The Fiat 500 has attracted a genuine club motorsport following since the 2007 launch. The car is light, it handles well, and the Abarth variants have a proper racing scene built around them, but a standard 500 turns up at track days regularly too. The factory seats are the weak point: flat foam with minimal lateral support, and the seating position sits you higher than you want in a car this compact. A sport seat on a fitting frame addresses both.
Sparco make a direct-fit sub-frame for the 2007-generation 500 (sometimes listed as the Fiat 500 New, to distinguish it from the original 1957 car). There is one frame route through us for this car. Pick the seat, order two frames, add the runner kit, and that is everything you need.
The Sparco sub-frame is the only fitting frame we stock for the 2007-generation 500. It attaches to the factory floor mounting points, brings the seat down to a proper driving height, and puts the fixing at 345mm x 271mm, which is the standard Sparco pattern. That covers the full Sparco recliner range and all three Corbeau seats in this guide. The frame is the most expensive in the Sparco range at this price, which reflects the floor geometry on the 500: the mounting layout is more involved than a standard hatchback and Sparco had to engineer specifically around it.
£94.50 inc VAT per frame, sold individually. Order 2 for a pair. Attaches to the factory floor mounting points, no drilling required on a standard car. 345mm x 271mm pattern. Specify driver or passenger side when ordering. Sliding runners are not included: add the Sparco runner kit (product 184229) for fore-aft adjustment.
All five seats in this guide use a base-mount pattern that matches the Sparco sub-frame. The three Corbeau seats have both 345mm and 405mm holes drilled into the base, which gives them flexibility across different frame routes on other cars. On the Fiat 500, only the 345mm holes are in use since that is what the Sparco sub-frame is built around. The two Sparco seats are 345mm only.
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Sparco sub-frame | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corbeau SVR | 345 or 405 | Fits | Low-profile backrest, recommended for tight rooflines |
| Corbeau PSR | 345 or 405 | Fits | Value pair, slightly taller backrest than SVR |
| Sparco R100 | 345 x 271 | Fits | Widest size range in the guide |
| Corbeau Sportline RRS Low Base | 345 or 405 | Fits | Lower base height than standard Sportline RRS |
| Sparco R500 Sky | 345 x 271 | Fits | More shoulder support than the R100 |
If the headroom in your 500 is marginal, start here. The SVR has a lower backrest profile than most of the Corbeau range, which is exactly what a small car with a curved roofline needs. The shoulder and thigh bolsters give good lateral support for both track days and everyday use, and the vinyl shell is easy to keep clean. Corbeau sell the SVR as a pair with matched mounting centres, so both sides go on the Sparco sub-frames with no compromise to the driver’s side fit. On a car where roof clearance is the main variable, a pair confirmed against the same backrest height makes the decision straightforward.
The PSR is Corbeau’s entry recliner, and it is the most cost-effective way to sort both seats in one purchase. The backrest is slightly taller than the SVR, which is worth checking against your headroom before you order. The cloth face on the standard PSR is comfortable on long runs. If the budget is the main variable and the roof gives you enough room, the PSR is a solid choice: same frame, same fixing pattern, well below the SVR price. I have sold a lot of these into small hatchbacks and the comments back are consistently good.
The R100 is the recliner we sell more of than any other, and Sparco list it as suitable for all waist sizes and for drivers both over and under six foot. That matches what we see on the counter: it is a hard seat to be the wrong shape for. Sold individually so you can do one side first to check the position before committing to both. The base is open and flat, so there is no leg bolster to fight on the way in and out of the car, which matters more in a two-door than it sounds. On a 500 where the door opening is already tight, an R100 does not make entry any harder than the factory seat did.
The Low Base version of the Sportline RRS sits lower than the standard RRS, which is the right choice if the SVR backrest height is still close for you or you are on the taller end of the scale. The bolster shape is Corbeau’s classic sculpted profile rather than the smoother SVR style, so the feel in the shoulder area is slightly different: more pronounced lateral support, which some drivers prefer on a track day. Like the other Corbeau seats here, it has both 345mm and 405mm holes in the base, so it is not locked to the Sparco route if you ever move it to a different car. Sold individually.
