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Tall Guy, Needs Fun English Sports Car.

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dilburrito

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I'm looking for an English sports car that will fit a tall guy. I'm tall (not large), 6'5" and have owned a couple of Triumph Spitfires. Got my first way back in 1978 and was amazed at how comfortable it was for a guy my size. Owned one or two since, fun cars, love them. The top was always against my head, I usually just remove the top altogether and drive in good weather.

The only other sports cars I ever drove were an MGB and an MG midget, the B was OK, midget way too tight.

I'm looking for suggestions for another car. Obviously need the leg room, can always remove the top for head room. I am interested in something more robust, a 6 cylinder or V8. 1975 or earlier due to California smog laws. Convertible. I am a capable mechanic, don't worry about working on them.

I find the TR5/TR6 interesting, never been in one. For the first time today I saw the Triumph Stag, didn't know it existed, looks fun. Engine compartment looks like a nightmare though.

It doesn't have to be a Triumph, I just don't know anything else.

I'll surely appreciate suggestions for a tall guy in a little car.
 
The MGC was basically the "B" with a 3 liter straight-6 wedged into it. People are routinely surprised about the legroom in the "B" because it looks like it should be cramped as heck, but once you get in you realize how deep the footwells are. I don't know if the MGC lost any of the legroom to make space for the straight 6 or not, but it might be an option if the "B" was comfirtable for you.
 
Not going to recommend my Midget :ROFLMAO: It fits me fine but my 6' 6" son looks over the window.

If your first was in 1978 you might want to look not just for size but ease of entry/ exit. In the 15 years since I got mine on the road it has gotten both smaller and lower to the ground making it harder to get in and out (that's my story and I am sticking to it!)

good luck!
 
If you can find a good example of teh Jaguar E-Type, that would fit you nicely and it has a 4.2 liter straight 6 with DOHC. Mind you the Roadsters and coupes would be hard to find at a reasonable price, but something like a Series 2 2+2 could probably be found for reasonable money.
 
I'm 6' 9". Have a rubber bumper MGB. Sitting on the passenger side, my legs are out straight. On the driver side the pedals make that a fair bit tighter. Have wondered if the accelerator pedal could be 'thinned', but haven't done anything. My eyes are even with the top of the windshield frame. I understand the MGB-GT is roomier. Not a convertible, but it has a taller windshield. There were a few factory V8 versions and a bunch of non-factory conversions.

Also have an Austin-Healey 6 cylinder roadster with the centershift gearbox. The centershift gearbox is narrower than the sideshift, giving a bit more room side to side. Have a hardtop, believe that they're taller than the soft top. I reworked the seat moving it closer to the gearbox and back and tilted the seat back back a bit more. Have a Moto-Lita dished steering wheel, gives a bit more room for the legs. Don't fit at all in the later convertibles (BJ7/BJ8) or the earlier 100 (BN1 & BN2). But David Nock at British Car Specialists in Stockton CA told me that they modified a 100 for someone around 6' 6", so it can be done.

The last older British car I have is a Mini Cooper. Smaller aftermarket steering wheel and L shaped brackets that move the seat back.

You might consider a MINI. When we bought our first in 2007, the sales literature said that they designed the 2 door hardtop for folks up to 6' 7". Have 221K miles on it and it burns and leaks oil in the traditional fashion. Wouldn't recommend that year as it was the first for the turbocharged engine and the timing chain is a weakness. Much newer than 1978.
 
BobHaskell said:
I'm 6' 9". Have a rubber bumper MGB. Sitting on the passenger side, my legs are out straight. On the driver side the pedals make that a fair bit tighter. Have wondered if the accelerator pedal could be 'thinned', but haven't done anything. My eyes are even with the top of the windshield frame. I understand the MGB-GT is roomier. Not a convertible, but it has a taller windshield. There were a few factory V8 versions and a bunch of non-factory conversions.
Click to expand...
So how do you drive from the passenger side? ;)

Or is it RHD? :ROFLMAO:

what about a Jag XJ-S I think they look better and better and, if I suddenly found myself carless I would definitely look at an XK8 - 25 years old, a bargain price wise and AC and cruise control. :cheers:
 
My brother was 6'11 and drove a TR3. He did have to move the seat mounts back but had plenty of leg room.
 
Daimler Sp250 ace v8 fibreglass body like the corvettes and good leg room.
Big trunk (boot) for touring.
I’m a little biased as I used to have one
IMG_2481.jpeg
 
JPSmit said:
So how do you drive from the passenger side? ;)

Or is it RHD? :ROFLMAO:

what about a Jag XJ-S I think they look better and better and, if I suddenly found myself carless I would definitely look at an XK8 - 25 years old, a bargain price wise and AC and cruise control. :cheers:
Click to expand...
How do I drive from the passenger side? Levers. Or is it ball bearings?

The 60's Mini Cooper is RHD. The MGB is LHD. Just saying that the B's foot wells are pretty deep. There are a lot of American cars that don't have that much room.
 
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