C4 Trivia - Seating Evolution
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 984
Likes: 154
From: Columbia MD
C4 Trivia - Seating Evolution
All the talk of swapping C4/C5 Corvette seats in another thread reminds me of an interesting piece of trivia:
Have you ever felt that the C4 was just a bit cramped inside?
The C4 was designed to be adequately sized for the 90th percentile sized adult male.
It was discovered years after the C4 went into production that the mannequins used by the Corvette design team were ten years out of date. The C4 was actually designed to fit an adult male circa 1973. Thus the slightly cramped interior for the average adult male of 1983.
(Gleaned from "Corvette from the Inside" by Dave McLellan)
I suspect that the nearly vertical seat bolsters of the early C4's gave way to the smaller nearly non-existant bolsters of the later C4's to accomodate the larger body size of the typical contemporay adult male. (You'll notice how I delicately avoided saying the larger butt of the contemporary adult male
)
Have you ever felt that the C4 was just a bit cramped inside?
The C4 was designed to be adequately sized for the 90th percentile sized adult male.
It was discovered years after the C4 went into production that the mannequins used by the Corvette design team were ten years out of date. The C4 was actually designed to fit an adult male circa 1973. Thus the slightly cramped interior for the average adult male of 1983.
(Gleaned from "Corvette from the Inside" by Dave McLellan)
I suspect that the nearly vertical seat bolsters of the early C4's gave way to the smaller nearly non-existant bolsters of the later C4's to accomodate the larger body size of the typical contemporay adult male. (You'll notice how I delicately avoided saying the larger butt of the contemporary adult male
)
Last edited by LWesthaver; Nov 3, 2006 at 10:40 AM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 641
Likes: 16
From: O'Fallon MO
Gee, I just lost 20 lbs and had to squeeze the kidney bolsters with that little switch on the left front of the sport seat frame. I'm circa 1940 and the 1970's 90th percentile means I'm feeling 39 again before my body fell apart.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by adestoy
That's funny, I'm 6'-6" tall, 235 pounds, I fell in love with my 90 'cause it fit me like a friggin glove!!!
Of course it IS a convertible.
Of course it IS a convertible.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by LWesthaver
I suspect that the nearly vertical seat bolsters of the early C4's gave way to the smaller nearly non-existant bolsters of the later C4's to accomodate the larger body size of the typical contemporay adult male.
EDIT::: I should've made this one post... sorry guys.
Last edited by mikey whipreck; Nov 3, 2006 at 12:41 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
On a side note, I like your car. Its in awesome shape- but did you lose some NCRS points for your seats? They look like leather sport seats.
Lawrence's 1985's seats are correct if his 1985 is a late one - about halfway through the production run, sport seats became available in leather...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by j3studio
Joe/Lawrence/All,
Lawrence's 1985's seats are correct if his 1985 is a late one - about halfway through the production run, sport seats became available in leather...
Lawrence's 1985's seats are correct if his 1985 is a late one - about halfway through the production run, sport seats became available in leather...
I take it you've been working out some issues with the NCRS judges?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by rocco16
Interesting.
Sometimes it really is an advantage to be smaller than average....
Larry
code5coupe
Sometimes it really is an advantage to be smaller than average....
Larry
code5coupe
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 984
Likes: 154
From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
On a side note, I like your car. Its in awesome shape- but did you lose some NCRS points for your seats? They look like leather sport seats (which would make them not original).
EDIT::: I should've made this one post... sorry guys.
EDIT::: I should've made this one post... sorry guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I "just fit" in the 89. Had to use the glass top as my head just about touched. Knees were a little friendly with the pad under the dash, but not bad.
The standard 89 seats were the most comfortable and supportive Ive ever sat in, bar none.
Have more leg and head room in the 90, its good there. Sport seats look cool, but Id rather have the standards.
The standard 89 seats were the most comfortable and supportive Ive ever sat in, bar none.
Have more leg and head room in the 90, its good there. Sport seats look cool, but Id rather have the standards.