The Sparco R100 Vinyl (SS00961SKY) is the same seat as the cloth version (00961NR) with a different cover. The steel tubular frame, the 271mm x 345mm base bolt pattern, the recline mechanism, and the 13kg weight are identical. The difference is the surface and what that means in use.
Vinyl wipes clean. Cloth absorbs. In a car that sees mud, water, or fuel spillage, the vinyl cover keeps the seat looking presentable in a way cloth doesn’t. Kit cars, track day cars, and off-road vehicles tend to go vinyl for this reason, and the R100 Vinyl also has a diamond stitch panel upgrade available as an optional extra if you want to dress it up.
The harness slots in the backrest take a 4-point belt; the seat also works with a standard diagonal for road use. The recline lever is the same smooth single-action mechanism as the cloth version.
A detail worth noting: the vinyl listing covers waist sizes up to 36 to 38 inches as well as the standard 32 to 36 inch range. The shell is the same; the extra size allowance appears to come from the stretch characteristics of vinyl vs cloth.
The current production run has Sparco logos on the front and rear of the headrest. We have this seat in stock and on display in-store. Part number SS00961SKY.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes, we have covered this exact product: Customer Question: A Sparco R100 Package For An Abarth 595, Both Sides, Priced, and Customer Question: How Do I Fit The Sparco R100 Seat Into My Subaru BRZ?. 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.
Is this seat FIA approved?
No, this is a road and track day seat rather than a homologated competition seat. For events that require an FIA seat, look at the FIA-approved shells in the range, and ask us if you are unsure what your series needs.
What do I need to fit it to my car?
This is a base-mount seat: it bolts down through its base, the simpler stack for road cars. You will need the car-specific frame, and a sliding runner if you want fore-and-aft adjustment. Our guide on base mount versus side mount walks through the whole stack, and tell us your car and we will quote the full kit.
Does it work with harnesses and a HANS device?
The shell takes 4 point compatible. If you are planning the full seat, harness, and HANS setup, tell us the car and we will spec it end to end.
How do I know it will feel right, not just fit on paper?
Fair question, because makers publish widths and weights, never feel, and two seats with identical numbers can feel nothing alike in the car. We keep the ranges on display in the Nottingham showroom, you are welcome to come and sit in them, and if you cannot get to us, call and describe your build, as the team sit in these seats every day. Our head support measurements guide shows the kind of real-world data we collect.
