Classics for tall people

[taznuv]

Hi all, just signed up to Piston Heads to get involved with the forums, and thought I'd start with asking which older cars suit bigger people + share my own experience.

I'm 6' 5" and struggle with many cars, particularly legroom. I've bought various cars I've convinced myself I fit but in reality don't (Alfasud Sprint and Alfa 75 amongst them). I'm now looking for a fun second car, probably older because I like working on them. So far I've tried:

Scimitar GTC, excellent space but not sure I wanted the car.
Triumph TR6, impossible.
Triumph Stag, just about if it's an auto.
Alfa Guilia Coupe, OK if it's left hand drive (pendant pedals).
Alfasud saloon, OK, but tiny pedals
Lancia Fulvia, OK

Any ideas on anything else suitable would be great,

cheers

[Combover]

taznuv said:

Triumph TR6, impossible.

Hello and welcome.

I'm 5'7 and find the TR a bit 'snug' even for me!

It really does depend on budget though.

How about a Mk1 Capri 3.0?

[a8hex]

How about an XK150. I'm 6' and can't reach the pedals with the seat all the way back. Depending on where your extra height is compared to me you might run out of head room in a fixed head, but an open car shouldn't be a problem.

[GreenV8S]

Don't know what you would consider a classic, but TVRs from the late 80s onwards have been designed to fit Peter Wheeler who was well over 6' tall. I'm 6'4 and the S series fits me easily with headroom and legroom to spare. By fitting a lower seat I've even been able to fit in with a crash helmet on.

[lowdrag]

Most cars can be modified. For example, I sold a Lynx D type to someone who is 6' 3" and I amd 5' 8" and said he couldn't drive it. However, with the backrest thinned and the pedal box altered he can easily drive it. Similarly I saw this week an XK120 modified for a man of 6' 7" and 23 stone! So ask around - especially of the respective marque club - and I reckon you'll get some invaluable advice. never say die and best of luck!

[taznuv]

Thanks everyone for the ideas and advice. Love the idea of the XK but probably too expensive. The TVR S was on my list of things to try so will certainly have a look at one.

[williamp]

A good trick is to find cars whose owners were tall. Aston and TVR are good bets, but Lotus were built around Colin Chapman.

Have you tried marcos? They have moveable pedals, so you might fit

Or a more unusual car from a volume manufacture- Jaguar XJ-S, or the Xj Coupe from the 70s, Merc SL, a BMW 6 series/3.0 CS, etc etc. When you do some reaasearch, its surprising how many volume manufacturers have dabbled in interesting cars in the past.

[Combover]

williamp said:

A good trick is to find cars whose owners were tall. Aston and TVR are good bets, but Lotus were built around Colin Chapman.

Yet strangely, the Lotus Elan was designed to accomodate people up to 6 foot. Or so i'm led to believe.

[hot metal]

How about a Dolomite Sprint .Britains tallest man used to drive a Triumph 1500 as it was the only car he could fit in. Same body type as Dolly.

[RichB]

williamp said:

A good trick is to find cars whose owners were tall. Aston and TVR are good bets, but Lotus were built around Colin Chapman.

So who was the tall chap at Aston William? Certainly not David Brown, I'm 5'9" and only just comfortable in my DB MK III.

[williamp]

RichB said:

williamp said:

A good trick is to find cars whose owners were tall. Aston and TVR are good bets, but Lotus were built around Colin Chapman.

So who was the tall chap at Aston William? Certainly not David Brown, I'm 5'9" and only just comfortable in my DB MK III.

Fair point. MVG was comfortably over 6ft, and the Virage plus derivatives are big inside. As the V8's are too.

[Fittster]

Aren't Bristol designed with tall people in mind?

[tog]

Fittster said:

Aren't Bristol designed with tall people in mind?

I'm 6'3" and my 410 is fine, though a couple more inches legroom wouldn't hurt. Cars from the 411 onwards have different seats and runners and can be set up with a lot more legroom.

[aeropilot]

Get a 50's or 60's American car.....

Or a MkX Jag, 420G or early Series XJ

[/footnote]

Edited by aeropilot on Monday 11th August 09:57

[plasticpig]

Well if you are after a car in the Scimitar GTC / Stag mould how about a Mercedes SL?

[Will1602]

2002 BMW obviously!

or Lotus Sunbeam?

[TimCrighton]

Healey 3000 (BN 2 Seaters have slightly more room than the BT 4 seaters - I'm 6'4 and fit in mine fine!)

XK120 - Plenty of room for me.

S1 E Type - 3.6 rather than 4.2 as the earlier seats (which aren't rake adjustable) give you an extra few inches of leg room - I can drive one fine

[Shed_Jensen]

Any of the Jensen cars will be fine (apart from Healey and GT)

I'm a "large" 6ft4 and fit fine in my Interceptor and CV8...

Cheers,

Steve

[AcidRich]

taznuv said:

Thanks everyone for the ideas and advice. Love the idea of the XK but probably too expensive. The TVR S was on my list of things to try so will certainly have a look at one.

My S3 had the pedal box moved forward as a factory option.
I'm also 6'5" & fitted in no problem.

[aeropilot]

Will1602 said:

or Lotus Sunbeam?

As an ex-Sunbeam-Lotus owner, I'd say no.