A Cobra for the "taller" driver - Page 2

lovehamr · #1 (**permalink**) 06-12-2012, 07:09 PM

I'm a big fat basturd at 6'2" 280 who tried on quite a few different makes, including an SPF with "big boy" mods (seemed to be mostly the seat back straight up and back against rear fire wall with a smaller steering wheel; not comfortable at all) in southern OH and was getting a little despondent about finding a Cobra that I could drive comfortably. Then Dave (mentioned by Jay above) let me try on his BDR at the London Cobra Show back in 06. Shortly after, I ordered my BDR and recieved #687. I have the seat bolted directly to the floor/frame with no sliders and all the way to the rear. Now I have good leg room and my helmeted head is below the level of the roll bar. All without custom dropped foot boxes, weird angled seat backs, or banging my knee into the door hinge etc. Call me happy with my BDR. Just for comparison, that's me driving with my 6'4" son riding shotgun and the passenger seat still on sliders.

PHC1 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-12-2012, 08:21 PM

Thanks for the input guys, great info here! Good to know there are options out there that really work for us over the 6ft mark crowd.

BAsque1 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 06:30 AM

Being one of those pleasantly plump @ 260 and 6'1" (290 when I got the Cobra) I own a West Coast 6" longer and 4" wider with plenty of room in the cockpit, built right for us. IMHO.
Cheers
Basque1(Lou)

Dwight · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 06:49 AM

Lawrence is a big guy, 6' 3" or something like that. He build his FFR and modified it a little to fit him. He does have a removable steering wheel.

Dwight

windy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 08:22 AM

Hunter was the best fit I found. I was 6'6", 250 when I got it, and with the 96" wheelbase, dropped footwell and seats, I can comfortably straighten my legs if I need to. I am down to 225 because it is cheaper to take 25 pounds off of me than it is to take it off the car!

kmccormick · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 12:34 PM

I'm 6'2" and my BDR fits perfect

Mdman352 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 04:43 PM

I own a Contemporary and I'm 6'3" 295# with size 14 shoes.. I tossed the seats and used a Walmart pillow for a year until I could afford to finish the interior and had some custom "seats" made that fit onto the floor allowing me to sit 6" down and 6" back, cut 4" out of the side of the transmission tunnel, moved the rear header pipe (427)forward and got 2" more in the foot box, moved the pedals apart, moved the steering column to the right to "center up" the driving position a little better. Nick Acton did the fabrication/modification work. It was physically impossible to drive the car when I first got it. Now, I wear it out every chance i get.

Thor maine · #8 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdman352

I own a Contemporary and I'm 6'3" 295# with size 14 shoes.. I tossed the seats and used a Walmart pillow for a year until I could afford to finish the interior and had some custom "seats" made that fit onto the floor allowing me to sit 6" down and 6" back, cut 4" out of the side of the transmission tunnel, moved the rear header pipe (427)forward and got 2" more in the foot box, moved the pedals apart, moved the steering column to the right to "center up" the driving position a little better. Nick Acton did the fabrication/modification work. It was physically impossible to drive the car when I first got it. Now, I wear it out every chance i get.

So is that a picture after all those mods or before??? You look like your a little big for the car in that picture. I used in my Contemporary early Jag E-type seats. Cut down the back 3 inches, easy the frame is made of wood. The bottom part of the seat is lower than Cobra repo seats and the front edge is angled to give room for the trans tunnel so I kept the track slides and the seat can go the whole range of front to back.

Mdman352 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor maine

So is that a picture after all those mods or before??? You look like your a little big for the car in that picture. I used in my Contemporary early Jag E-type seats. Cut down the back 3 inches, easy the frame is made of wood. The bottom part of the seat is lower than Cobra repo seats and the front edge is angled to give room for the trans tunnel so I kept the track slides and the seat can go the whole range of front to back.

this was before.......

Bill E · #10 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 07:17 PM

No two people set the same in any given car. What works for one 6.2 guy will not work for the next. Cars at these performances levels require you to be countable with the controls. Big dog is probably the biggest guy on this site, But his car was built from the frame up to fit him. Not adjusted. A lot of it has to do with how much pain you can endure in to relation to how much pleaser you are getting.

lovehamr · #11 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 06:02 AM

Yup, gotta be able to count the controls.

PHC1 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 01:07 PM

Today I got a chance to sit in a Kirkham 289 FIA and a Superformance 427 "street". I even got behind the wheel and drove the Superformance, thanks to two great members here. I really appreciate "mreid" and "jbcobra" taking their time out of their weekend to show me their cars and taking me and my son for a ride and even letting me get behind the wheel and try the Superformance.

My fear of not fitting comfortably has been erased. I fit in both cars just fine and the Superformance drivers seat was set up as stock, on rails, etc... so there is even more room to be had.

All I can say is these Cobras are FUN and ADDICTING. I want one yesterday!!!

Got the Bug · #13 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHC1

Today I got a chance to sit in a Kirkham 289 FIA and a Superformance 427 "street". I even got behind the wheel and drove the Superformance, thanks to two great members here. I really appreciate "mreid" and "jbcobra" taking their time out of their weekend to show me their cars and taking me and my son for a ride and even letting me get behind the wheel and try the Superformance.

My fear of not fitting comfortably has been erased. I fit in both cars just fine and the Superformance was set up as stock, on frame rails, etc... so there is even more room to be had.

All I can say is these Cobras are FUN and ADDICTING. I want one yesterday!!!

Awesome! Getting out and seeing and driving some different cars is what it's all about. Kudos to those brave owners who let you drive their car!

You're on your way. Happy hunting.

Mark Brye · #14 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 08:14 PM

I think you really need to sit in the cars yourself as I have found a different experience in each compared to what other people have stated. I am 6"4 with 34 inseam and currently at 260 pounds.
I have tried to drive a 1991 build classic roadster which is supposed to be larger than 90 and my legs smacked the dash. No way I could drive it. The owner of the car was I am guessing 6"2 and had to have weighed close to me. He drove it no problem.
Sat in an SPF that was a 2008ish build so I don't know the build number. It felt tight to me. I think if the seat was mounted to the floor, it would have been a little better. My friends West Coast is built on the 96 and there is now way I could drive that car. The seats sit higher which put my legs into the dash again.
My Backdraft fits me perfect, but I have to drive either with driving shoes or no shoes at all because the pedals don't fit my shoes.

Mark IV · #15 (**permalink**) 06-18-2012, 02:45 PM

The Superformance 289 Street Roadster ("Slabside") has even more room than the 427 unit due to the footbox design that has been done. i had a 6'4" guy sit in it at Watkins Glen and he put the seat forward one notch! The rear wheel well design on the 289 allows the seat to move farther rearward than on the 427 style cars.

We will have the car at London this weekend and invite everyone to "try it on!"