The R500 is the natural step up from the R100. The backrest is taller and the shoulder bolsters are noticeably deeper, so your body stays in place through faster corners without you having to brace. The Sky version swaps the standard back panel for a mesh, which makes a difference on longer motorway runs when the R100 backrest gets warm. If the choice is between R100 and R500, the R100 wins on size range and price. The R500 wins if you want clearly more lateral support, or if you already know the R100’s bolsters will not hold you on a circuit. Both are similar in base height, so headroom is not the deciding factor between them.
The Sparco sub-frame is fixed position when you bolt it to the floor. That is fine for a single driving position, but most road cars need fore-aft travel. Add the Sparco runner kit between sub-frame and seat base: one pair covers both seats and works with all five seats in this guide, since every one of them uses the 345mm Sparco pattern. Fit the runners before you torque the floor bolts, and check the seat belt buckle position once the seat is in. A sport seat often relocates the buckle compared to the factory seat, and that is worth confirming before you drive.
| Your seat | Runner kit | Pattern match |
|---|---|---|
| Any seat in this guide | Sparco runner kit, £78.00 inc VAT per pair | 345mm: matches the Sparco sub-frame |
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Waist | Height | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbeau SVR | 345 or 405 | Not published | Not published | £1,020.00 (pair) |
| Corbeau PSR | 345 or 405 | Not published | Not published | £558.00 (pair) |
| Sparco R100 | 345 x 271 | All sizes | Over and under 6ft | £282.00 (single) |
| Corbeau Sportline RRS Low Base | 345 or 405 | Not published | Not published | £498.00 (single) |
| Sparco R500 Sky | 345 x 271 | 32 to 38in | All heights | £349.00 (single) |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 18 October 2026. Where waist and height say not published, the manufacturer does not list them and we will not guess. The Corbeau SVR and PSR pair prices cover both seats in one order. If you are near a size boundary on the R500, ask before ordering.
No. The Sparco sub-frame bolts directly to the factory seat mounting points on the floor. No drilling required on a standard car. Torque the floor bolts correctly when fitting and check the seat belt buckle position afterwards, since a sport seat can land the buckle somewhere the factory seat did not.
This guide covers the 2007-generation petrol Fiat 500 only. The 2020 electric 500e is a different platform. If you have the 500e, ask us before ordering and we will check whether a fitting frame exists for that car.
Corbeau machine both 345mm and 405mm fixing holes into the seat base on most models in their range. On the Fiat 500, the Sparco sub-frame uses the 345mm holes. The 405mm holes are unused on this car but give you flexibility if the seat ever moves to a different vehicle with a wider-spaced frame.
Every seat in this guide is listed by its manufacturer as 4-point compatible, with harness slots in the backrest. If you are planning harnesses alongside the seat, mention it when you order and we will confirm the whole setup works together.
No. The Abarth 500 uses different sub-frames to the standard 500. We have a separate guide covering the top 5 reclining seat choices for the Fiat Abarth 500, which explains the frame options for that car in full.
The 500 is a low-roof car, so the SVR pair is where I would start: both seats sorted to a known backrest height, and the reduced profile means you are not guessing on clearance. If the budget is tighter, the PSR pair does both sides for a good deal less on the same frame. For a single seat on the driver’s side first, the R100 is the straightforward option across the widest range of drivers. The R500 Sky is worth the step up if you want clearly more shoulder support on a track day. The Sportline RRS Low Base suits anyone who finds the SVR backrest still catches the headlining, or who wants a more sculpted bolster shape.
All five seats use the same sub-frame and the same runner kit, so there is nothing to get wrong on the fitting side. If you want to talk through the options against your height and waist before ordering, or if you are not sure which seat to go for, call us on 0115 9893488.
The Fiat 500 (New) has one Sparco frame route and a low roofline that rules out full-height recliners. These are the five reclining seats we recommend, with fitting costs and product details.
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