Fiat 595 Abarth bucket seat guide
2012 onwards
The 595 Abarth makes more noise on a track day than cars costing three or four times the price. It is quick and loud, and more balanced in fast corners than a city-car platform would suggest. The factory seat is fine for a quick road drive. On a track where you are carrying speed into a braking zone, it lets go of you at the point where you need it not to. That is the gap a bucket seat fills, and on this car it is a noticeable gap.
Sparco make a sub-frame listed for the Abarth 595, and OMP list a bolt-in roll cage specifically for the 595 and 695 variants. Both are here. This guide covers fitting frames, competition bucket seats, reclining sport seats and harnesses for a car that a fair number of owners take to a circuit at some point in its life.
Width still matters on the 595. The cabin is the same narrow footprint as the standard 500. The seats listed here are all confirmed fits, but if you are considering a shell not on this list, measure the width against the cabin before ordering.
- Sparco make a sub-frame for the Abarth 595 specifically, part 00499017-Abarth-595 (216779), using the 345mm x 271mm base mount pattern used by Sparco, OMP and Corbeau base-mount seats
- The OMP Fiat 500 Abarth 595/695 bolt-in roll cage (18788) is the purpose-built cage option for the 595 and 695 variants
- Both base mount and side mount are available. Base mount lowers the seating position, which is a genuine improvement on this platform where the standard seat sits the driver slightly high
- The SW Motorsports Abarth subframe (164648) and the OMP Abarth 500 sub-frames (212515) also fit the 595. The OMP frame adds Recaro compatibility via the larger 405mm x 290mm pattern
- Width is the same constraint as on the standard 500. Measure between the tunnel and the door sill before ordering any shell not confirmed in this guide
- A separate guide covers the standard Fiat 500 (Type 312, 2007 onwards) for the non-Abarth car
Mounting
The Sparco direct-fit sub-frame for the Abarth 595 (216779, part 00499017-Abarth-595) is the starting point if you are running base-mount seats from Sparco, OMP or Corbeau. It bolts into the car’s existing floor mounting points in place of the standard seat runners and brings the bolt pattern up to 345mm x 271mm. The Sparco frame for the 595 has a different part number from the one used on the standard Fiat 500, because the Abarth platform floor geometry differs from the base car.
The SW Motorsports direct-fit subframe (164648) covers both the Fiat 500 Abarth and the 595 at £115. The OMP Abarth 500 sub-frames (212515) at £106.37 are listed for the Abarth 500 and work on the same floor mounting points as the 595. The OMP frame covers two bolt patterns: the standard 345mm x 271mm and the larger 405mm x 290mm OMP pattern. That second pattern adds Recaro compatibility, which makes the OMP frame the one to choose if you are pairing an OMP recliner with an OMP frame, or if you want Recaro seat options alongside the Sparco range.
The Planted Technology SB099 bracket (138521) covers the Fiat 500 from 2009 onwards, which includes the 595. Planted design their brackets for a range of seat types, and the right combination depends on both the seat and the car. Talk to us before ordering and we will confirm it is correct before anything ships.
For side mount, the Sparco FIA steel brackets (13876) are the route for competition shells with side tabs. Add the Sparco sliding runner kit (14036) if you need fore-aft adjustment. The runner is sold per seat. It is non-FIA, so it is fine for road use and track days but not for competition where FIA mounting is required.
Planted bracket: confirm the combination before orderingThe Planted SB099 covers a wide range of seat and installation combinations. Contact us with the seat you have in mind and we will confirm the bracket works for the 595 before anything is ordered.
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Competition bucket seats
Most seats here carry FIA 8855-1999 approval. The Auto Style K5, Cobra Clubman and Cobra Nogaro carry Road and Track approval rather than competition rating. All are a clear step up from the standard 595 seat in lateral support. Width is still the constraint on this platform, so if you are considering a shell not confirmed here, check the measurement first.
The Auto Style K5 at £175 is base mount only and suits a car used on track days rather than circuit competition. The OMP TRS-E Velour at £199.50 and the Sparco Sprint at £210 are dual-mount FIA shells at a similar price, both confirmed in customer cars. The Sparco Sprint Sky at £252 adds a carbon-look outer shell. The Cobra Monaco Pro at £235 is the steel-shelled option at this price point. Steel gives it intrusion resistance that composites at this price do not offer, which is worth considering for a car likely to see contact on track.
The Cobra Clubman at £224 is the Cobra entry point: Road and Track rated, base mount, suited to a car that splits its time between road and circuit. The Cobra Monaco 40th Edition at £395 is sold as a pair with White Stitch graphics and FIA 8855-1999 approval. The Cobra Nogaro Club Sport at £524 and the Recaro Pole Position at £866 are both side-mount only. The Nogaro is 910mm tall and 560mm wide; check that against the cabin before ordering. The Recaro Pole Position suits a car going through a proper build rather than a light track day conversion.
