TwinTorino.com

Seating

Overview / Dash Panel / Manual Conversion / Headliner & Misc.

To start, we opted to go with stock bucket seating because we lucked out and found these 2 sets of seats early on in the process. We also feel the original seating also helps to keep the styling from the 60's and keeps the muscle car feel there. We will see if that opinion still stands after driving around in them for extended periods of time. Original seat belts will be retained for daily driving.

Moving ahead to the present - original seats are just not going to cut it with the cornering forces these cars will be seeing. The cars will be equipped with Sparco Torino II's (ironically enough) as we were lucky enough to find these for a very low price. The nice thing about these seats is that they tilt forward, allowing the rear seat to be used. They are a great all around seat for the street and the track. That means we now have 5 sets of 68/69 buckets just kicking around. They will be sold off to pay for these and for more parts for the project.

The seats will be fitted with Torino bucket seat tracks so the old ones can still be swapped in, and the stock holes can be used.

Quick Tips:

- Know how to spot the fakes before you spend a fortune!! Within a week of buying our first set, we came across our first set of fake Sparco Torinos. To the casual onlooker, the seller may fool you into buying these thinking they are legit. They will be asking retail prices too, so watch out! Here is a quick comparison between two sets we looked at. The fake is on the left, the legit one is on the right.

Cheap looking stitched logos and narrow headrest. If you feel around, the fakes have no padding in the headrest area either.

Cheap plastic inserts for the shoulder belts. Legit ones also have Sparco in the plastic. Also note how close together the holes are. I don't recall anyone with shoulders that slim :).

Real Sparcos have an embroidered tag on them (see pic above)

Real Sparcos have a handle to let you move the seats forward for access into the back seats. Fake ones do not.

Real Sparcos have seat adjusters (see above) to set the angle of the seat back. Fake ones do not, although they have cheap mechanisms and a cheesy cover for them.

Fake Sparcos do not have a tag underneath showing manufacturing info etc. Italian writing has distinct features.

Georgia Torino

Texas Torino

Back in the beginning: These seats were bought in a stash of parts (see parts stash). They look awful, but with a new set of covers and an overall rebuild they will be back to new once again.

Seat covers are brand new and were purchased on offline after spotting them on Ebay. The price was less than half of what they go for new (with seat covers you are almost always stuck with full price). We emailed the seller asking about them and if he knew where we could find more, and it turns out he had two sets, so we bought them both. They are ICP Crown brand which are supposed to be excellent, although the company no longer exists. Pictures and details to follow of the rebuilds.

1/30/09 - We managed to find a set of barely used Schroth 4-point harnesses. They are the Rallye 4 models. They tie into the stock mounting points on the front, and use the rear lap belt anchors in the rear. They also have a buckle to detatch the shoulder harness so someone can sit in the back which is nice since they are designed to be installed with the rear lap belts still in place. These are actually DOT approved unlike many other racing harnesses out there. Since the cars will be driven regularly on the street and on the track - these seemed to make the most sense. They are also a great alternative to having a harness bar in the backseat as part of a roll cage.

1/30/09 -Now that the interior mock-up begins, seats are placed into the car and seat tracks are setup up to determine their location.

8/11/08: Out with the old, and in with the new. Texas Torino gets a set of black Sparco Torino II's. Should work great in the car, and work as well as they look.

Back in the beginning: These seats (Cyclone possibly??) we bought off Ebay as you see them. The comfort weave covers are in excellent condition and will likely end up on Ebay when they come apart. Pictures and reupholstery stories, tips and pictures to come.