Understanding Scheel seats for Porsche 914, 914-6, There are a lot of threads, not a lot of answers… Options

[horizontally-opposed]

I just found a pair of Scheel seats for my 914 that I couldn't pass up. They are thought to have never been installed, and the underside and 914 seat rails suggest that might be true. The little damage that the seats do have topside looks like it could indeed be shop wear. Whatever the case, the price was right and the corduroy looked good, so I decided to buy them.

I've sat in Scheels here and there over the years, and some seemed really nice while others were pretty tight. Well, wouldn't you know it: The one wearing the driver's side 914 seat rails is very nice but a bit tight while the one wearing passenger seat rails is loooooovely. That's funny, as taking a tape measure to the width of the seat centers suggests it should be the other way around. And that's when I started to notice the differences between the heights of the pleats in both the back rests and the seat bottoms.

But both seats have 914 headrests that exactly match the material on the bolsters and backs (which looks super original and in generally great shape...in line with the underside of the seats) and both seats came on 914 seat rails that look like they could be NOS. I know all that may not prove much, but…

I've looked through a lot of threads on Scheel seats, and looked around the internet too. Not a lot of great information so far—though maybe you know a better source? Gerrit looks to have let his website go, and the Scheel Austria site seems to be focused on later Scheel seats for Ford Escorts, etc. Any go-to sites or experts now?

I will be installing these seats in my 1973 914 in the weeks to come, and will report back about fit with the factory back pad. And while the corduroy is nice now, I am thinking about buying some of the stuff used in the 991.2 GT3 Touring, as it looks very similar but is sure to be quite a bit more durable given modern wear requirements.

[mepstein]

I have a set of 114 seats. They have a metal frame. They fit 914’s. I don’t think any of their other seats have a proper 914 fit but the 300 racing or one very close was used on the 914-6GT. I would put the most comfortable one in the driver side. Many older porsche’s have non matching seats. Wouldn’t bother me a bit. Those seats look like they are in terrific shape. Congrats.

Besides Rory, Glenn Stazak is very knowledgeable about Scheel seats

[horizontally-opposed]

Pete can not wait to see what you find out.

Me too! This project may move slowly, as I think I am going to see if a local upholstery shop can do anything for the small holes on one of the bolster...even an imperfect repair would be better than redoing these, as they are so original. Just want to prevent the holes from getting bigger.

What I have found out so far is that one of these seats is one of the most comfortable seats I have sat in in any car. Definitely want to figure out what it is, and which one of these is which.

We need a picture of the side view. It will tell if it is for a 911 or 914 .Back angle must match 914 seat.

Will get such a pic!

AFAIK Scheels are not side specific.
Switch the rails to put the more comfortable seat on the drivers side. My inserts were a bit baggy but the original material was re-fitted by a local upholstery shop. I'm working on restoring the original Scheel emblems that fit on the upper backrest.

^ Thank you! Very helpful, and I think I am going to switch the rails for sure. Saw your thread and they sure came out great. I will ask about tightening these up a hair, but they are pretty good as is—certainly nice enough to use for a while. The reality is I've never seen a set of well used Scheels where the corduroy looked good, so I am going to ask a friend at PAG if there's a way to buy some of the new corduroy they use in the current GT3 Touring. Want to take a closer look at that material, as it may provide the correct Scheel look (or close enough for me) with much better wear. Will report back, and please keep us posted on your Scheel emblem restoration. These seats look largely unused, but the even then the Scheel logos are very, very faint.

I have a set of 114 seats. They have a metal frame. They fit 914’s. I don’t think any of their other seats have a proper 914 fit but the 300 racing or one very close was used on the 914-6GT. I would put the most comfortable one in the driver side. Many older porsche’s have non matching seats. Wouldn’t bother me a bit. Those seats look like they are in terrific shape. Congrats.

Besides Rory, Glenn Stazak is very knowledgeable about Scheel seats

Thanks! I think I am going to do just that, and am hopeful that even if the comfier seat is the wrong seat for the 914 that I might be able to make it work on the driver's side—as I lowered the seat rails on that side by about 0.8-inch and that might help with back pad clearance. We'll see. Also see that my back pad may be sitting 0.25-inch to 0.5-inch low...going to see what's up with that, too. Would love to make these seats work in my car—and find ways to make them work for others who think it's 114 only.

First, however, it would be great to determine exactly which version each seat is.