I've done some searching on the board and found lots of comments about whether these seats fit people, but I have a slightly different question. In the market for a 430, and would like it to have the race seats. However, I wonder if it would be easier to find a good car and then retrofit the seats, if they're not present, rather than trying to find one with the seats in combination with other desirable attributes - thinking that maybe not many cars had these as delivered (?). Anyway, can anyone comment on how difficult this is, both to source the seats and fit them?
The seats are a easy swap, buying them from Ferrari won't be cheap (10K+) I'd try to find a car that had them and look at adding the other desired components. I have the sport seats in my 360 and love them. I never understood why more cars weren't ordered with them even with the 5K+ up-charge.
I think sparco was the original maker of those seats, and they sell a very similar one for much less. Recaro does as well.
Anywone who has fitted Sparco Milano seats? Instead of the expensive original ones? This could be a option - they are looking almost the same.
After the 355 and 550, Ferrari started using Sparco to develope and produce the carbon fiber seats for the road going cars,i.e. 360 and 575(and just assume also for the 430). The only CF aftermarket seats from Sparco are fixed back pure racing seats.....the "S Light" cost about $2900.00US(each seat) and is not available in leather. The Milano does not even come close to the Ferrari seat.... Try as you may, the CF Ferrari factory seats made by Sparco are just about impossible to find....if you do find a set expect to pay big$$$$...atleast $5-$8K for a used pair, and because they are sooooo rare the leather color may not be what you want. Don't forget about the seat rails that are needed for installation....another big chunk of $$$$$. I have never seen the 430 street version CF seats for sale anywhere in the world except by special order from the factory....I would say the cost may be around $15K for a pair in alcantera. This could be verified thru RicambiUSA or Eurospares in England.
The cabon fiber race seats would not pass DOT regulations in the US after 2005, that's why you don't see them over here. They were still available in Europe.
True race seats are fixed back and were only available in 348,355,360 etc. challenge race cars and were mainly produced by OMP, and 430 challenge are Sabelt. The CF sport seats have back adjust and are still available after 05 in the 430 USA version cars
I rode in a guys 550 with the sparco milano seat, and I was impressed vs. a friends 360 with the factory sport seats. I think he had to have an adapter fabricated to mount them though. It wasn't very expensive ($100?) though.
Now we are talking. Don´t like to invent the wheel again, so we have to find someone who has done this. Anyone who knows? Will check in some othe forums aswell. This seems to be a nice winter modification.
