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Custom Cages Ford Escort Roll Cages
21st August 2026
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Every Custom Cages kit for the Ford Escort: Mk1 to Cosworth, bolt-in and weld-in, CDS and T45, with current prices for all 22 kits.
Top 5 reclining seat choices for your Fiat Tipo, including our fitting guide
Fiat made the Tipo between 1988 and 1995. Most of the ones still in private hands have a factory seat that has now had 30 or more years of use. The foam has gone soft, the bolsters were never particularly deep, and the recline mechanism on many examples is stiff or clicking rather than holding. If you are putting one right, a reclining sport seat on a direct-fit frame is the sensible upgrade: you keep the fore-aft adjustment and the folding backrest that a fixed bucket gives up, and you gain the side support the standard seat never had.
We stock a Cobra subframe and a Sparco subframe for the Tipo, and which one you buy decides the seats you can run. The Corbeau recliners sit outside that constraint, drilled for both patterns, so they go on either frame without adaptation. Five picks follow, from entry price to proper upgrade, covering all three brands and both routes.
- Two frame routes in stock: Cobra subframe (291mm) and Sparco subframe (345mm)
- Sparco subframe listed for the Tipo from October 1988 to July 1995
- Corbeau recliners are drilled for both patterns and fit either frame on this car
- Every seat in this guide is 4 point harness compatible
- Both frames bolt to the factory floor mounting points, no drilling on a standard floor
The two frame routes into a Fiat Tipo
We stock a direct-fit subframe for the Tipo from two brands. A subframe replaces the standard floor runners and sets the final seat height, and the brand of subframe determines which seats can go on it. Both bolt to the Tipo’s factory floor mounting points without any drilling on a standard car. The Sparco subframe carries a production date range: it is listed for the Tipo from October 1988 to July 1995, which covers the original Tipo generation. If your car is from right at the outer edges of that window, confirm the build date with us before ordering. Note also that all advice in this guide applies to the original Tipo (1988 to 1995). The newer Tipo (2015 onwards) uses entirely different frames.
291
Cobra subframe
£231.66 inc VAT per side, sold individually (one seat position). Pairs with 291mm runners and takes Cobra recliners and Corbeau recliners. Tell us which seat you are fitting when you order so we can confirm correct fitment.
345
Sparco subframe
£87.00 inc VAT per side, driver and passenger positions listed separately. Listed for the Tipo from October 1988 to July 1995. Pairs with 345mm runners and takes Sparco recliners and Corbeau recliners.
The number that decides it
Every seat here uses a base mount bolt pattern. Cobra recliners use 291mm x 330mm, which is what the Cobra subframe is built around. Sparco recliners use 345mm x 271mm, which matches the Sparco subframe. The two do not cross: a Cobra seat will not bolt to a Sparco subframe and a Sparco seat will not go on a Cobra one. The Corbeau VLS and the RRS Low Base carry holes for both patterns, which is why they appear in both columns below. They are the only seats in this guide that fit either frame on this car without any adaptation.
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Cobra subframe | Sparco subframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corbeau VLS | Both | Fits | Fits |
| Sparco R100 | 345 x 271 | No | Fits |
| Cobra Daytona | 291 x 330 | Fits | No |
| Sparco GT | 345 x 271 | No | Fits |
| Corbeau RRS Low Base | Both | Fits | Fits |
Pick the seat firstThen buy the subframe that matches its pattern. The VLS and the RRS Low Base are the only seats here that work on either frame without adaptation. Cameron at GSM is used to sorting these combinations for a specific car and budget, so if you are weighing options before committing, ask.
Corbeau VLS: the flexible pick
The VLS is the seat that fits both ways on the Tipo. It carries holes for both 291mm and 345mm bolt patterns, so it bolts straight to the Cobra subframe as easily as the Sparco one, and buyers who have not decided on a frame yet often start here. Available in leather or vinyl, with a heated option if the Tipo still does regular winter use. Corbeau publish a pair listing for the vinyl version, which is worth looking at if you are doing both seats at once. Fit range is 32 to 38 inch waist and all heights, so it takes in most drivers without anyone sitting at an awkward boundary.
