Hi All

Does anyone know if Lotus Elise seats will fit in an indy? There are a pair for sale and they guy says the base (runners) are 450mm wide. I have measured the width of my seat area which comes out at 430mm.

I have seen a locost with Elise seats in but not an Indy.

Any advice would be apreciated.

Ta

Andy

i saw that advert somewhere too. don't know about the measurements

My seats are also 450mm wide - I fitted Cobra sevens and they fit fine in an MK Indy. The sides rub a tad but the runners move OK.

Cheers DogyRoger

It looks like the seats have been sold anyway so it's back to my orig plan of the Cobra 7s.

BTW.. I like your website, it's really good with some great pictures.

Andy

When you go to Newlands Corner next week bring a tape measure with you,there's an elise garage round the corner.

Tell ya what Bob i'll just buy an Elise and nick the seats out of it and throw the rest away!

This locost saving money lark is great fun!!!!

Andy

asked in a local lotus dealer for a price on lotus elsie seats told £700 each and that isn't leather!! either bludy hell!

Yes! Elise seats do fit into a standard book chassis,with an 1/8" all round (made to measure!) the runners however protrude at the sides and can't be used without a little butchering, simply swap the left and right rear brackets over so that the upright seat mount is on the outside of the runners instead of the inside. then cut about two inches out of the two cross members to make them narrower and redrill them to line up with the bolts under the seats, then weld them back together, now the runners sit under the seats instead of at each side and can be bolted sideways to the chasiss rails, the end result is extreamly neat and worth the headache. Tight but sometimes that can be a good thing! you can get a decent pair off ebay for 150 - 250 quid, worth it alone for the novalty factor of the inflateable pump up backs.
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The one obvious problem with the elise seats, I would have thought, is that they'll absorp the rain/wet. The Cobra sevens are vinyl all over and don't allow the rain to soak into them - they're wipe dry, as are the GRP type seats MK sell. I imagine the suede areas of the elise seats would take a long time to dry out.
All the best
Ali

Elise seats are 415mm, at the widest point of the seat base, this is not compressable upholstery.
Roadster Sevens are 470mm but this is compressable.

Mick

Yeah, I'll admit that alcantara seats in a car with no roof isn't exactly genius! but fear not, they do come in a leathery vinal finish but even alcantara can be treated and waterproofed (how that works I have no idea) oh well, bin bags at the ready or maybe some weather gear when funds + wife allow!

Alcantara is waterproof. It was designed for the marine industry, for speed boats etc.

if alcantaras waterproof then what do they upholster lotus seats in, as they seam to go a bit like bobbley cardboard when they get wet and dry out, did lotus really resort to swade? supose theyre not exactly short of cows in northfolk!