Up June 08

So one day we started talking about the seats in the TR-6 for one reason or another. And how really pitiful it was that they were mounted with just 4 1/4'" bolts per seat? Really? And how since the nuts were welded on to the floor boards that the inevitable cracks had appeared around 3 of the 8, 2 on the drivers side. After much consideration and hair pulling, it was decided to jettison the old seats in favor of some nice Miata seats, which I am familiar with since I also own a '96. The problem was finding the earlier seats that have the back that narrows at the top. We couldn't find any that didn't need re-upholstery, so we ended up with a set from a 2007 Miata. These seats had never actually been farted into or used, as it were, since they were from a bunch of Miata's that had been modified for a race drivers school. They fit, but only just, and  installing them became one of the most difficult projects of all!

Now this is actually my partners X1/9, we bought 2 pairs of the seats and put a set her car first. I put this shot in here because it's the only decent picture of the seat!

OK, so here's the TR-6, the seats are just sitting on some pieces of wood to approximate their actual height.

Here's a view of the pair, I think they look quite nice but there is no margin for error between the seat shoulder and the convertible top pivot point.

I stuck one the original seats in there for just for comparisons sake. There is none, the original has virtually no head and neck support. The Miata seats will be far superior in the event of a rear end hit.

Same thing, different angle. The Miata seats are sooo much more comfortable! Cloth, lumbar support, I just wish that they narrowed more at the top of the seat back.

This picture shows the angle that the seat back takes right at the top. I like it and it really does seem to work with the lines of the car when viewed from the side.

You can see the side bolsters in this shot.

In this final shot you can see how broad the shoulders of this seat are, this caused me a lot of concern but in the end I think they will fit and be a huge improvement!