Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello gents,
, I'm currently going through the process of getting a Roadworthy certificate for my S3 so that I can get the car on the road.
One of the items that the mechanic picked on was that the seats flipped forward- ie not secured at the back.
Initially I thought, that's not fair they were never secured at the back and it's a 1967 car and shouldn't have to meet the requirements of a modern car!
Then I realised that If i want to do some hillclimbs then the scrutineers wont pass flip forward seats either. So I may as well do something about it.

Does anyone have a neat and simple method for securing the seats at the back? I'd like to keep the original seats and cause as little disruption to the originality of the car as possible.

cheers!
-Jim

I have been racing my Elan with the standard seats for 30 + years and never had an issue with the scrutineers. The CAMS regulations specifically allow original seats. If you replace the seats they need comply with FIA requirements that do not allow flip forward.

When your belted in the seats are going nowhere ( except maybe through the floor!. There are a lot of other issues about crash worthiness of an Elan but flip forward original seats is not really one of them

I don't believe there is any road worthy requirements for a pre 73 car to meet ADR's with regards seats either. I know of no Elan registered in Victoria that has had to have its seat secured! However if needed to get through a road worthy a clamp around the seat lower tube and track the seat runs in would fix it.

cheers
Rohan

Thanks Rohan

I thought only the +2 seats were flip forward seats....
???????????????????????

No they were flip forward until....USA regulations ? You can get non-flip seat tracks which are notched to retain the rear of the seat. Try usual suspects.(Paul Matty, miles Wilkins etc)

theelanman wrote:I thought only the +2 seats were flip forward seats....
???????????????????????

Depends how hard you fasten the front clamps on the standard elan seat I guess. If you do them up tight after you have decided on your driving position, there will be a lot of friction resisting the seat tipping forward.

But it will be impossible (?) to change the seat position.

richardcox_lotus wrote:No they were flip forward until....USA regulations ? You can get non-flip seat tracks which are notched to retain the rear of the seat. Try usual suspects.(Paul Matty, miles Wilkins etc)

well you learn something new every day.......

"But it will be impossible (?) to change the seat position.".....nope,the seat will still slide fore and aft...but you will still need your spanners to alter the rake.

John

john.p.clegg wrote:"But it will be impossible (?) to change the seat position.".....nope,the seat will still slide fore and aft...but you will still need your spanners to alter the rake.

John

That's what I meant, however you will find that you cannot slide it forwards until you loosen the clamps because rake & horizontal position are intimately related.

well i've spoken to my RWC guy and he's letting it go.
the car goes in on Tuesday for its final inspection, then i'm close to motoring!