What's the going rate for a pair of original hardback seats these days? Is there a place that has them in stock or do you just have to wait until some show up?

I'd say a set in very good condition with the usual patina that 25 years of use that is to be expected would probably sell for around $7K-$8K. Ratty and tired OEM would trade for less, mint condition ones, for more. Porsche no longer makes them, but used ones come up for sale from time to time; you just gotta be patient and quick to jump when they pop up.

Some possible good news is, there is an aftermarket vendor named Waldemar in Europe who makes very nice looking aftermarket ones, if brand new and not OEM works for you. The bad news is, they are as expensive or maybe even more than OEM, some have complained about quality and/or customer service issues, and the big downside could be, since he's only been making these for a few years, no one knows if they'll hold up in the long run. Will his aftermarket seats hold up after 10 years? 20 years? No one knows. With OEM, we do know.

Personally, I'd much prefer OEM, and if you feel the same way, I'd put some 'where to buy' feelers here and elsewhere and wait for some OEM to come up for sale.

Either way, good luck

OP - for what it’s worth, I find the sport seats fantastically comfortable. I’m 6’3”, medium build, and they fit like a glove.

Appreciate it, thank you. $7-$8k is what i was also thinking.

Thank you, I'm used to the bucket seats in modern GT cars so I suspect these seats to be less rigid than those but more rigid than a normal 993 seat.

Yeah, nothing even close to the carbon fiber full buckets in modern GT cars. More like the 18-way sport seats in my 991, but a bit wider. They’re super comfortable.

It seems quite high to me. Keep in mind new leather covers for them runs around $1600 for two seats so even ragged ones can be refurbed at a reasonable cost.
I suspect the price fluctuates quite a bit for used seats as not enough of them come up for sale to develop a stable market price.
Andy

The 997 hardbacks work really well aesthetically and are even more comfortable IMHO than the 993 hardbacks. 996 hardbacks look totally out of place, but the 997's have curved stitching that match the 993 design very well. I put 997 hardbacks in my car years ago and they're one of the best mods I've ever done.

To each there own but I personally think the 996 hardbacks are a nice cheaper alternative to the 993 hardbacks. The uninitiated might not be able to label the below seats to the correct generation. I also personally the feel the 997 sport seats look way out of place in the 993... despite being a nice option.

I would not be surprised if the 993 & the 996 hardback seats have very similar if not identical undercarriages. I am sure a seat cover maker could easily make a set of covers in the 993 style to fit a 996 frame. The backs are slightly different but the originality of the look would be very close.
997 seats for sale
Andy

I went the 996 HBSS route, bought and installed. The 996 mounting point is lower, so in a 993, those seat put your butt and head about 3/4" closer to the headliner. They also require modification of the electrical connections, which I did based on some good RL threads. They are nice seats, but set me too high. I took them out and sold them after finding a pair of OEM 993 HBSS. I find the 993 HBSS just a bit more cushy, like an old favorite pair of jeans... And, yes, $7k for a nice set, if you are lucky. IMO, OEM is the way to go.

The overhyped hard back sport seats are less comfortable than the(-74)- 94-95 soft back sport seats wich are known tl be the most comfortable seats ever in a Porsche!

Ping Opo's mailbox.

You can go retro (and save some $'s) right here...

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts...101945488.html

No affiliation.

Holy **** that is a steal!!! Black 4 ways at that! If they were heated I'd be flying to SF to ship them home.

993 HBSS are excellent seats, very comfortable for tall and bigger guys. But the 964 sport seat truly is the best air cooled recliner they ever made.