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Competition seats for the 595 AbarthWhich bucket seat for a Fiat 595 Abarth
For a track day car that still covers road miles, the OMP TRS-E Velour at £199.50 is the practical choice: FIA-rated, dual-mount, and confirmed in customer 595s. The Sparco Sprint at £210 is directly comparable. If you want the steel-shelled option at a similar price, the Cobra Monaco Pro at £235 is worth considering for a car that might see contact. For a car being properly set up for circuit work, the Cobra Monaco 40th Edition at £395 as a pair is strong value. The Recaro Pole Position at £866 is the seat for a full build. Talk to us with the seat dimensions and your cockpit measurement before ordering any shell not confirmed in customer cars on this car.
Reclining sport seats
Reclining sport seats are base mount on the 595 Abarth. The Sparco sub-frames (216779), OMP sub-frames (212515) or SW Motorsports frame (164648) all cover the base-mount recliners listed here. The Planted bracket (138521) also works with recliners, though talk to us before ordering so we can confirm the combination.
The Sparco R100 at £235 is the starting point: base mount, 5-point harness slots, noticeably better lateral support compared to the factory seat without being a full competition shell. The R100 Vinyl is the same price with a different trim. The R100 Martini Racing Edition adds the Martini stripe graphics at £291. The R500 range starts at £274 for the fabric version and £290 for the Sky trim, a step up in finish from the R100.
The Corbeau PSR at £465 is sold as a pair, which makes it competitive when fitting both sides. The Cobra Daytona at £499 is the Cobra reclining option: fibreglass shell, Road and Track approved, better lateral bolstering than the Sparco R-series for a car that sees regular track use. The Corbeau Sportline range runs from the RRB at £770 to the RRS at £830, both sold as pairs, and gives the best lateral support of the recliners listed here while keeping the ability to adjust the seat position.
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Reclining seats for the 595 AbarthWhich recliner for a Fiat 595 Abarth
The Sparco R100 at £235 is the sensible starting point for a 595 used on a mix of road and track. It fits on the Sparco or OMP sub-frames and gives noticeably better support in fast corners than the factory seat. The Corbeau PSR at £465 as a pair is worth considering if you are fitting both sides, since the price per seat works out well and the lateral support is a step up from the R100. For a car that sees regular circuit days, the Corbeau Sportline RRB at £770 for a pair gives the best bolstering in this section without going to a full bucket shell. The Cobra Daytona is the fibreglass alternative if you want a Cobra recliner with Road and Track approval.
Roll cages
The OMP bolt-in roll cage for the Fiat 500 Abarth 595 and 695 (18788) at £625.92 is the cage listed for these Abarth variants. OMP list a separate cage (18793) for the standard Fiat 500, so if you have a 595, the 18788 is the right OMP option.
The SW Motorsports half roll cage (196100) at £480.83 is the most accessible option. It covers the driver’s head and provides harness mounting points without the weight and cabin intrusion of a full cage. The Sparco 6-point bolt-in cage (19338) at £817.95 is a full cage. Custom Cages have a rear half bolt-in in T45 tube at £1010 (246060) and a multipoint T45 weld-in at £1545 (246424) for serious motorsport builds. Both Custom Cages options carry FIA approval and are built in the UK. The SW Motorsport full bolt-in MSUK cage (240018) at £1120 meets MSUK regulations for circuit competition.
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Harnesses
Harnesses need a roll cage or harness barA 4-point, 5-point or 6-point harness with separate shoulder straps needs proper attachment points above and behind the seat. The standard 595 Abarth does not have factory harness mounting points. Fit a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar before using a race harness. A 3-point bolt-in harness uses the standard seat belt anchor points and does not require a cage.
The TRS Clubman 3-point bolt-in at £80 mounts to the standard seat belt anchor points and does not need a cage. The TRS Clubman 4-point clip-in at £100 adds a sub-strap that clips to the standard buckle. Both are suitable for road use and track days without a cage installation. For 4-point competition use, the TRS Magnum 4-point FIA at £205 is the step up. The Takata Drift II at £229 is the Takata 4-point option.
For 6-point harnesses, the cage goes in first. The TRS Magnum 6-point Superlite FIA at £245, the TRS New Pro Ultralite 6-point FIA at £295, the Takata Drift III at £270, and the Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 are the options for a caged car. The TRS New Pro Ultralite states HANS compatibility, which matters if you are using a HANS device. HANS devices are compatible with 6-point FIA harnesses only. Check the harness spec against the HANS device before ordering.
