A Definitive Guide to the Cobra Classic RSR Retro Seat Range
Retro seat guide
For a retro style bucket seat, the Cobra Classic RSR is one of the best known choices there is. It is made to look and feel like the sports seats of the 1970s, with a little more comfort and support, which makes it a favourite for classic restorations and historic rally builds.
The appeal is that it does both jobs. Plenty of retro seats look right but do not hold you, and a modern bucket can look out of place in an old cockpit. The RSR gives you an upright position, harness slots and a headrest while keeping a period look. This guide covers the seat, the versions we list, its size and how it mounts.
- The tallest shell in Cobra's Classic family: 820mm, against 710mm for the standard Classic
- Steel frame, fixed back, with harness slots for a 4 point belt and a headrest
- Base mount only, on a 291mm x 330mm bolt pattern
- Road and track approved, not FIA homologated
- Listed in vinyl, leather, tartan, houndstooth and a fully custom Signature version
What is on this page
About the Cobra Classic RSR
The RSR is based on Cobra’s Classic seat, with a taller back: 820mm overall against 710mm on the standard Classic. That extra 110mm is the reason it exists. A tall driver in a short shell runs out of seat at the shoulders, and the support stops exactly where it is needed. The RSR also has a deeper cushion, kidney support, harness slots and a headrest.
It is styled on the sports seats fitted to 1970s performance cars, including early Ford RS models, and it suits owners of cars from that era: Fords, classic Porsches and all kinds of restoration projects. The tall back and the headrest give it the look of a competition seat of the time.
If you are after the lower, shorter shell, our guide to the Cobra Classic RS range covers it.
The Cobra RSR versions we list
Every RSR shares the same frame and shape. What changes is the trim, and Cobra offers a wide choice of materials, patterns and colours, so you can match or contrast the car’s interior.
Classic RSR Vinyl. The version closest to the original. Black vinyl outers with a choice of centres: all vinyl, basketweave, corduroy, houndstooth or tartan. Vinyl wipes clean and does not hold damp, so it suits an open car or one that works hard.
Classic RSR Leather. Leather outers with patterned centre panels, for a car where the interior matters as much as the driving.
Classic RSR Tartan and Houndstooth. The patterned centres that suit a retro build, set up as their own listings.
Classic RSR Signature. The fully custom version. You choose one or two colour soft grain vinyl, leather, or leather with Dinamica, with matching or contrasting piping and stitching. It is made to order.
Tartan is one of the most asked for trims on a retro build, and it looks right in a 1970s cabin.
From the same family, the Cobra GT4 Historic is another seat styled on 1970s motorsport, with basketweave, soft grain leather and custom fabric options. It shares the 291mm x 330mm base mount pattern and 4 point harness routing, and it is sized for drivers under 6ft with a 32 to 36 inch waist.
For the desk, the Classic RSR Office seat puts the RSR shell on an adjustable office chair base.
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Seat dimensions and fit
The RSR’s tall back makes it a good choice for taller drivers. Cobra lists it as suitable for all heights and waist sizes. The flip side of the height is that it may not suit a car with a very low roof, so measure the space in the car before you order.
| Cobra Classic RSR | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Overall height | 820mm |
| Width | 480mm |
| Base width | 480mm |
| Seat depth | 760mm |
| Weight | 8.5kg |
| Bolt pattern | 291mm x 330mm, base mount |
Installation and mounting options
The RSR is base mount only, on a 291mm x 330mm bolt pattern, and it is sold as the seat only. The simplest route is a Cobra fitting frame for your car, which bolts straight up to the seat, and Cobra frames include the sliding runner in the price. Cobra has been adding cars to its frame range, and our post on the Cobra fitting frames covers the latest additions.
If there is no Cobra frame for your car, the RSR can still go in. Many other frames use a wider pattern, often 345mm, and adaption bars can bridge the difference. We list adaption bars, including a set from Endurance Motorsport, but which ones work depends on the frame and the seat, so send us both and we will confirm before you order.
Garreth’s advice is to measure the car first, then choose the frame, then the trim. Get the first two right and the seat will sit where it should.
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Why choose the Cobra Classic RSR?
- A design based on 1970s sports seats
- Trims including vinyl, leather, corduroy, tartan and houndstooth
- Harness slots and a headrest
- A light steel framed shell at 8.5kg
- Suits historic rallying, retro builds and restorations
- The Signature version for a fully custom seat
It is a road and track seat, not FIA homologated, so it suits fast road use, shows and track days. If your event asks for an FIA seat, ask us for one that meets the rules, and check with the organiser or your scrutineer.
How tall is the Cobra Classic RSR?
820mm overall, which is 110mm taller than the standard Cobra Classic.
Is the Cobra Classic RSR FIA approved?
No. It is a road and track seat, suited to fast road use, shows and track days.
What bolt pattern does the Cobra RSR use?
It is base mount only, on a 291mm x 330mm pattern.
Can I fit an RSR if there is no Cobra frame for my car?
Often, yes. Adaption bars can bridge to a frame with a wider pattern; send us the frame and seat so we can confirm.
Which trims does the RSR come in?
Vinyl, leather, tartan, houndstooth, and the Signature version in custom vinyl, leather or leather with Dinamica.
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