Vilhuer

Regardless of option code type there were more seat possibilities available than what normal option list makes one believe. Geting some of them like 8-way sport seats with heat required special order. In normal price lists I have seen it wasn't possible to specify both comfort and sport seat options at same time which 8-way sport seat basically is.

You can't use option code list from US model production as complete possibilities list. There were so many obscure options available that its very likely some are missing from every single US car. Something like M208 Trailer hitch might not have made into any of them even though it was installed on some ROW cars in production line and cars have code in sticker to prove it. Hitch might not have type approval for US 968 but its just sample of codes what might be missing from all US cars yet could have been ordered. It certainly was possible to get in US 928 and in all just 7 cars had it in '80-86 MY's.

Even though externally they look different 928 uses exact same seat frames as 968. There is provision for extra stuff needed for lumbar support in them. At least in those I have seen. Only difference between sport and non sport frame is different shape pipes on seat sides which supports larger bolsters. Non sport frame is easy to convert to sport seat style. Covering and soft stuff in between is more difficult in a way that it costs more $$$ to have made to do conversion. Frame requires just simple welding jop.

jeff968

I'm not, I'm using the actual factory production build data for each of the 4,242 NA 968s. Granted, the dealership could have installed anything the customer wanted but I don't consider the dealership factory. I have yet to see a disagreement between my factory data and a NA 968 that I have come across(other then dealer mods) and I have been watching and tracking these cars since they were new.

Can you show us a photo of a Euro 968 sport seat with full power?

tamathumper

Jeff, does NA here mean North America, or Normally Aspirated?

jeff968

North American (includes US and Canada, those are the cars in my database)

Vilhuer

Which is exact same thing I meant. Geting options of those US cars and combining all used codes from them.

M208 trailer hitch is good example of possible option no one wanted. It was actually installed in Stuttgart production line and not at dealer. That was only way for code to get into option sticker. Any 968 with that option listed? If yes then it was done on same production line where 34 ROW 928 GTS got their hitch.

No as I don't follow them that closely. Best what I might be able to do is factory original 8-way 928 sport seat as such photos should be somewhere in 928 forum archives. Having electric backrest movement means it has one motor in backrest when normal sport seat dont have any. That should not be possible according to normal factory documentation as M383 and M387 sport seat option shouldn't have more electrics than simple height adjustments. It was GT which had started life as factory employee company car. Those were usually optioned much better than average customer cars by people who knew what was possible to get from Exclusive department.

There were no reason why Exclusive department couldn't do more of them to anyone who was willing to pay. Including puting them into 968's. There aren't many 968's with $20K custom color carpets or $9K seatbelts either. People weren't willing to spend that kind of money, especially not for 968. 968 + $30K in options was same as geting 911 or 928 in standard colors.

jeff968

Well, if you come across a 968 sport seat with the full 8 way option be sure to post a photo but I'll go with the data and my 13 years of ownership and tracking and say no such thing was made and no factory trailer hitch for the NA 968s either.

FrenchToast

Edit: Been corrected. See below posts.

Only 1995 993's had this style sport seat. In 1996 they switched to the 'Hardback' Sport seat, which some argue is less aggressive in terms of bolstering. However, the comfort seat remained the same but with the new stitching.

Take care,

Damian in NJ

The sport seats in my 85.5 944 were not the same as the ones in my 968.

potent951turbo

The sport seats from a 944 are not 100% identical. The back rest tilt and fore/aft handles are different. Also if you want to get technical the seat belt receptacles are different as well although the buckles will still click in regardless.

155

So low and behold a set of factory sport seats come up for sale locally. Asking $1200 for the pair which is about fair market value i believe.

They're off a late model 944 and are 4 way adjustable for driver and passenger. Judging by the pictures they look to be in good condition with no visible wear.

For those that have replaced their seats at one time or another...

(A) Is it plug and play? My driver seat is full 8 way adjustable and my passenger side is manual. The new ones are both 4 way (manual fore/aft)
(B) What if they're heated? Are these cars prewired for any seat combination?
(C) Should I bother swapping 968 handles and seat belt receptacle on the new seats so its period correct?
(D) And finally should I keep my stock seats or offer them on trade?

Final thoiughts anyone? Sorry for the million questions its not like a set of these seats fall in your lap every day!

PorscheG96

Mark, they are totally plug and play. Go for it! The price and condition are right.

chudson

I disagree with this. I don't know how it worked in other countries, but every N/A 968 (along with every N/A Porsche for many years) entered Charleston, SC. Several of my friends worked at the pre delivery inspection facility including the people who printed the window decals and shipped the cars to the selling dealers. I toured the plant back in the day and asked a lot of questions of my friends who worked there.

Except for color to sample, options could be added here in Charleston (during PDI) as requested by the selling dealer. The option labels and window decals were then printed to match how the vehicle was shipped from the PDI center. This is how and why the window decal displays the US dealers info - it was printed stateside.

I'm not calling it impossible, but I doubt any 90s Porsche left the factory wearing a trailer hitch. It would have been added in the PDI process as ordered by the dealer.

155

Very cool, thanks. I'll post pix when i get them

kmckmc

How about this Lotus Elise "ProBax" seat? In Porsche 968.

User 41221

Those look horridly uncomfortable! Props to whomever wanted to do that, but its not my cup of tea.

I've been working on getting new seats in my DD (Scion FR-S and am convinced FR-S stands for "f$%&ing rotten seats") and am convinced there is no other option but Recaro if you want a comfortable seat that you can sit in for extended periods of time. I bought and installed a set of Recaro Sport seats in the car that were fantastic, but the fabric was worn out so I just replaced them with a set of new Recaro Sportster CS, which are not as comfortable but it may be due to them needing to get broken in. If I could have found some excellent condition Recaro Sport seats in leather, I would have jumped on them.

I have factory sport seats in my 951 and regular seats in my 968, and I am tempted to install a set of the Sportster CS seats in my 951, primarily due to weight savings but I think they are also more comfortable.