Early cars head restraint solutions? 1987 BDR

[anthonym]

I am thinking of a Tillett for the driver and leaving the original low back seat for passengers, as my prime passenger likes it already. However, I am concerned about the lack of head restraint. Are there any effective solutions for that for the passenger? So where I say "effective" I am thinking that a bit of pipe padding added to the roll bar is not ideal. I stand to be corrected about that.

anthony

[paul_w]

I'm looking at a similar issue on my S1 bitsa, and have decided I will create support bars for simple round cushions along the lines of this:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/kirkham-motorsports/107363-headrest.html

as a period-looking, whiplash-minimizing option.

I have not done it yet though I am considered preparing it for hillclimbing and would therefore need to change the roll bar and work out what rules might apply regarding the headrest extensions. I do have a couple of the Caterham head restraint brackets that I could use/adapt.

I am sure for the price of a Tillet you could get someone to fabricate a headrest support and get headrests made for both sides and keep the original seats if that appealed. My dad's BDR has the low back seats and I will do the same thing if I ever manage to prise it away from him :-D

 

[Molecular--Bob]

Caterham used to do a "half headrest" which was thinner than the standard one, so you could push the seat a little further back, would that work for your passenger seat? That assumes that your seat has the headrest tubes in place?

[paul_w]

I was assuming the seats predate the ones with the head rest tubes, and are the 80s standard fit Caterham items.

[Molecular--Bob]

That could be the case. My car is 1990 spec and had the pre-s-type seats which don't have a head rest, but do have the tube in place should you wish to fit one, just wasn't sure when these were introduced.

[elie boone]

You could fit a LHD FIA bar as this FIA bar would make it easier to put an head restraint pad onto the rollbar for the passenger. but you couldn't use a petty strut anymore.

[Sooty]

I went through this debate after a 2k miles trip last year. I looked at Oxteds option of the newer S type and the GT seat but neither achieved what I wanted. Tillets were not an option as the hips just too tight in the tillets. I ended up with a better solution bespoke made with me specifying the leather, the pattern of perforations, extra thigh and lumber support and headrests and at half of Oxteds quote for GT seats

I had also investigated having headrest tubes welded into the existing frame but Aldridge Trimming ( who do a lot of work for Car SOS) advised that it would be more expensive than new seats

[anthonym]

No tubes.

A pic please Sooty?

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/kirkham-motorsports/107363-headrest.html looks interesting, not least as I could fit and remove as required.

here she is (was):

[Sooty]

Angle of seat back is slightly upright on standard seats and lowered floors fitted th create better driving position

[anthonym]

Thank you, and very nice too.  

[Tazio]

Carbon Tart that you are Sooty 

[Sooty]

Taz