Check out LMR's SN95/New Edge Seat Guide for 94-04 Mustang Seats. This guide covers all of the factory options as well as some notable New Edge seats.
When you think of the SN95 and New Edge Mustang, what is the first thing that you think of? It probably isn't the 94-04 Mustang seats. Surprisingly, there are a few models that stand out from the rest such as the 2001 Bullitt, 03/04 Mach 1, 2001 Cobra, and 03/04 Cobra. These all provide OK bolstering to keep the driver semi-planted under spirited driving but leave much to be desired.
LMR examines each of the 94-04 Mustang seats from the most popular to the often-overlooked options.
Mustang GT’s and Cobras from 1994-96 had the same “Sport Seat” option. These were overall a comfortable seat with decent bolstering and a split side band. This was arguably more comfortable than the “Sport Seats” of the 1999-04 GT cars. These came in both leather and cloth variants. The headrests are large, reminiscent to the 1987-89 Fox Body seats with a welted/title rounded head design. In addition, the seat belts did not mount to the seats themselves. This resulted in the seat belts being mounted to the floor. The Base model seats had much less bolstering and were available in cloth only.
The 1995 GTS Mustang was the only V8 option that did not have the Sport seats. Unfortunately, it shared the base model seats with the V6 Cars. Lastly, in 1995 the Cobra R came equipped with the standard non-sport seats to save weight.
Seat Foam was the same for all 94-98 Sport Seats, so these are a carryover from the first of the SN95 cars. On top of that, the GT and SVT Cobra models were equipped with the same Sport Seats. However, the upholstery is different because of the small square/welted headrest. It also included the split side band and blind visible stitch not welting. Base seats were the same as the 94-96 cars.
Seat Foam was the same for all 94-98 Sport Seats, so these are a carryover from the first of the SN95 cars. On top of that, the GT and SVT Cobra models were equipped with the same Sport Seats. However, the upholstery is different only because of the small square headrest with no welt. Also different in 1998 compared to 1997 was the non-split side band and blind stitch style. Base seats were the same as the 94-96 cars.
The 1999 model year marked quite a few changes to the Ford Mustang. The exterior received many revisions from front to back! However, interior wise, the car looks mostly the same. The seats did receive revisions with their seat foam and appearance!
The 35th Anniversary cars in 1999 received special two-tone seats with Silver Inserts on the seatback with a matching silver etched Pony Logo in the center. These 35th Anniversary seats were equipped with smaller headrests similar to the 97-98 cars.
Just like the 35th Anniversary seats, the GT Sport Seats from 1999-04, and the 1999 SVT Cobra, they each had a smaller headrest. The GT cars had the etched Pony Logo but it was of a charcoal color to blend in with the seats for more of a subtle look. The 1999 Cobra seat was virtually identical with the exception of the Pony Logo. The Special Vehicle Team’s offering did not have an etched-in logo on the seat. Other than that, the seats were the same.
The 1999-04 GT style leather and vinyl seats are equipped with a small, 2-way adjustable headrest. It only actuates up and down to get into the passengers preferred position.
The 1999-04 SVT Cobra, Bullitt, and Mach 1 style upholstery kits have the large, 4-way adjustable headrest. These will articulate both up and down and will swivel backwards and forwards.
This rare beast with only 300 cars made featured, arguably, the best Factory seat offered in Mustang from 94-04. The SVT Cobra R featured the return of the Recaro Racing seat. The last time Recaro’s were in a Mustang was the 1979 Pacecar and these variants are vastly different! These Sport seats featured harness ports, an embroidered Snake wrapped around a red “R” just below the harness ports, and strong bolstering around the shoulders, lumbar, and legs.
This car started Ford’s Retro design that would continue until today. The seats did not disappoint either! With design cues from the ’60s, the 2001 Mustang Bullitt seats featured vertical pleats on the seatback and bottom, lumber bolsters that hug your back and raised leg bolstering. They also featured a larger headrest that finished off the look!
Ford utilized the same seat foam from the Bullitt Mustang for their SVT Variant in the 2001 Cobra. The seat design was quite different from the Bullitt that included either a Medium Parchment or Dark Charcoal insert, horizontal pleats like the GT models, and a snake logo embroidered into the seatback.
The Mach 1, with its classy looks, picked right up where the Bullitt left off. This Pony has Front and Rear leather bucket seats that are a modern version of the 1969 Mach with bolstering similar to its Bullitt and Cobra siblings. They also featured a silver horizontal line on the seat back that connected the seat design to their older Mach 1 brothers. Though similar to the 01 Cobra and Bullitt, the Mach 1 used its own seat foam design.
With a very similar design to the Mach 1 and Bullitt, the SVT Cobra from 2003 and 2004 have seats designed to hold you in place with good lumbar and improved leg bolsters. These seats did have their own seat foam and the large headrests found on the two models previously mentioned. Where this seat stands out are the different color options. The seats had suede inserts of either Dark Charcoal, Medium Graphite, or Medium Parchment.
For the 2003 Model, the 10th-anniversary cars had Red inserts with a Cobra snake embroidered into the seatback. In 2004, the color-changing option came back in the form of Mystichrome changing in color from a bright topaz green to cobalt blue, royal purple, and finally to a deep onyx black. The color-changing feature was designed into the inserts of the seats to give an awesome appearance! Ford and SVT partnered directly with Garden State Tanning in order to get the Mystichrome color to adhere to the leather inserts. This found its way onto the Terminator’s front and rear seats. The process required dying the leather black, then spraying the unique Mystichrome paint directly onto the leather. Then, it was sealed with a clear protectant to prevent damage to the color-changing seat inserts.
In conclusion, while the 94-04 Mustang seats aren't known to be the most popular, Ford stepped up at the end of the Fox Chassis life span and brought back Recaro for the 2000 Cobra R. This vastly improved the seat design in the 2001 Bullitt and Cobra as well as the 2003 and 2003 Mach 1 and Cobra cars.
Browse our large selection of new set upholstery to restore or improve the 94-04 Mustang seats in your SN95/New Edge today!