Does the Cobra Monaco Pro Fit My Mazda RX7 Mk3? A Detailed Fitment Guide
Seat fitting guide: Mazda RX-7 FD
The third generation Mazda RX-7, the FD, is a wonderful car to drive and a tight one to sit in. The cabin is narrow and the roof is low, so owners looking for a bucket seat worry about seats that hit the door cards, seats that need bodging to mount, and pairs of seats that touch over the centre console.
The Cobra Monaco Pro is a seat we have recommended for the FD, because it fits without those problems, including as a pair. Here is why it works, what to think about when choosing any seat for an RX-7, and exactly what you need to fit it.
- The Cobra Monaco Pro fits the RX-7 FD without modifying the interior
- A pair of Monaco Pros do not touch over the centre console
- FIA 8855-1999 approved, steel plated shell, 4 or 6 point harness
- Base or side mounted, your choice
- Mount it on the Planted Technology RX-7 3rd gen frame (SB090)
- Suited to drivers under 6ft with a 32 to 36 inch waist
What is on this page
Why the RX-7 is tricky to fit
The FD’s cabin was built around a low, snug driving position. There is not much space between the transmission tunnel and the door, the roof is low, and the centre console sits close to both seats. That limits which aftermarket seats will go in cleanly.
Three things matter most when choosing a seat for it.
Shoulder width. A seat with wide shoulder wings can foul the door panel and the trim around the B pillar.
Seat width and bolsters. The base has to fit between the tunnel and the sill, and when two seats go in, they must clear each other over the console.
Mounting. The seat needs a proper frame that uses the car’s own mounting points, so it sits low, square and secure.
How the Monaco Pro fits the FD
The Monaco Pro goes into the RX-7 FD without any modification to the car’s interior: no trimming panels, no packing pieces and no bodged brackets.
It also works as a pair. With a Monaco Pro on each side, the seats do not touch over the centre console, which keeps the cabin looking tidy and symmetrical and leaves both occupants comfortable. That is a real advantage in a car where many seats end up rubbing each other in the middle.
The fit to you matters just as much. Cobra cut the Monaco Pro for drivers under six feet with a 32 to 36 inch waist, and the FD’s low roof makes height worth checking. If you are near the top of either range, sit in one first.
About the Cobra Monaco Pro
The Monaco Pro is a fixed back bucket seat approved to FIA 8855-1999. Unlike most FIA seats at its level, which are composite, it has a steel plated shell with a solid back and base, which Cobra chose for its resistance to intrusion. The trade is weight: it is about 11.4kg.
It has an integral head pad and shoulder supports, slots for a four or six point harness, and it is friendly to a head and neck restraint. The standard trim is breathable spacer fabric, which helps in a car as warm inside as an FD on a summer track day, and there are vinyl, leather and two colour options too.
Crucially for fitting, it can be base mounted or side mounted. Side mounting lets you set the tilt of the seat and can put you lower, while base mounting is simpler.
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Fitting equipment for the RX-7 FD
Planted Technology frame. The foundation is the Planted Technology seat bracket for the third generation RX-7 (part SB090). It bolts to the car's factory mounting points, so nothing is cut and the original seats can go back in later, which matters as FD values climb.
Side mounts (optional). For side mounting, add a pair of FIA steel side mounts between the frame and the seat. This is the route for tilt adjustment.
Sliding runners (optional). If you want fore and aft adjustment with a base mounted seat, runners go between the frame and the seat. Planted make their frames with a standard hole pattern and an alternate pattern that suits Cobra sliders, so tell us which runners you plan to use and we will confirm the frame and runner combination before you order. Note that runners such as Sparco’s are sold as non-FIA parts: fine for road and track day use, but not where the regulations require the seat to bolt to approved fixings only.
The installation, step by step
1. Remove the factory seat and keep its bolts and fixings labelled.
2. Bolt the Planted frame to the RX-7’s factory mounting points.
3. Fit the runners or side mounts, if you are using them, to the frame.
4. Bolt the Monaco Pro to the runners, side mounts or frame, and tighten everything to the manufacturers’ torque figures.
5. Sit in the seat and check the position, the headroom and where the seat belt buckle sits before you drive.
Why the Monaco Pro suits the RX-7
Slim fit. It fits the FD’s narrow cabin, and a pair stays clear over the console.
Strong and approved. A steel plated FIA 8855-1999 shell, ready for club competition as well as the road.
Flexible mounting. Base or side mounted on a frame that uses the car’s own mounting points.
Garreth’s advice is to order the seat, frame and mounting parts together, so we can check every part of the stack works as one. Send us your height, waist size and how you use the car, and we will do the rest.
Does the Cobra Monaco Pro fit a Mazda RX-7 FD?
Yes. It fits without modifying the interior, and a pair do not touch over the centre console.
What frame do I need for the RX-7 FD?
The Planted Technology seat bracket for the third generation RX-7, part SB090.
Can the Monaco Pro be side mounted?
Yes. It can be base or side mounted; side mounting allows tilt adjustment.
Is the Cobra Monaco Pro FIA approved?
Yes, to FIA 8855-1999.
Who does the Monaco Pro suit?
Drivers under six feet with a 32 to 36 inch waist.
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For the RX-7 FDCobra Monaco Pro
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