- £474 inc VAT each; £980 inc VAT for a vinyl pair
- Both bolt patterns (291mm and 345mm): fits either subframe on this car
- 32 to 38 inch waists, all heights
- Leather or vinyl trim; heated option available
- 4 point harness compatible
-
From £395.00 Excl. VATKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Sparco R100: the entry pick on the Sparco route
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From £235.00 Excl. VAT Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
The R100 is the recliner we move more of than any other. On the Tipo it goes on the Sparco subframe with the Sparco runner kit, and the combination is the cheapest route into this guide by a margin. Sparco publish the R100 as suitable for all waist sizes and for drivers both over and under six foot, which matches what we see at the counter: very few people struggle to find a good position. The open, flat base does not fight you getting in and out. Available in cloth, vinyl and a Martini Racing edition if that suits the Tipo’s period look. There is a pair listing in cloth if you are buying both seats at once.
- From £282 inc VAT each; cloth pair from £540 inc VAT
- All waist sizes, drivers over and under six foot
- Cloth, vinyl and Martini Racing edition available
- 4 point harness compatible
- 345mm x 271mm pattern: Sparco subframe only on this car
Cobra Daytona: the bolstering step up on the Cobra route
The Daytona is Cobra’s entry into their recliner range, and on the Tipo it gives you the lateral support the standard seat never managed. The shoulder and thigh bolsters hold you through corners rather than letting you brace against the door, and at 13.5kg it is not heavy for what you get. It is built to order through Cobra’s Signature range: spacer fabric, vinyl or leather, with contrast stitching, heating or lumbar available if you want them. The Daytona is sold per seat, so a pair means two in the basket. It goes on the Cobra subframe with 291mm sliding runners, the more expensive of the two subframe routes on this car.
- £599 inc VAT per seat, built to your trim specification
- 32 to 38 inch waists, all heights; 13.5kg
- Spacer fabric, vinyl or leather; optional heating and lumbar
- 4 point harness compatible
- 291mm x 330mm pattern: Cobra subframe only on this car
-
From £499.17 Excl. VATKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Sparco GT: for the Tipo's era and the drivers it fits
The Tipo Mk1 is a car from the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the Sparco GT matches that period better than most recliners in this range. It is a compact cloth seat with a retro profile, uses the same 345mm pattern as the R100, and goes on the Sparco subframe with the same runner kit. The fit range is narrower than the others here: Sparco publish it for 32 to 36 inch waists and drivers under six foot, so if you are at the wider end or taller, one of the Corbeaus is a better choice for this car. A Houndstooth Edition is also available for the Tipo owner who wants the cloth check look rather than the standard black.
- From £506 inc VAT each; Houndstooth Edition from £682 inc VAT each
- 32 to 36 inch waist, under six foot (tighter than any other seat in this guide)
- Cloth trim in the standard version; Houndstooth Edition available
- 4 point harness compatible
- 345mm x 271mm pattern: Sparco subframe only on this car
Corbeau Sportline RRS Low Base: the upgrade pick on either route
The RRS Low Base sits above the VLS in Corbeau’s recliner range. The backrest is more sculpted, the shoulder support firmer, and it holds you more positively through a corner than the VLS does. The Low Base version buys back headroom if the Tipo has been lowered or the driver is on the tall side, and a heated version is available in the pair listing. Like the VLS, it is drilled for both 291mm and 345mm, so it fits the Cobra subframe or the Sparco one. If you drive the Tipo at track evenings with any regularity and want a seat that keeps you placed rather than held, this is the next step from the VLS.
- £498 inc VAT each; heated pair from £1,224 inc VAT
- Both bolt patterns (291mm and 345mm): fits either subframe on this car
- 32 to 38 inch waists, all heights; Low Base version
- Heating option available in the pair listing
- 4 point harness compatible
-
From £415.00 Excl. VATKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Getting it bolted down
Both subframes bolt to the Tipo’s factory seat floor mounting points. Between subframe and seat go the sliding runners, which follow the same 291mm or 345mm pattern logic as the frames. Torque the floor bolts to spec before you drive and check seat belt buckle clearance, because a sport seat typically moves the buckle to a new position. Both subframes are listed per seat position, so a pair of seats means two subframes in the basket. If you are using the Corbeau VLS or RRS Low Base and want to keep the choice of subframe open, buy the runner matching whichever frame you end up going with.
