Tall driver in a C3 convertible
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
FWIW, I'm 6'1" and have good leg room and fair head room with convertible top up. Less head room when hard top is on due to headliner. It should be noted that my car has tilt/telescopic steering column, which I think is most useful for ingress/egress as well as in the fit once in.
In addition to height, and perhaps more important, is your "width". These cars have quite narrow cockpits and shoulder room is tight for me and I'm not all that wide. I'm just under 200 pounds.
It should be fairly easy for you to check out size/fit for yourself. Hopefully, you live near a classic/collector dealer and you can find a shop that has one of these cars on the floor for a "test fit".
Hope this helps.
In addition to height, and perhaps more important, is your "width". These cars have quite narrow cockpits and shoulder room is tight for me and I'm not all that wide. I'm just under 200 pounds.
It should be fairly easy for you to check out size/fit for yourself. Hopefully, you live near a classic/collector dealer and you can find a shop that has one of these cars on the floor for a "test fit".
Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
Likes: 1,561
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Sure you will fit fine, but you'll have to slouch down a bit though,
and make sure to get one with a tilt wheel.
and make sure to get one with a tilt wheel.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 753
From: Doctors Inlet Florida
I'm 6'3 and I do not have any problems fitting in my 70 convertible. The only problem I have is if i'm wearing a baseball cap with the hardtop on the hat will barely touch.( no problems with the soft top) I drive my car 99% of the time with the top down so its never an issue.
Tilt/tele would be nice to have.
Tilt/tele would be nice to have.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 730
Likes: 37
From: Catoosa Okla
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Bought my '72 vert in '95 I am 6'5" and 225, age 73, and arthritic as hell.....SO over the years, I have added a TT column/wheel from a later shark, and winter 01-02 I moved the lower firewall forward, below the steering column, and bent the gas/brake levers so to get my knees off the wheel....I also dropped the seat in the rear by about 2" and so with a console pad, I drive in the James Dean slouch position...leaning on the console, hand on shifter, left hand on top of wheel.....
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 258
From: Dublin Ohio
The tilt column is a must. After getting in and out for the first time ever, after a multi year restoration, my hip started to feel like it was going to pop out of socket. Told my guy there would be a tilt column coming so he wasn't done yet.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
youll have to try one no doubt top off
6'3 and had a hell of a time with a 73 std top...stock wheel has to go for starters unfortunately those cars are real cramped
Theres a difference between can you fit or do you really fit? The 6'4 guy makes that look like a kids pedal car lol.
6'3 and had a hell of a time with a 73 std top...stock wheel has to go for starters unfortunately those cars are real cramped
Theres a difference between can you fit or do you really fit? The 6'4 guy makes that look like a kids pedal car lol.
Last edited by cv67; Jul 25, 2017 at 10:43 AM.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,301
Likes: 4,389
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi BN,
Welcome!
First Post and considering a 68-75 convertible!!
Very Nice!!!
Some tall folks have found that removing the 2 'pegs' in the bottom of the seat allows the seat back to 'recline' a little further, (actually right against the bulkhead behind the seat), helps a bit with both headroom and long arms.
I hope you find a nice one!
Regards,
Alan
Welcome!
First Post and considering a 68-75 convertible!!
Very Nice!!!
Some tall folks have found that removing the 2 'pegs' in the bottom of the seat allows the seat back to 'recline' a little further, (actually right against the bulkhead behind the seat), helps a bit with both headroom and long arms.
I hope you find a nice one!
Regards,
Alan
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
I'm 6'4 and 215 or so and I don't have any problems at all. My car is a coupe, which might be worse than a convertible. I slouch a bit if I'm on the highway with the tops off. All of my Corvettes have had tilt/tele, so I'm not sure what it would be like without it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Tilt the seat backs some by replacing those 'stops' with pieces that are thinner (you can grind the original pieces down...but then you won't have them in reserve, if you sell the car).
Tilt wheel would be important. It is MORE IMPORTANT to get rid of the large diameter steering wheel and get one that is 14" (or smaller) diameter.
You can also put 1/2" spacers under the front seat rail / bolts to raise the front of the seat (which will lean the seat back). To do this you would NEED to have the smaller diameter steering wheel.
