The Type Classic is a retro-style fixed-back bucket in wear-resistant fabric. Part number SS50Z, £165 single, black only. Weight is 6.2kg. It was designed for classic cars, kit cars, and hot rods rather than modern road cars, and the styling reflects that: lower-backed, narrower at the shoulder, and closer in shape to the period-correct seats that came in classic British sports cars originally.
Auto Style introduced the Type Classic in 2010 to compete directly with similar retro-bucket seats from Corbeau and Cobra, both of which produce designs in the same bracket. At £165, the Classic Fabric is the most affordable fixed-back seat in the Auto Style range.
The bolt pattern is 345mm x 280mm. Sliders are included. Road and Track approval, all heights and all waist sizes. Works with a 4-point harness. No headrest.
The Classic Vinyl (SS50, £194.50) is the same shell in vinyl, available in black or beige for £29.50 more. If the car needs a beige seat to match original trim, the Vinyl is the only way to get there. If black fabric and the lower price are both acceptable, this is the seat.
For a car where the cabin dimensions are tight and the seat needs to fit where modern shells will not, the low back and narrower profile of the Classic is an advantage over the taller, wider reclining range.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes: Auto Style Type Classic Bucket Seats Now Available to View In-Store covers this product, from our own fittings and showroom.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker lists no driver size restriction on this seat, so it suits the full range of heights and waists. Those are the paper numbers; how a seat actually feels to sit in and climb out of is a different question, and our showroom team sit in these seats every day, so call us with your height and waist and we will give you the honest answer.
What kind of car suits this seat?
Classic and retro vehicles, which is exactly what this shell is designed around. The low-back retro style belongs in a period build, not a modern car, however tempting the weight figure looks. If you are kitting out a modern road or track car, we will point you at the right modern shell instead.
Is this seat FIA approved?
No, this is a road and track day seat rather than a homologated competition seat. For events that require an FIA seat, look at the FIA-approved shells in the range, and ask us if you are unsure what your series needs.
What do I need to fit it to my car?
This is a base-mount seat: it bolts down through its base, the simpler stack for road cars. You will need the car-specific frame, and a sliding runner if you want fore-and-aft adjustment. Our guide on base mount versus side mount walks through the whole stack, and tell us your car and we will quote the full kit.
Does it work with harnesses and a HANS device?
The shell takes 4 point compatible. If you are planning the full seat, harness, and HANS setup, tell us the car and we will spec it end to end.
How do I know it will feel right, not just fit on paper?
Fair question, because makers publish widths and weights, never feel, and two seats with identical numbers can feel nothing alike in the car. We keep the ranges on display in the Nottingham showroom, you are welcome to come and sit in them, and if you cannot get to us, call and describe your build, as the team sit in these seats every day. Our head support measurements guide shows the kind of real-world data we collect.