| Your seat | Runners to order | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Sparco R100 or Sparco GT | 2 Sparco Seat Sliding Runner Kit, £78.00 inc VAT a pair | Sparco subframe |
| Cobra Daytona | 2 Cobra 291 Seat Sliding Runners, £117.60 inc VAT a pair | Cobra subframe |
| Corbeau VLS or RRS Low Base via Sparco subframe | 2 Corbeau 345mm Seat Sliding Runners, £117.60 inc VAT a pair | Sparco subframe |
| Corbeau VLS or RRS Low Base via Cobra subframe | 2 Corbeau 291mm Seat Sliding Runners, £117.60 inc VAT a pair | Cobra subframe |
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From £72.50 Excl. VAT Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
The five compared
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Waist | Height | Weight | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbeau VLS | Both | 32 to 38in | All heights | Not published | £474 each |
| Sparco R100 | 345 x 271 | All sizes | Over and under 6ft | Not published | From £282 each |
| Cobra Daytona | 291 x 330 | 32 to 38in | All heights | 13.5kg | £599 each |
| Sparco GT | 345 x 271 | 32 to 36in | Under 6ft | Not published | From £506 each |
| Corbeau RRS Low Base | Both | 32 to 38in | All heights | Not published | £498 each |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 21 August 2026. Where a weight says not published, the manufacturer does not give one and we will not guess it. Waist and height figures are the manufacturers’ published fitment ranges; if you are on a boundary, ask before ordering.
Common questions
Do I need to drill the floor of my Fiat Tipo?
No. Both subframes bolt to the factory seat mounting points on a standard Tipo floor. Torque the bolts properly and check the seat belt buckle position before you drive, because a sport seat typically moves the buckle somewhere new.
Can I put a Cobra seat on the Sparco subframe, or a Sparco seat on the Cobra one?
No. Cobra recliners use 291mm x 330mm and Sparco recliners use 345mm x 271mm, and the two patterns do not cross over. The Corbeau VLS and RRS Low Base are the exception, drilled for both patterns and compatible with either subframe on this car without adaptation.
Which years of Fiat Tipo does the Sparco subframe cover?
The Sparco subframe is listed for the Tipo from October 1988 to July 1995, which is the full run of the original Tipo generation. If your car is from a different Tipo generation (the newer Tipo launched in 2015 onwards), neither frame in this guide applies. The Cobra subframe listing does not carry a date restriction, but both frames here are intended for the original Tipo. If you are unsure about your exact build date, check the registration document before ordering.
Why are the subframes sold per side?
Both manufacturers price the subframe as a single unit covering one seat position. The Sparco listing has separate driver and passenger positions, and the Cobra listing covers a single position with the seat specified on checkout. Fitting both seats means two subframes and two runner kits in the basket.
Would a fixed bucket seat suit my Tipo better?
If the car does regular circuit sessions and does not carry passengers, possibly. A fixed back saves weight and holds you harder mid-corner. A recliner wins when the Tipo is still used on the road or occasionally carries a passenger, because the adjustable backrest and fore-aft runner stay available. If you are weighing both options, get in touch and we can go through what makes sense for how you use the car.
What I would actually buy
If it were my money and the Tipo is a car that does road miles with the odd track day in it: the R100 on the Sparco subframe. The subframe is cheaper than the Cobra one, the R100 fits any driver and costs the least of anything in this guide, and you can always step up the seat later without touching the frame. The VLS if I had not settled on a frame yet and wanted to run either way, because the dual pattern means the subframe decision comes after the seat is already on the car. The Daytona on the Cobra subframe if I wanted real bolstering and was prepared to spec the trim myself. The GT if the Tipo is a summer car and the 1990s cloth look matters to me as much as the support (with the note that anyone over 36 inches or six foot needs one of the Corbeaus instead). The RRS Low Base if the Tipo sees regular circuit evenings and I could feel the VLS was not holding me quite where I wanted to sit. None of these is a poor choice on this car. If you are weighing two of them or anywhere near a size boundary, give us a call on 0115 9893488 and we will work it out before you spend anything.
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