Honda Civic EK bucket seat guide
1996 to 2000, including EK9 Type R
This generation gave us the first Civic Type R, the EK9, Japanese market only, with the hand-ported B16B and a seam-welded shell. If yours is a genuine EK9, that changes everything about the job: they are appreciating steadily, originality matters, and the factory Recaro seats are worth real money on their own. Send us the chassis number rather than the registration on an import and we will confirm the fitment properly.
An ordinary EK is a different proposition: light, cheap and still competitive in club events. Because it is light, a heavy steel-framed shell gives back a real slice of the advantage, so it is worth asking about the lighter GRP and composite options before defaulting to the cheapest steel seat.
These cars rust, and most have been modified. Get the carpet up and look at the metal around all four mounting points before you spend anything on a sub-frame or cage.
- If your car is a genuine EK9 Type R, the factory Recaro seats are worth real money. Send us the chassis number, not the registration, to confirm fitment on an import
- An ordinary EK is light and cheap. A heavy steel-shelled seat gives back a real slice of that advantage, so lighter GRP and composite options are worth asking about
- Check the metal around all four seat mounting points before spending anything. These cars rust and most have been modified
- The Planted bracket (18040) is confirmed for 1996 to 2000. The EG before it takes a different part
- A wide range of EK4/EK9-specific roll cages exists, from accessible half cages to full weld-in kits
- Harnesses above 3-point need a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar
Mounting
The Planted Technology bracket (18040, part SB042) at £185.50 covers 1996 to 2000. It is handed, so order twice for a pair. The EG that came before takes a different part (SB041), so confirm your generation before ordering.
The M2 Motorsport sub-frame (16661) at £138.50 covers the EK and EJ, and is a side-mount design. Add the M2 base mount adaption bars (19431) at £39.50 to convert it for a base-mount seat.
Genuine EK9? Confirm with the chassis numberIf your car is a genuine EK9 Type R, send us the chassis number rather than the registration, especially on an import. The factory Recaro seats are worth real money; talk to us before deciding to remove them.
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Competition bucket seats
Most seats here carry FIA 8855-1999 approval. The Sparco Sprint at £210 and Cobra Monaco Pro at £235 are dual-mount and steel-shelled options respectively. The OMP Champ-R at £318, OMP ARS-R at £428 and Mirco RS2 3D at £354.50 are lighter fibreglass options, worth prioritising on a car this weight-sensitive.
The Mirco RTS-2 Velour at £349 and Sparco Evo L QRT at £510 sit at the upper end. The Corbeau Sprint X System 3 at £675 is the newest-standard FIA seat in this range.
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Competition seats for the Civic EKWhich bucket seat for a Honda Civic EK
For a light, weight-sensitive EK, the OMP Champ-R at £318 is a lighter FIA-rated fibreglass option worth the extra over a heavier steel shell. The Sparco Sprint at £210 is the accessible dual-mount alternative if budget matters more than shaving grams. For an EK9 built properly for circuit work, the Sparco Evo L QRT at £510 or the Corbeau Sprint X System 3 at £675 give strong support through fast corners.
Reclining sport seats
Reclining sport seats are base mount, fitting the Planted bracket or M2 sub-frame above. The Auto Style Type BS5 at £295 and Type RS6-II Vinyl at £278 are accessible starting points. The Sparco R100 at £235 and R100 Martini Racing at £291.66 give good lateral support at a similar price.
The Sparco R500 Fabric at £274.16 and R500 Sky at £290.83 sit between the R100 range and the premium options. The Cobra Misano Anniversary at £1374.17 and Misano Anniversary Spec 2 at the same price are premium reclining seats for a full interior rebuild.
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Reclining seats for the Civic EKWhich recliner for a Honda Civic EK
The Sparco R100 at £235 is a sensible road-car starting point. The Sparco R500 Sky at £290.83 is worth considering as a mid-point if the R100 range feels basic. For a full interior rebuild, the Cobra Misano Anniversary at £1374.17 is the seat in this guide built to that standard.
Roll cages
The SW Motorsports 3-door bolt-in half cage (197437) at £480.83 is the most accessible option, for a car that needs harness mounting points without the weight and cabin intrusion of a full cage. The Safety Devices EK9 rear bolt-in cage (18864) at £433 and the full 6-point bolt-in (18863) at £720 sit in the mid-range.
The Custom Cages EK4 CDS multipoint cage (16906) at £920.45 and the T45 multipoint (16907) at £1356.54 are weld-in options for a more serious build. At the top, the Safety Devices EK4/EK9 T45 weld-in cage (221329) at £1745 and the Custom Cages International Multipoint (236286) at £1395 are built for the most demanding use.
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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. Fit a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar before using anything above a 3-point belt.
The TRS Clubman 3-point bolt-in at £80 and 4-point clip-in at £100 both use the standard seat belt anchor points and do not need a cage. For 4-point competition use, the TRS Magnum 4-point FIA at £205 and the Takata Drift II at £229 are the step up.
For 6-point harnesses, the cage goes in first. The TRS Magnum 6-point Superlite FIA at £245, the Takata Drift III at £270, and the Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 all suit a caged Civic EK going to competition or serious track days.
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What fits
Mounting route and approval for every seat in this guide.
| Seat | Mounting | Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition bucket seats | |||
| Sparco Sprint FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Dual mount. |
| Cobra Monaco Pro FIA | Base mount and side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Steel shell. Dual mount. |
| OMP Champ-R FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | HANS compatible. |
| OMP ARS-R FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Broadest fit band. |
| Mirco RS2 3D FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Fibreglass shell. |
| Mirco RTS-2 Velour FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | |
| Sparco Evo L QRT FIA | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | |
| Corbeau Sprint X System 3 FIA | Side mount | FIA System 3 | Newest System 3 standard. |
| Reclining sport seats | |||
| Auto Style Type BS5 | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Auto Style Type RS6-II Vinyl | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Sparco R100 | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Sparco R100 Martini Racing | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Sparco R500 Fabric | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Sparco R500 Sky | Base mount | Road and Track | |
| Cobra Misano Anniversary | Base mount | Road and Track | Premium reclining seat. |
| Cobra Misano Anniversary Spec 2 | Base mount | Road and Track | Premium reclining seat. |
Common questions
Should I keep the seats on a genuine EK9?
Yes, if you can. The factory Recaro seats are worth real money on their own, and EK9s are appreciating steadily. Talk to us before removing anything.
How do I confirm my import is a genuine EK9?
Send us the chassis number rather than the registration. That is the reliable way to confirm fitment and authenticity on an import.
Why does weight matter so much on an ordinary EK?
The car is light and cheap to begin with, so a heavy steel-shelled seat gives back a real slice of that advantage. If the build is about lap times, ask about the lighter GRP and composite options before defaulting to the cheapest steel seat.
Should I check the floor before ordering a sub-frame?
Yes. These cars rust and most have been modified. Get the carpet up and look at the metal around all four mounting points before spending anything.
Can I run a 6-point harness without a roll cage?
No. A 6-point harness needs anchor points above and behind the seat for the shoulder straps. Fit a roll cage or a properly engineered harness bar first. A 3-point bolt-in harness uses the standard seat belt anchor points and does not need a cage.
More help
If your car is a genuine EK9, send us the chassis number and talk to us before deciding what to do with the factory seats. Cameron works through the seat, frame and car combination together.
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