When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
What a drag. Been looking for almost 2 years for a nice set of buckets for my 77. I would love to get the next style up from mine which are called the clamshell style. I believe 1979-1983. No luck. Can't find any C5's. No Fiero's. None of the aftermarket seats from Summit or Jegs fit. Every bucket seat I have looked at used is too wide. I am pretty sure I need no more than 19" wide at the base. I heard that some Toyota models fit. I don't even drive my car much anymore because those stock 77 flat bottom and back seats are really uncomfortable plus mine are in very poor shape and need to go to the scrap yard.
Have you looked at C6 seats? I think they will fit the C3 with some mods...
For the last 2 years I have scoured all the local trade papers and Craigslist and everywhere else looking for Corvette seats. Since I have been looking I have found a few pairs of stock 1977 seats which I already have. I have yet to find anybody selling later C3's, C5's or C6's. I would imagine a set of C6's would be insanely expensive. Every car I have found that was being parted out was missing the seats! I was hoping the Summit G1159-2 seats would fit my car. There is a person who bought them for his 1975 and he posted that they fit perfectly. Unfortunately.. there are several thousand threads debunking his story!!! Those seats are 21.5" wide which is too wide. I don't know how he fit them in. If I had unlimited money I would just buy those custom Corbeau A4's but I don't have $1000+ to spend on 2 seats. I want to spend around $300 for a nice set of buckets which I thought wasn't going to be hard. I was wrong.
For the last 2 years I have scoured all the local trade papers and Craigslist and everywhere else looking for Corvette seats. Since I have been looking I have found a few pairs of stock 1977 seats which I already have. I have yet to find anybody selling later C3's, C5's or C6's. I would imagine a set of C6's would be insanely expensive. Every car I have found that was being parted out was missing the seats! I was hoping the Summit G1159-2 seats would fit my car. There is a person who bought them for his 1975 and he posted that they fit perfectly. Unfortunately.. there are several thousand threads debunking his story!!! Those seats are 21.5" wide which is too wide. I don't know how he fit them in. If I had unlimited money I would just buy those custom Corbeau A4's but I don't have $1000+ to spend on 2 seats. I want to spend around $300 for a nice set of buckets which I thought wasn't going to be hard. I was wrong.
I just checked eBay, and there are many C5 and C6 seats available. Prices range from 350 a pair to over 1000. I have not had good luck with local suppliers for specialty items like seats but I can understand completely your wanting better seats for your car. I know many people do not like eBay but I have purchased many things that I could not find anywhere else (especially C4 suspension components) and had good luck.
I had clamshells in my 74 (and loved them) but they are very hard to find. It sounds like you have a very nice car, hopefully you can find what you need to make you love driving it.
I wasn't sure of the exact year. The seats that I like the best are the clamshell style.
I bought a set of 79 clamshells off this forum abought six months ago ! Black leather and perfect ! They fit perfect in my 77 and are as a leather driving glove and got them for $350. and my brother got them to me from Atlanta so no shipping! Here's mine !
I have a friend here with a set of the clamshell seats with new leather covers he would sell. If you're interested, I'll get the price. Shipping would be a big deal depending where you are.
Just did the foam and new covers in my 77 and they are very comfortable, my wife even says they are great and that's real high praise because she is not a real fan of the ride in my vette.
C4 seats will fit with adaptor plates for the back holes (the front line up perfectly) have a friend who has a C4 and C5 he rates the C4 seats ahead of the C5. C4 seats a lot lighter than C3. Fitted C4 seats to my '70, got tired of the missus complaining about my cornering and I was worried she would pull the door handle off using it for support.
the std (non sport) seats are awesome..super comfortable supportive way better than the C5 or early C3 seats
Sounds like a poster is saying you can put the clamshell foams on yours? That would be ideal they seem fairly comfortable and look great
Keep an eye out on the C5 and C6 for sale section on the forum. I got a set of C5's for dirt cheap.....with the adapter kit and shipping it was under $600 total. The leather isn't perfect (7 out of 10) but hell of a lot more comfortable!
Hello JGCABLE,
I have a set of 1981 Clamshell Seats (Cinnabar)
They need WORK!
New foam a MUST. Easy Availibility
New Covers a MUST. Easy Availibility
Fiberglass Clamshells may need some cosmetic repairs,
depending on how fussy you are? Then Painted.
The back of the clamshell design has carpet glued on,
thus you would need to source Your correct color carpet.
Lastly the seat track assemblies are the parts that are NOT easily sourced.
These are dirty-rusty & not easily disassembled (Rivets).
If You would like I can send some photos to You?
I would need $200 + You pay the shipping, I'm in the Seattle area.
Larry - Silver 7T8
Hello JGCABLE,
I have a set of 1981 Clamshell Seats (Cinnabar)
They need WORK!
New foam a MUST. Easy Availibility
New Covers a MUST. Easy Availibility
Fiberglass Clamshells may need some cosmetic repairs,
depending on how fussy you are? Then Painted.
The back of the clamshell design has carpet glued on,
thus you would need to source Your correct color carpet.
Lastly the seat track assemblies are the parts that are NOT easily sourced.
These are dirty-rusty & not easily disassembled (Rivets).
If You would like I can send some photos to You?
I would need $200 + You pay the shipping, I'm in the Seattle area.
Larry - Silver 7T8
Thanks for the offer but I am looking for complete seats that I can just modify to accept my original tracks. I have 4 sets of tracks. 2 sets of them are in great shape.
I bought a set of 79 clamshells off this forum abought six months ago ! Black leather and perfect ! They fit perfect in my 77 and are as a leather driving glove and got them for $350. and my brother got them to me from Atlanta so no shipping! Here's mine !
Replacement seats for my 77
