A pair of Sparco R500 reclining sport seats in fabric. Part number BPR0001BOK0100N-X2.
The R500 solves the problem of wanting support in a car that has no room for a big seat. Sparco built it on a narrower tubular steel frame with lower side bolsters, so it goes into cars where a wider shell fouls the sill or the transmission tunnel, and it still holds you through a corner.
The fabric is the point
The cover is a 3D woven breathable cloth rather than a flat weave. It moves air through itself, which matters in a seat you are in for a full track day with overalls on. A vinyl or leather seat looks smarter and gets unpleasant by lunchtime.
There are harness slots in the backrest, so it takes a race harness as well as the standard seatbelt. Recline is on a lever with fine adjustment of the backrest angle rather than a coarse set of notches.
Fitting
Base mount on the 345mm by 271mm pattern, the same as the R100 and R333, so frames and runners carry across the range.
Supplied as seats only, so you need a vehicle specific sub-frame per side and runners if you want adjustment. Tell us the car and we will match them.
Sparco list it for all heights, with a 32 to 36 or 36 to 38 inch waist. Road and Track, no FIA homologation. This pair is showroom stock.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes, we have covered this exact product: Customer Question: Can I fit Sparco R500 Seats in My Land Cruiser 80 Series?, and Sparco R500 Reclining Sport Seats – Now In-Stock and On Display. Some of that comes straight from real customer questions, so you are reading answers other buyers actually needed.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers with a 36in to 38in or 32in to 36in waist. Those are the paper numbers; how a seat actually feels to sit in and climb out of is a different question, and our showroom team sit in these seats every day, so call us with your height and waist and we will give you the honest answer.
What do I need to fit it to my car?
You need the car-specific frame for your vehicle, plus a sliding runner for fore-and-aft adjustment. Tell us your car and we will quote the complete fitting kit in one go. Our sliding runner guide covers the adjustment side.
Does it recline like a normal seat, and what about armrests?
Yes, the backrest reclines, which is the whole point of a sport recliner over a fixed bucket: support in the corners, comfort on the motorway, and access to rear seats. Armrests: not fitted on this model. Our recliner lineup comparison shows how the ranges stack up.
I am a bigger driver. Will it work for me?
Possibly, and it depends on the exact shell rather than the brand. We wrote a straight-talking guide on sport recliners for larger drivers from real showroom fittings, and if you send us your waist and height we will tell you honestly which recliners work at your size.
