The most popular things to modify on cars are the wheels, the body, the engine, and the sound system. Once you’ve tackled each of those key areas it seems like the car is complete, right? Wrong. Now you need to upgrade that spot where you’ll be sitting for hours upon hours. According to RECARO, the average person spends 8,164 hours in a vehicle during their lifetime, so it only makes sense that you’d want to make that experience better.
Stock seats might do the job good enough, but an aftermarket car seat can bring you some great added benefits. These seats offer highly bolstered designs working in conjunction with a multi-point harness that’ll keep you planted as you hit turns at speed or are jostled while rock climbing. Aftermarket seats are typically super lightweight too, so you’ll be able to squeeze out a little more extra performance with that reduced weight. Plus, these seats also come in a variety of different, great-looking designs to fit just about anyone’s style and comfort level. To help you start your search, here are some of our top picks for aftermarket seats!
Corbeau provides one of the best values for drivers with their Forza aftermarket seat. The racing styled seat is comprised of quality, lightweight materials while offering a comfortable spot for a great starting price of $329. Larger set drivers (like me) will appreciate the width that accepts up to a 38-inch waist, but the seat also has an even larger variant that can comfortably fit up to a 40-inch waist. Corbeau offers an optional inflatable lumbar support for an additional $94 that is controlled via a hand pump to inflate and deflate a bladder stored within the Forza. It’s a great seat for the price.
Sparco is a big name when it comes to aftermarket seating. Their carbon fiber seats can be found installed on performance cars from Lotus, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ford, Koenigsegg, AMG, McLaren, and tons more. Their most popular aftermarket seat option is the Sparco Sprint. This $450 entry level competition seat is made up of a tubular frame featuring a suspension bottom cushion for comfort. That seat frame is covered in a non-slip, fire retardant fabric that comes available in black, red, blue, or black vinyl. The Sprint has a maximum waist fitment of 34-inches on the standard and 38-inches on the larger Sprint L available for $475. There’s no denying the overwhelmingly positive response this seat has received over the years, but the quality and features only grow from there in Sparco’s catalog of aftermarket seats. The Sparco Sprint just happens to be the best bang for your buck in my opinion.
RECARO is another big name in the automotive seats world, but they come at a premium price. You can find them installed in productions cars like the Toyota GR86 all the way up to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport. As for the best aftermarket sports car seat option, we went with the RECARO Speed. The Speed may be the cheapest entry point to a RECARO seat, but that $1,045 price tag isn’t chump change.
For a little over a grand per seat, the RECARO Speed provides a high-quality seating experience thanks to its ergonomic shape that helps with lumbar support and highly bolstered sides to keep passengers planted. Comfort is aided by the thick foam padding that’s wrapped in high-quality and durable Nardo fabric or vinyl upholstery. The RECARO Speed also features an adjustable backrest that can help with access to the rear seats of a sports coupe (if you still have some). RECARO only provides the Speed in black, but customers have the choice of white, red, or blue logo stitching on the integrated headrest. For those that enjoy the Speed but are looking for a little more “pop”, RECARO provides the Speed V that introduces a unique leather and suede accented design for $1,795.
Cobra Seats is based out of the United Kingdom and provides a great selection of different automotive seats for motorsports and classic cars. One of their most popular aftermarket classic car seats is the Cobra Roadster SS that closely mimics vintage seats found in the AC Cobra of the 1960s. We’ve chosen a variation of this classic seat though, the Cobra Roadster SR, since it provides better bolstering and comfort while still looking like a perfect fit for an old sports car. The Roadster SR is constructed with a rigid tubular steel frame and utilizes an integrated Pirelli (R) suspension system in the base. You get modern construction while carrying the looks of a vintage sports car seat with Cobra Seats.
Looking for a nice seat for your ‘70s or ‘80s classic? The Procar Rally series aftermarket seat may be the perfect option for you. Not only does the vinyl seat look like a blast from the past with its vintage vertical stitched design, it’s also highly functional. The Rally series has great back and thigh bolstering, so you get the planted feel that modern aftermarket seats provide while keeping that classic look. This seat is also reclinable allowing you to adjust for your comfort or for helping with ease of access to the rear of a vehicle. Procar offers their Rally series seat in a number of different configurations to fit your needs. You can find it with or without a headrest, in an extra wide style, with a smoothback contrast, and can be made using one of nine available colors.
