Mazda RX7 And Reclining Sports Seats
Seat fitting guide
Planning to fit aftermarket sports seats into a Mazda RX7? This guide sets out what works and what to avoid. The short version, from customers we have helped before: the RX7 has a small cockpit, and only seats with a short back will fit.
That rules out almost every reclining sports seat, which all share a tall back. A fixed back bucket seat with a short back, on a low frame, is the route we recommend.
- The RX7 cockpit is small and limits the height of seat you can fit
- Reclining sports seats are near impossible to fit, because of their tall backs
- Short, narrow, fixed back bucket seats are the answer
- Steel frame bucket seats suit the RX7 well, with both base and side mount points
- Planted Technology make RX7 specific brackets for each generation
- Add a sliding runner from the seat's own brand for fore and aft adjustment
What is on this page
Why reclining seats struggle in an RX7
The photo shows the problem. The customer used a Planted Technology base frame, which has one of the lowest profiles available, and the reclining seat still would not fit: the top of the back reaches the roof lining before the seat is anywhere near the right position.
Reclining sports seats all share the same high back design, so this is not a problem one brand solves. In an RX7 we recommend fitting only fixed back bucket seats with a short back.
The bucket seats we recommend
The seats that work are short enough to clear the roof and narrow enough to keep clear of the doors. Steel frame bucket seats are our first choice, because they all have a low, narrow shape that suits a tight cockpit like the RX7’s.
Every version of the Cobra Monaco Sport is ideal for track days and fast road use, and it carries Road and Track approval. For motorsport, the Cobra Monaco Pro, the OMP TRS-E and the Sparco Sprint are all homologated to FIA 8855-1999, so they can be used in competition. Our Monaco Pro fitment guide for the RX7 Mk3 goes into that seat in more detail.
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RX7 brackets, runners and side mounts
Planted Technology make seat brackets for each RX7 generation: the first generation SA and FB (1979 to 1985), the second generation FC (1986 to 1992) and the third generation FD (1992 to 2002). All three take different brackets. Each lines up with the factory bolt holes in the floor, and its multiple bolt points take most aftermarket racing seats, including all the steel frame seats above.
For fore and aft adjustment, fit a sliding runner between the frame and the seat. The Sparco sliding runner kit suits the Sparco and OMP seats, and the Cobra runner is for Cobra seats only. Steel frame seats have both base and side mount bolt points, so side mounts are optional. If you do use them, a multi point side mount such as the Endurance Motorsport M8 bracket gives more bolt positions to set the seat’s height and tilt accurately.
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Garreth’s advice is to send us your height and waist along with the RX7’s generation before you order anything. Every seat we recommend here is in our steel frame bucket seat range, from Corbeau, Cobra, Sparco, Momo and Sabelt.
Can I fit reclining seats to a Mazda RX7?
Rarely. Reclining sports seats have tall backs that reach the roof, even on a low frame, so we recommend short back bucket seats.
Which bucket seats fit an RX7?
Short, narrow, fixed back seats. Steel frame seats such as the Cobra Monaco, OMP TRS-E and Sparco Sprint suit the small cockpit.
Do I need side mounts for a steel frame seat in an RX7?
No. Steel frame seats have base mount points too, so they can bolt straight to a Planted frame.
Is there a Planted bracket for every RX7?
Yes. Planted list separate brackets for the first, second and third generation RX7.
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Our adviceShort back, low frame
Skip the recliner: a short, narrow steel frame bucket on a Planted bracket is what fits an RX7.
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