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In search of the perfect cup holder

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My favorite co pilot is willing to hold the cup until we stop, otherwise no distractions behind the wheel ever! (Not to sound like a snit)
 
Now THIS is an important topic! Seriously! I spilled my coffee Saturday morning on the way to a club outing. Very happy that I have 'Seat Savers' on my seats since they are 'liquid resistant'.

I'm eagerly awaiting some good responses. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
I thought of a couple of ideas and links,but I figure Basil would delete them.
 
Actually, Larry, that problem has plagued me too, for some time. Between jambing my Latte down next to the emergency brake or between the seat and the tunnel, I am tired of moping up milky coffee stains. I think the perfect cup holder would be some kind of holder screwed into the cast aluminum center console, right to the right of the shift lever, on the passenger side. I have thought of sand casting an aluminum apparatus that would mold against the side the of the console and fit perfectly, then paint it black or even cover it with vinyl. Or, easier, have one made out of aluminum and welded together, then bolt it on. You got me working on it.
 
swift6 said:
Now THIS is an important topic! Seriously! I spilled my coffee Saturday morning on the way to a club outing. Very happy that I have 'Seat Savers' on my seats since they are 'liquid resistant'.

I'm eagerly awaiting some good responses. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Click to expand...

The trick to putting the coffee cup between your legs is to first make sure you buy coffee from a place that has nice tight fitting lids. Then, when you tear off the piece that allows you to drink with the lid on, make sure that the opening of the cup is facing FORWARD when you stuff it between your legs. You need to do this because there is always a rearward tilt to the cup when stuffed down there like that. You'll have to twist your hand around when you pick it up so that the opening is facing rearward when you go to drink, but it's a technique that's easily mastered. I've never (knock on wood) had any coffee spill using this method. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
I'm with Tomshobby on this one. Back in the day when my '71 was only a couple of years old I have a great cup holder. Somewhere along the way I lost that one. I did get a really nice replacement, but it's getting kind of worn. I'll be interested in whatever ya'll decide is the best.
On a more serious note... I use a plastic coffee mug that holds around 16oz. The lid snaps on and has a small opening to sip fron and a very small breather hole. The surface with the holes is recessed about 3/8" to help contain and near spills. I don't take a full mug because it's too easy to hit a bump and spill. It's not a throw away. I've had it for many years.
 
The Sharper Image _used_ to sell the perfect cupholder: It was a disk, diamter slightly larger than the coffee cup, and maybe 1-2" thick. Two parts, the bottom sits on the dashboard, the top part "holds" the coffee cup, and was gimbaled. Going around a corner, the coffee "leans" into the corner.

A friend had one, swore it worked. It looked cool as all get out. But alas, when I went to Sharper Image, they are no more.

Anyone else make something like this? A compact and functional design.
 
My Tundra has 8 cupholders ... in a pickup truck.

Anyway, one idea from the Tundra is a pull out cupholder that hides away in a small space under the dash. Maybe mount it under the glovebox? When you pull on this one, it pops out two expanding cupholders then folds itself away when you push it back. Made for foam type cups, but I bet if you start looking a some modern cars, you may get a lead for a boneyard hunt. Alot of cars come with this type.

Hey, I've got Toyota front calipers, a Toyota 5-speed, a modified center console from a 80s corolla, why not a cupholder as well? Easily removed too.
 
IMHO, please do not take this the wrong way.

It is great that you all drive so much that having a cupholder is a concern.

In my experiences, no coffee, no food, smoking etc. happens in any of my cars (except my 140k 96 Jeep).

Having a cupholder is a bit like having a CD player, sub woofers and heated seat. All of which is not in my association of driving a fine automobile.

All of your cars are fine automobiles, which someone would give pretty much anything to spend time in. Hearing the engine, the gears mesh and exhaust tone is such a satisfying experience for me, that a cupholder becomes un-thinkable.

If I had time to drink coffee, talk on a cell or wanted to listen to a CD, then I would feel quilty to own any one of my British cars. For me it defeats the purpose of being able to listen and feel the machinery.

Also, if I had the time to do any of these things then the car would not be satisfying to me. The reason that I own/drive these vehicles is to experience things that would not be possible in any other vehicle for the same costs that we invest.

These are merely my thoughts, and please do not take it the wrong way, but if Sir John Black, Cecil Kimber, William Lyons, etc. heard that a cupholder was preventing their beautiful creations from being enjoyed, I would think that it would not settle well.

Enjoy your treasures and have fun, we are all very fortunate to be able to share such a magnificant experience.

Patrick

36 MG
59 & 60 BE's
67 XKE
71 MG
 
The 71 TR6 I just purchased has a wood cup holder, 2 actually, to match the dash. It is secured under the radio somehow leaving each cup just in front of the shifter on the left and right. Since she doesn't run yet I don't know if they work in motion - but they hold my adult beverage very well while I am upsidedown under the dash searching out wires /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif I'll try to send a photo. I think I have the invoice from the previous owner for the custom dash - I assume the cup holder came from the same shop.
 
OK, then I am going to change the name of my "cup holder" to "water bottle holder". It gets awfully hot down here with the top down in summer.

And my next project is to take the blanking plate off my radio hole and make a recessed holder, lined with black velvetine, to hold my sunglasses. I will do this with thin sheet metal and solder it all up and line the face with the same black vinyl as the center console.

Resto-mod.
 
SCguy said:
Now Patrick, don't take this wrong, but clearly you don't understand driving on California freeways /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
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No worries, NYC here mate.

Please don't take my comments the wrong way, but if I had a worry about a cupholder

I wouldn't own a british car.

Once again, glad that you all are enjoying them and have a great time.

Patrick
 
I can put up without having one in my TR6 as I don't commute in it, and there are only a few events that I take it to where its early enough for me to want to take coffee with me. I put up with the awkwardness of no cupholder in those situations. I do commute in my TR8 though. In it on a daily basis. The TR8 is also so much more modern compared to the TR6 that its easy to forget its an old British sports car. Hey, it is 28 years old now. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
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