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Are Roadsters just for small people?

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Other LBC Marques had space issues. Ever try to get into an XK-120? The 140's had, I think, 4" longer cockpits, 150's even a bit more. I can do a 140, but no longer a 120.
 
I remember reading in British Car Magazine years ago that the optimal height for driving a British car is 5'9"-5'11".
 
After reading the great posts I went out for another drive on the local twisty (Salmon Falls Rd.). Really fun drive. Found that I was comfortable when driving, just had no extra room for my feet and my right leg is against the steering wheel. Longer trips might be an issue. Getting my old fat a-- in and out is the other problem.
I'm going to look for a 13" steering wheel and try to get a little more wiggle room.
 
DougF said:
I remember reading in British Car Magazine years ago that the optimal height for driving a British car is 5'9"-5'11".
Click to expand...

Unless it's a Lotus -- then 5'5" and thin is about right. I can just manage to sit in the passenger side of a Super 7 but thought we were going to have to use an engine hoist to get me out again.
 
You're right. I sat in a Europa and felt I could touch all three pedals with one foot, keeping my foot vertical. Colin must have had very narrow feet.
 
Wear skinny shoes. I am 6' and overweight with a size 14 shoe (what does that tell you?! :devilgrin: ) and always found that driving long distances with automotive driving shoes (skinny fit) was the best answer. Always kept a pair in the trunk.
 
I don't think the legroom changed much over the TR series up to the 7, the TR3 was the same as the 2, the TR4 built on a widened TR3 chassis, the 4A got a new chassis on the same body and cockpit, the TR6 had the same frame and cockpit as the 4a/250, maybe some difference in the seats or seat adjustments.

I ( average size, 6' 210) find the leg and headroom in my TR250 (same as a TR6) more than adequate, and don't even have the seat all the way back. They are a bit narrow, which you feel a lot more when you have a guy sitting next to you in the car.

My first car was an Austin Healey Sprite, so I am acclimated to small, I think if you mostly drive big american cars or SUVs any LBC is quite a shock.

I have also had MGBs and a Healey 100. The TR is best for space, the MGB has good legroom, about the same as the TR and is a little wider, but has less headroom, the 100 is tighter on legroom, and very tight on headroom with the top up (my head brushed the top), the midget is of course tighter all around.

In addition to a smaller stearing wheel, some reupholstered seats get overstuffed, and cutting some foam out of the back or seat can help. Never owned a Jensen Healey or TR7, but have driven them, they are indeed both very spacious in the cockpit.
 
Gil,

My post was not clear. I think there is plenty of room in a TR3 for a big guy which is what the "yep" was aimed at, and not the original question "Are Roadsters just for small people." Hope to meet you at the USBCC this Spring.

Mike
 
I never had a problem with my TR4A at 6'5" but I was always on the skinny side in my youth when I was driving it. Probably didn't weigh over 175 then (up to 195 now!). Probably didn't hurt that I have a small size 9.5 foot though too.

I will admit that there was an art to sliding your right leg under the TR4 steering wheel in getting in when you are tall.

Scott
 
6'1" and 205 lbs here. Size 11 shoes.

My old TR3 had scads of room. And I always thought TR6s had sufficient room.

No problem with my current cars: two Midgets (one street and one race), my street MGB or stock Miata.
I do wish the MGB steering wheel was smaller ('69 with stock banjo wheel). I have already fitted a smaller steering wheel to the street Midget that I am building (the race car has a 10" wheel).
With Spridgets, removing seat foam or swapping in early seats adds a lot of room.
With other makes (TR6?) early Miata seats are thin and might add some "stretch" room.
And yeah, if you're big and plan on driving a Europa, get some ballet shoes.
 
Just look at today's news. Officials have determined that ferries that used to carry 200 people can now only carry 174 people. Everythings has either gotten smaller over the years... or... we've gotten larger.

These British sports cars were built back when the Brits, with the effects of wartime privations still at work, were still pretty small people. And I expect those who designed these cars and drove them were pretty small also.

I know several people in my community who would LOVE to have a 1950s Jaguar... for example, but just don't fit in them.
 
I must admit that I can fit better in the TR6 with the Miata seats (and more comfortably) but the TR8 was designed for bigger guys. I'm 6'1" and 205, so I'm not a little guy either.
 
I've found my self very limited in the LBCs I can comfortably drive. I'm 6'1" 205# with 13EEEE shoes. These cars were just not built for me. :smile:

That said, I've found the MGB to be very comfy with loads of room -- I fit in my B better than I do in a modern Miata. The Bugeye had good pedal space for my snow-shoe feet, but I did have some knee cramping. I had some leg issues in my TR4 as well. TR3 was really tight for my legs, kept hitting the dash with my knees.

Sat in a MG TC once. Cured me of any notion that I could own one no matter how pretty I find them.
 
I always find these conversations about fitting in LBCs interesting, becauseyou inevitbly have bigger guys who say they fit fine, and smaller guys who say they don't fit at all.

Some of it is probably differences in body type, short waisted/long legs or short legged/long waisted, big in the middle, etc.

Some if it is probably temperment or what you are used to, some people just adjust or bear with what they are given better.

And the last thing that occured to me, some of it may be how you like to sit when you drive, I know my brother, who shares an interest in British cars, always moves the seat back when he drives my cars, despite being about an inch shorter than me, I have always liked to drive with my knees bent for a little extra leverage if needed for the brakes, etc. or maybe it was juat that I had to learn to drive that way since my first two cars were Sprites!

I had a freind who was 6'4" and drove Sprites as well, of course we were all young and limber back then.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]course we were all young and limber back then[/QUOTE]

That, my friend, speaks volumes about the question at hand.
 
My brother is 6'11 and drives a TR3. Has for many, many years. I believe all he did was alter the position of the seat tracks, everything else is stock. I am 6'1 and drive a coughmgbcough...loads of room in it. :smile:
 
I finally replaced the steering wheel with a 13 inch. That coupled with moving the seat support rails back about 1 inch has given me enough wiggle room to be fairly comfortable. The smaller diameter steering wheel doesn't seem to make any difference in turning ability.
Overall, worth the effort.
 
CinneaghTR said:
Daily stretching, especially if you do Pilates or yoga, helps with that
Click to expand...

So does climbing in and out of a TR3 every day! :smile:

I suspect part of the difference depends on what you are willing to put up with. A TR3 is never going to be as comfortable as a modern car, no matter what your weight and height.

Friend of mine who is 6'4" and around 300 lbs drives a Lotus Elise, which IMO is noticeably less roomy than a TR3. But he literally cannot get in or out with the top installed, so he always drives it topless.
 
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