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What fits
Mounting route and approval for every seat in this guide.
| Seat | Mounting | Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition bucket seats | |||
| Auto Style Type K5 | Base mount | Road and Track | Base mount only. Works with Sparco or OMP sub-frames. |
| OMP TRS-E Velour FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Dual mount. |
| Sparco Sprint FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Dual mount. |
| Sparco Sprint Sky FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Dual mount. Carbon look outer shell. |
| Cobra Monaco Pro FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Steel shell. Dual mount. |
| Cobra Clubman | Base mount and side mount | Road and Track | Non-FIA. Road and track. |
| Cobra Monaco 40th Edition | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Sold as a pair with White Stitch graphics. |
| Cobra Nogaro Club Sport | Side mount | Road and Track | Side mount only. 910mm tall, 560mm wide. Check width against cabin. |
| Recaro Pole Position ABE | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Side mount only. |
| Reclining sport seats | |||
| Sparco R100 | Base mount | Road and Track | Sparco, OMP or SW sub-frames. |
| Sparco R100 Vinyl | Base mount | Road and Track | Same seat as R100, different trim. |
| Sparco R100 Martini Racing | Base mount | Road and Track | Martini stripe graphics. |
| Sparco R500 Fabric | Base mount | Road and Track | Step up in finish from the R100. |
| Sparco R500 Sky | Base mount | Road and Track | Sky trim. |
| Corbeau PSR (pair) | Base mount | Road and Track | Sold as a pair. |
| Cobra Daytona | Base mount | Road and Track | Fibreglass recliner. |
| Corbeau Sportline RRB (pair) | Base mount | Road and Track | Sold as a pair. |
| Corbeau Sportline RRS (pair) | Base mount | Road and Track | Sold as a pair. |
| Corbeau SVR Vinyl (pair) | Base mount | Road and Track | Sold as a pair. |
Common questions
What is the difference between the Sparco Abarth 595 and Abarth 500 sub-frames?
The Sparco sub-frame for the Abarth 595 (part 00499017-Abarth-595, product 216779) has a different floor geometry from the one listed for the Abarth 500 (product 212519). The 595 platform floor mounting points differ from the earlier Abarth 500. If you have a 595, use the 595-specific frame (216779). The OMP sub-frame (212515) covers both the Abarth 500 and 595 floor points and is the frame to choose if you need OMP seat compatibility with the wider 405mm bolt pattern.
Is there a roll cage made specifically for the 595 Abarth?
Yes. The OMP Fiat 500 Abarth 595/695 bolt-in roll cage (18788) is listed for the Abarth variants. OMP list a separate cage for the standard Fiat 500 (18793). For a 595, the 18788 is the OMP cage.
Which seats here are FIA-approved for circuit competition?
The OMP TRS-E Velour, Sparco Sprint, Sparco Sprint Sky, Cobra Monaco Pro, Cobra Monaco 40th Edition and Recaro Pole Position all carry FIA 8855-1999 approval. For competition under MSUK regulations, confirm the harness and cage combination meets the relevant class requirements before the car goes to scrutineering.
Can I run a 6-point harness without a roll cage?
A 6-point harness with separate shoulder straps needs anchor points above and behind the seat for the shoulder belts to work safely. The standard 595 Abarth does not have factory harness mounting points. A roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar needs to go in first. The TRS Clubman 3-point at £80 and the 4-point clip-in at £100 use the standard seat belt anchor points and do not need a cage.
What is the difference between base mount and side mount?
Base mount means the seat bolts to a sub-frame sitting flat on the car’s floor, attaching through holes in the seat base. Side mount means the seat attaches via brackets on either side. Most reclining sport seats are base mount only. Competition bucket seats are often dual mount, meaning both routes are available. On the 595, base mount lowers the seating position compared to the factory setup, which makes a real difference in a car where the standard seat sits the driver slightly high.
Which Corbeau recliner is right for the 595 Abarth?
The Corbeau PSR at £465 for a pair is the starting point if price per seat matters. The Sportline RRB at £770 for a pair gives more lateral bolstering for regular track use. The Sportline RRS adds a small step at £830 for a pair. All three are base mount and fit on the Sparco or OMP sub-frames. The Corbeau Sportsman is not listed here as it is for genuine classic and vintage cars only, not a modern performance car.
Do I need a sub-frame and a runner separately?
The Sparco 595 sub-frame (216779) provides the base mount platform and fixes the seat position. If you need fore-aft adjustment, add the Sparco sliding runner kit (14036) separately. The runner is non-FIA, which is fine for road use and track days. For competition where FIA mounting is required, use the sub-frame alone without the runner.
Is there a guide for the standard Fiat 500?
Yes. The Fiat 500 guide (Type 312, 2007 onwards) covers the sub-frames for the standard non-Abarth car and lists most of the same seats. Most of the products in this 595 guide also apply to the standard 500. The key difference is the mounting frames: this guide uses the Abarth-specific sub-frames.
More help
If a seat and frame combination needs working through before ordering, or the cage specification needs planning around a competition class, contact us with the details of the car and what you are trying to do. Cameron works through the seat, frame and car combination before anything ships. On a cabin as compact as the 595 Abarth, that conversation is worth having before anything is ordered.
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