Greetings Guys -
I am new to the forum, and do not actually own a vette. Here is my problem. I absolutely love the late 60 early 70 vettes, but the big problem is that I am 6'6" tall. Do I have a snowball's chance in hades of actually fitting in one, even if it was a convertible?

Also, there are two or three classic vette dealers around Atlanta, should I even bother to look at them? or should I seek out the individual seller?

Thanks for taking the time to look at these questions.

Peace :)
Rasch

 

Well don't know about the late 60's, early 70's but i can tell you about my 1980. I'm 6'2" and would not want to be any taller for a C3. I replaced the seats with fresh leather and foam, now my head just touches the glass top. My 1990 has lots more headroom so this is not an issue.

As far as buying i bought mine from a private seller, felt i could get a better price. Did lots of research using this forum (when the search worked) on what to look for, questions to ask.

 

6"4". 240 lbs. Fit fine in both my 63 and 69. Chuck

 

I read on another board where a driver who was 6'5" actually took the seat out of his 1980 vette, removed the rails and bolted the dang thing to the floor. Go figure.

Rasch :)

 

That offers hope. I will just have to go sit in one and see what I think. I was looking at the '69, 70, and 71.

Thanks Chuck,
RASCH :)

 

Welcome to the forum.:thumbs:
Before you go try getting a hair cut first. :D :D

 

Welcome to the insanity! :yesnod:

I'm 6' 2" and I wouldn't want to be too much taller with the tops on. However with the tops off, (or with a vert) no problem. At least your down south where the weather is warmer so just do most/all your driving with the top down/off. :lol:

Good Luck!

:seeya

 

I'm 6'4", but due to my proportions, I sit in a car more like a 6'7" guy (I'm long butt-to-knee and butt-to-head --- ok no jokes!!!)

I have absolutely no trouble in the C3s...especially the convertibles. I can also do C2s, provided the seats aren't using the thick aftermarket foam and springs. C1s and C4s? No frigging way. I drove a ZR1 a few months ago and I kept hitting my head on the t tops.

I own a C5, and I just fit into the convertible (my hair hits the liner of the top.) I cannot drive the coupes, because my head hits the side and roof member.

Rasch -- just look in the member locater and find an active forum member near you. Most of us would be happy to let someone from the forum show up to see if they fit in a C3. You can also contact your local Corvette Club.


[Modified by sammyb, 11:46 PM 2/2/2004]

 

I'm six-four, and feel completely comfortable in my 80....
I do find I can't get in and out easily without tiliting the wheel up though...
But once i'm in, I've often driven for several hours at a time and not needed to get out to "unfold" myself!
Sorry I can't offer advice about the earlier c3's, but I can only say you ought to at least give them a test drive -- you'll never really know until you try!
So even if you decide not to go for one, you'll have had a bloody good time finding out :lol:

:cheers:

 

i'm 6" 5 1/2", 205 lbs and fit fine in my 79, i have the mirror t-tops so no addl headliner. i also fit fine in C2's,However C4's, C5's are tight. C1's are out of the questions unless the original steering wheel is replaced with one much smaller. sometimes i can fit in a car, but can't slink low enought to look out the windshield or i can't work the pedals, especially on a manual trans car. I don't count these as "fitting".

 

I am sending you Email.

 

Rasch,

Welcome to the FORUM. We need more tall C3 guys here!

I am also 6'6" and I own a 1970 Convertible.

I chose the convertible as 70-90% of the time you have plenty of head room. With the top up I have marginal head room but you do fit. I have a manual but as you are probably aware tall people usually have big feet. Manual vettes are painful for us with big feet. I found that I catch my right foot on the brake as I remove it from the accelerator on the way to getting to the brake pedal. The clutch is in the way for my left foot and I often bump the high beam switch when I change gears at night. Your left leg will also be fairly wedged between the steering wheel and the door trim. When you change gears your knee will get close or hit the turn indicator.

BUT THERE IS HOPE...read on.

IF YOU BUY AN AUTO C3
An automatic solve some of these problems. ie removes clutch pedal

Swap out the automatic brake pedal for a manual brake pedal it is narrower

Purchase a car with Tilt/Tele - it is a must have for us tall guys. It is a minimum of $500 for a GOOD rebuilt tilt/tele column plus the hassle factor of installing it. ( I know becuse I just bought one) If you get a column with high/low beam switch on it (77 on) then you can also remove the high beam switch from the floor = more room for left foot.

Remove carpet and isulation under mounts of seat. Flatten out mounts for seat. May give 1/2 to 1 inch of extra legroom.

IF YOU BUY A MANUAL - welcome to my world.