[Apparently, Photobucket is no longer free. I was going to include before/after pics of the steering wheel change to my car, but have to subscribe to monthly charges for 3rd party pics. For the little use I get from it, not gonna happen.]
Tilt wheel would be important. It is MORE IMPORTANT to get rid of the large diameter steering wheel and get one that is 14" (or smaller) diameter.
You can also put 1/2" spacers under the front seat rail / bolts to raise the front of the seat (which will lean the seat back). To do this you would NEED to have the smaller diameter steering wheel.
[Apparently, Photobucket is no longer free. I was going to include before/after pics of the steering wheel change to my car, but have to subscribe to monthly charges for 3rd party pics. For the little use I get from it, not gonna happen.]
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
You can do several things. The foot well is two inches lower than the raised area under the seat. You can cut out the raised under seat portion and reglass it to level. That is what racers did in the past to clear helmets and roll cages.
I went to sparco 5 point seats with custom flat bar adjustable right down on my flame retardant short pile carpet. that gained me 3 or more inches of head room with my cage and hard tops. Also my seat is back against the battery box so my legs are pretty straight to the petals
I went to sparco 5 point seats with custom flat bar adjustable right down on my flame retardant short pile carpet. that gained me 3 or more inches of head room with my cage and hard tops. Also my seat is back against the battery box so my legs are pretty straight to the petals
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Doesn't help with a convertible, but I've heard that the aftermarket one-piece tops, like the Astrotop help provide extra head room as there's no liner then.
Adam
Adam
Last edited by NewbVetteGuy; Jul 25, 2017 at 03:19 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I have been 6 foot 2 since my teens and seen these questions about driver height pop up, and cant tell you how many times someone was floored when i jumped in one of my kit cars, my sterling for example had a roof top just at 38 inches from the ground, and i drove that car daily, very laid back, my dad who had raceds karts hated the laid back seating,
I also have dd vettes all my life, both coupes and convertibles never did i feel cramped but just cozy, like i fit into the car,
I have had shorter friends hate sitting in my vettes, perhaps this is more about the person, how they are built and how they are willing to sit,
I would highly suggest finding a local member or a lot with c3 for sale and go see it you like the feel, just because you fit you might still hate the feel,
I also have dd vettes all my life, both coupes and convertibles never did i feel cramped but just cozy, like i fit into the car,
I have had shorter friends hate sitting in my vettes, perhaps this is more about the person, how they are built and how they are willing to sit,
I would highly suggest finding a local member or a lot with c3 for sale and go see it you like the feel, just because you fit you might still hate the feel,
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 246
Likes: 20
From: St. Louis (more or less) Missouri
I am unsure if there is room in a C3, but I read somewhere (NCRS Corvette Restorer?) where a tall guy had the seat cut down on a C2 to provide more room. Reduced the height by 2" or so. The seat pad on a C3 is much thinner, but a good interior expert might be able to do some magic.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 958
Likes: 449
From: Dutchess county New York
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
between gkulls and alans recomendations theres hope of owning another
Why does gm make these so friggin cramped?!
if I drove my c4 which was a hair roomier you almost got used to it
stay out for a mo and get in you hated it esp with a manual.
Shame..my el camino has twice the room.
may decide to sell it as I can get a primo 4 spd vette and have $ left over for what I Can get. Well see. Sure miss the power though
Why does gm make these so friggin cramped?!
if I drove my c4 which was a hair roomier you almost got used to it
stay out for a mo and get in you hated it esp with a manual.
Shame..my el camino has twice the room.
may decide to sell it as I can get a primo 4 spd vette and have $ left over for what I Can get. Well see. Sure miss the power though
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Sask, Canada
Im 6'1 and JUST fit in my 77 coup, had to bend the turn signal/wiper lever up cause my leg hits it..... Just like all these fourms read between the lines, truth is somewhere in the middle im sure.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
I'm 6'2" 245lbs and I had my 1982 corvette seats redone. All new foam and leather had my head bumping the stock T top panel. I purchase glass TTops and gained about an 1-1/2 in height. No problems at all now.