Bench seating was a common trend in old cars, so why not restore your ride while keeping that style going? TMI offers a number of great restoration seating options, but I personally enjoy their Cruiser Collection Split Back Bench Seat. These vinyl bench seats would fit right in with any classic car with their vintage contrast stitched look and you get the added benefit of that bench style. The split back design is helpful too as it makes access to the rear seats easier on both sides of the car. This bench seat would also be perfect for an old truck restoration like a Square Body. Then that split back can help with storage behind the seating. Whatever your application, this TMI bench seat may be your best bet for keeping things old school cool.
Looking for a nice seat for your rock-climbing Jeep CJ-7 build? The Corbeau Baja XP might fit the bill. This off-road suspension seat provides great padding and reduces body shifting from sudden jostles of the vehicle. Corbeau constructed the Baja XP with a tubular steel frame with injected molded foam that’s been covered with a military-grade mesh lining and a paracord suspension material. They then upholster the seat with easy to clean vinyl. Corbeau also offers customers optional features like an integrated inflatable lumbar support, seat heater, a canvas seat saver, or a Baja Adapter that allows you to install the seat on a flat mounting surface rather than directly to a roll cage.
Simpson is one of the largest names in racing equipment, so their seats are ideal for highspeed off-roading at the dunes or through the forest trails. The Simpson Racing Pro Sport Off-Road Suspension Seat is primarily for installation on UTVs, but it can be fitted to Baja Bugs, modified Jeeps, and a number of other off-roading applications as well. The same construction trusted by Baja 1000 racing teams can be found utilized in this aftermarket seat that also provides a stylistic look and a comfortable feel. Simpson covered the seat with a vinyl upholstery that makes it easy to clean after a day in the dirt.
Another significant name within motorsports circles is MasterCraft. The company is one of the best aftermarket resources for off-roading safety and seating equipment while also being one of the leading brands used by trophy trucks and other off-road racing series. Their experiences on and off the track have led to the development of the MasterCraft 3G-4. This off-road racing seat utilizes their proven suspension seating system in conjunction with 10-inch deep-sided hip bolsters and 8-inch torso bolsters to provide superior passenger containment. The construction of the 3G-4 is made up of a laser-notched 4130 (Chromoly) tubular frame covered in high resiliency foam and a Dirt Sport Cover. That seat cover helps aid in general wear and tear while also looking great with its carbon fiber vinyl accent pattern. MasterCraft provides an adjustable lumbar support, electronic seat heater, CamelBak integration, and a rear seat pocket as additional options.
BRAUM is another major motorsport safety equipment manufacturer, but their ELITE-X straddles the line between purpose-built racecar and luxury appointed seating. They took their ELITE series seat design, mixed it with their VENOM series style, and wrapped it in a luxurious leatherette upholstery to make an aggressive looking luxury seat. BRAUM constructed the seat using a lightweight steel tube frame covered in injection molded foam like their racing seats, but this one is reclinable making it more functional. BRAUM provides the ELITE-X in a number of different leatherette colors and stitching combos. There’s even a special Navy Denim with orange accenting option if you’re looking for something unique.
Scheel-Mann is another German aftermarket seating manufacturer that’s backed by a heritage in motorsports. The company’s seat designs are not as aggressive as other modern aftermarket seating and they’re instead focused on heightened ergonomics to provide a practical and comfortable riding experience. Their top-of-the-line Vario F is the most luxurious seat from their catalog. Not only does the Vario F provide a great seat shape for comfort, but Scheel-Mann gave the seat 14-way adjustability to fine tune to your personal comfort. The lower cushion can be adjusted for thigh length, upper bolsters can be moved in and out, and there’s a 4-way lumbar support that can be adjusted for intensity and height. Scheel-Mann further heightens the Vario F by providing integrated heating in the back and seat cushion as well as the capability to add armrests. You can find the Vario F available in three different leatherette and cloth combinations as well as a complete leather option.
Not to be out done, Germany’s other major aftermarket seat manufacturer has their own ergonomic luxury seat. The RECARO Ergomed ES is the company’s most comfortable seat and will have you wanting to never leave the car. RECARO boasts about the seat’s “elegant looks, premium quality and a range of customization options” and I have to say I agree with them. It has that ‘90s sports car seat look while giving passengers a supportive yet comfortable experience. RECARO made the Ergomed ES completely adjustable through its lumbar support, extendable seat cushion, adjustable headrest, electric powered thigh and torso bolsters, electric powered height adjustment, electric powered tilt adjustment, and an electric powered backrest adjustment. RECARO claims that the Ergomed ES provides 173 quadrillion different seat adjustment combinations and I’m inclined to believe it. The Ergomed ES is available in Nardo/Artista, Leather/Artista Black, Leather/Dinamica Black, or complete leather for upholstery and it comes with a climate package that can heat or cool the seat. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury aftermarket car seat, this just may be it.