There were 2 generations of 355 Challenge cars - pre 97 and post 97. And the 97 Evolution cars did not start at the beginning of 1997 with some early 97 cars still fitted with the earlier products. Two different Challenge specs with different P/Ns and specs including the seats.
Any know what deal is with "VID 2" seats? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes. But are they another variation of challenge seats? I havent any info on whether or not these were offered to the general market. If they were, these are close to the original VID seats and could be easier to find if they were no specific for challenge cars.
I managed to source one not to long ago. Its the same as the 348 Challenge and early 355 Challenge seat(correct me if I'm wrong), only that it is fiberglas. I want to restore mine, but still looking for nomex fabric, so if you know where to get that fabric please post info. Will be trying to make original Ferrari Challenge logo on headrest. Just curious to see how it turns out. Image Unavailable, Please Login
https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=2159 Red is in stock. Best of luck with the restore.
The current OMP Champ is very similar to the old VID. So is the ARS, which is also available in carbon. The major difference is they have larger harness holes, but otherwise have the same low side bolsters and overall shape. Unless you're doing a period restore of a challenge car, I'd probably just get a new seat.
Thanx for reply, but they don`t respond to my emails unfortunately. Any european suppliers of the same fabric??
I would think you should still be able to acquire Nomex fabric from OMP? If you do find a supplier, please post. Also, the picture you posted is of a red alcantara seat?
I did notice VID 2 Seats do not come in carbon. However, I am still puzzled simply because of dates these seats were made. There's very little info on VID or VID2 seats. If you notice the production date on the VID 2 seat, it says Feb 1997. That's around the same time F355 Challenge Vid seats are produced. I know the VID 2's are offered on 348 Challenge cars, but why are they still producing them in 1997? I am not so sure the VID 2's were offered to the general market. And also, why would a 348 Challenge seat be labeled VID 2 and a 355 Challenge seat labeled VID? One would think since the 348 seat came first, it would be the other way around. Either way. I ended up buying the VID 2 seat I posted from Japan just out of curiosity. My 355 challenge seats just arrived and I am excited to get them re-upholstered.
Ken, as I mentioned before, OMP also produced the VID 2 for the Mitsubishi Lancer. It's easy to forget that the way there is a Challenge Series for V-8 Ferraris, there are the equivalents for other manufacturers' models. 1997 Macau Trofeu Toyota Carina E [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4S8j_kL0sU&t=13s[/ame] Some very serious racing there with all those blind turns! Carlos Borges won the 1997 Trofeu Toyota Carina Series. He's at Classic Coach now and has been very helpful in coaching and helping me improve my F355 Challenge. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
They sell both styles nomex, padded and non padded I have purchased this several time along with nomex thread for export to friends with challenge cars. It is correct
Hey Barry. I looked into what you mentioned regarding the Mitsubishi Lancer and the only thing I can find on the net is one guy restoring one seat to put on his 90's Lancer. I also asked my buddy who is a Mitsubishi guy and he doesn't recall any collaboration between Mitsubishi and OMP. If the VID 2 was offered on other cars, my best guest would be it was offered on Alpha Romeos. I think I've found the sequence. 348 Challenge Seats, which I believe only came in carbon-kevlar (black and yellow composite weave) is denoted as a "VID K/C" seat. 355 Challenge Seats, which I believe came in carbon-kevlar AND carbon fiber (in both 3k 2x2 Twill Weave and 3k Plain Weave variations) with the carbon version denoted, "VID Carbon." The carbon-kevlar version might just say, "VID Kevlar." If someone has a 355 Challenge seat in carbon-kevlar, please confirm. The "VID 2" seat is just a variation of the 348 Challenge seat , but made in FRP and offered to who knows what cars... I just received the VID 2 (same style as 348 challenge seat) and compared it side by side to my 355 VID Carbon seat and they are nearly identical in shape. 1. Head rest shape is exactly the same 2. Exactly the same height. 3. Shoulder area is exactly the same shape 4. The bucket is exactly the same shape 5. The rear design of the bucket is exactly the same. The only differences I see are: 1. 355 challenge seat obviously has larger belt hoops 2. 355 challenge seat's thigh support pad is longer by about 1-2 inches although the same exact design. That's pretty much it. From a manufacturing point of view, you can easily turn a 348 Challenge seat into a 355 Challenge seat as long as you have the bigger belt hoops and the longer thigh support pad. All that needs to be done is to cut out larger holes in the bucket seat to accommodate the larger belt hoops. My guess is this is what Ferrari did in the early stages of the intro of the 355 challenge and that's probably why there are 355 OMP Challenge seats in carbon-kevlar (same as the one offered for 348 challenge). Just a slight easy modification to an older seat and VIOLA.... Ferrari has a new generation challenge seat. And on a side note, the FRP bucket is noticeably much more flexible than the carbon seat. The carbon seat really holds you in place.
348 Challenge seat (carbon-kevlar). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Do you guys use those on the track, or buying just for looks? Just asking, as the date codes are 20 years old and expired 5 times over... Do they allow them at hpde or tracks?
I just posted a random 348 challenge seat I found on the net. I acquired 355 challenge seats and a beat up ViD 2 seat (black one posted).
Try contacting OMP Italy for a distributor. OMP confirmed the nomex is not exactly the same used on the 90's. Close, not exact, but better... Would be good for a full seat cover restoration, not sectional restoration as you can run into matching issues (in color and texture).
The earliest OMP VID Carbon F355 Challenge seats, as in my 1995 car, had shorter headrests and narrow shoulder belt hoops... . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just bumping this thread up instead of starting a new one. I have a pair of OMP VID k/c seats that I was hoping to put in my car, but some priorities changed and I've had them sitting around. I'll clean them up soon and may post them on eBay. What are these selling for these days? (my matching OMP suit from my karting days is pure coincidence) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Difficult to value these seats these days. $2000 to $5000 for the pair in my opinion. Red seats with the "challenge" wording are period correct. Please post a photo of the production sticker.
I bought two seats in the last year+ with the Ferrari Challenge cover. Each ran around $2,000 usd Robb
The stickers are under the seats and a bit... scuffed Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
