A Cobra for the "taller" driver

[rms427]

I'm 6'6" 220 pounds. When I purchased my cobra in 1968 I was 6'6.5" and 230 pounds. I saw the add in the paper for the car and I went to see it on the way to purchase clothes for my new job out of college. The owner asked if I wanted to drive it and I couldn't figure out how to get in behind the steering wheel so I just got a ride. I forgot about the clothes and went home and spent a week convincing my dad to cosign a loan. I told him it would be worth more in the future. I really didn't care I just wanted the car and used that to help convince him. He finally agreed and I gave the owner $100 to hold the car. He held it for about 2 months until I graduated from college. I didn't tell my dad I hadn't been able to drive the car. I felt I would figure that out after I got it. When I went to pick up the car I found that if I stepped over the steering wheel I could get in. So I put the key on my key ring and off I went. After a few blocks the car died. I wasn't too happy but found out that my knee hit the key ring and shut the car off. I have driven the car ever since with a bare key.

I thought I could shove the seat back by denting in the fender wells. That didn't work since the tires then rubbed on the tires. I did take out the seat tracks and bolted the seat to the floor with some quarter inch steel plates. This gave a bit more headroom so that the top didn't flutter on my head. I drove the car as my every day car for 4 years putting about 48,000 miles on it. I did slaloms, drag racing and rallies. This included several SCCA 12 hour rallies from LA to Las Vegas and Encenada Mexico. So the car was fairly comfortable for me when I was in my 20's. I bent the light switch with my knee while slaloming the car and eventually broke it off.

A few years ago I redid the seats and the guy added a bit of padding. This was a mistake. I still fit but not as well as before. The longest drive with the new seats has been 350 miles. The car is comfortable for me to drive it's just a bit more difficult to use the pedals. Now my car does not have a roll bar. I have driven an original SC and a Kirkham and they were more difficult to drive. I did not fit in a 289 Cobra with a roll bar. I assume the roll bars don't allow the seat to go back as far.

So at 6'6" 35 inch inseam I fit OK in my car. It's much more comfortable than the 90 ZR-1 I owned but no where near as comfortable as my C6 Z06. I could not drive the older Corvettes and had trouble driving a Viper GTS coup. I fit in it about the same as the SC and Kirkham. I could drive them but it was really difficult using the clutches. By the way the seating in my car is not a problem but the heat and wind buffeting are tough on a person approaching 70. This is especially the case with my wife.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by rms427

I'm 6'6" 220 pounds. When I purchased my cobra in 1968 I was 6'6.5" and 230 pounds. I saw the add in the paper for the car and I went to see it on the way to purchase clothes for my new job out of college. The owner asked if I wanted to drive it and I couldn't figure out how to get in behind the steering wheel so I just got a ride. I forgot about the clothes and went home and spent a week convincing my dad to cosign a loan. I told him it would be worth more in the future. I really didn't care I just wanted the car and used that to help convince him. He finally agreed and I gave the owner $100 to hold the car. He held it for about 2 months until I graduated from college. I didn't tell my dad I hadn't been able to drive the car. I felt I would figure that out after I got it. When I went to pick up the car I found that if I stepped over the steering wheel I could get in. So I put the key on my key ring and off I went. After a few blocks the car died. I wasn't too happy but found out that my knee hit the key ring and shut the car off. I have driven the car ever since with a bare key.

I thought I could shove the seat back by denting in the fender wells. That didn't work since the tires then rubbed on the tires. I did take out the seat tracks and bolted the seat to the floor with some quarter inch steel plates. This gave a bit more headroom so that the top didn't flutter on my head. I drove the car as my every day car for 4 years putting about 48,000 miles on it. I did slaloms, drag racing and rallies. This included several SCCA 12 hour rallies from LA to Las Vegas and Encenada Mexico. So the car was fairly comfortable for me when I was in my 20's. I bent the light switch with my knee while slaloming the car and eventually broke it off.

A few years ago I redid the seats and the guy added a bit of padding. This was a mistake. I still fit but not as well as before. The longest drive with the new seats has been 350 miles. The car is comfortable for me to drive it's just a bit more difficult to use the pedals. Now my car does not have a roll bar. I have driven an original SC and a Kirkham and they were more difficult to drive. I did not fit in a 289 Cobra with a roll bar. I assume the roll bars don't allow the seat to go back as far.

So at 6'6" 35 inch inseam I fit OK in my car. It's much more comfortable than the 90 ZR-1 I owned but no where near as comfortable as my C6 Z06. I could not drive the older Corvettes and had trouble driving a Viper GTS coup. I fit in it about the same as the SC and Kirkham. I could drive them but it was really difficult using the clutches. By the way the seating in my car is not a problem but the heat and wind buffeting are tough on a person approaching 70. This is especially the case with my wife.

Great story! Thanks for sharing!