A tilt/tele is a must.

Change/ remove insulation under carpet. This will only give 1/4 to 1/2 an inch but it all adds up. JC Whitney sells a 1/2 inch insulation whcih will flatten down to about 1/4 inch. ZEROCLEARANCE is another brand that makes a 1/4 inch foam/foil insulation which goes on the outside of the car, frees up room in the footwell. I am actually using both inside and out for heat insulation.

Move footwell firewall, yes you heard me right. I got this tip from another guy on the forum (sorry cannot remember his name for credit). You need to take into account the bell housing but you can saw a U shape cut in the firewall and pivot the firewall just below the steering column and move it forward about 4-5 inches. I made a cutsom floor pan out of steel (could also use alloy) whcih helps reinforce the fibreglass floor and fills in the gap where the firewall moved. In my case my firewall is stepped as I had to leave the accelorator where it was due to the clutch fork.

Bend Clutch and brake pedal to give new travel with new firewall. While you are bending the brake pedal bend it LEFT of where the accelorator is so that your right foot does not catch on it when going from GO to STOP.

Remove carpet and isulation under mounts of seat. Flatten out mounts for seat. May give 1/2 to 1 inch of extra legroom

It all sounds quite major but look at is a long term project. Test drive a C3 and take into account the foot space as well as head room, knee room etc.

The Tilt/Tele is the best improvement. The firewall/pedal mod is at least a week of effort but gets your knees lower and makes you more comfortable also. The seat mod would be a weekend at most. If you do it in stages you can get through it

In the meantime you WILL fit in a C3 but it will be like putting on a pair of jeans.

If you want to see photos of what I have done so far let me know. I have the custom floor pans (did one to re-inforce the passenger side also) made and and painted. I have my firewall cut and I am just doing a P/B install so the pedals are being romoved this weekend.

You can make a C3 fit you, if you want one bad enough!

:cheers:
Pete

 

hello, my wife and i are both 6' + and we fit fine in my car, its a 77 auto with a tilt/tele wheel. if you want to come to macon you are more than welcome to come look at it or even take it for a spin to see if you can fit in it . i am also think of selling it so who knows?


[Modified by ykp53, 9:40 AM 2/3/2004]

 

I'm 6'4" tall and have a lot of room in my 76 Coupe. Also you usually get a better price with a private seller. Sometimes the dealer will give you a warranty which you don't have with a private seller that often. Do a lot of research and if the dealer's prices aren't that much more and give you a warranty and you feel more comfortable with a dealer go with the dealer. Buying from either is good it's based on the car and your comfort factor. I bought from a private dealer and had no problems. :thumbs:

 

[QUOTE]hello, my wife and i are both 6' + and we fit fine in my car, its a 77 auto with a tilt/tele wheel. if you want to come to macon you are more than welcome to come look at it or even take it for a spin to see if you can fit in it . i am also think of selling it so who knows?

Rasch, sounds like a great invitation and looks like a great car (big block :eek: ) :thumbs: :thumbs:

 

I"m the guy who cut his firewall some 2 years ago or so....in the method described....pushed the bottom forward about 3 inches or so.....making much more footroom....slid carpet forward too, hardly shows....
the TT wheel with small diameter late shark wheel is needed, I also cut the rear purchase points off the seat tracks, allowing the seat to move down about 1.5 inches or so in the rear, adding to head room....
I"m about 6'5" and most of that in my backbone...so need headroom mostly...
but it got my knees outta the steering wheel, and makes the car comfy....
OH, any replacement plumb 'show car' foam is thicker and bad news for driving....so I have the original foam still in my seats....32 years old, and stuffed in strategic places with garbage bags and rags to fill in,,...main thing is they look new and fit me nicely....

GENE

 

Gene,

Sorry didn't give you credit. Forgot your user name! I have started on mine now and all is going good.

Did you heat treat your pedals after you bent them? I am going to pull them out this weekend after I install my booster.

Also forgot about the small wheel. Ecklers has leather ones for $100 which have the same pattern as the 1970 style.

Thanks again,

Pete

 

stingry, cool, tons of guys on here, no sweat...

second off, the gas pedal bending was easy, just a propane torch and bending in the vice....but the amount was critical, so must be measured, I have a TPI installed, so it may be a bit differant anyway, but the amount of clearances are also depending on your floorboard mods....I lowered mine about 2 nches, and left no padding under that carpet area....
brake pedal is the stick shift variety as that's was was in the car originally, so it was cut allmost all the way through from driver's edge, bent into position, tested, taken out and welded.....job dun.....

also I have a later shark steering column along with the wheel, so the turn signal switch and floorboard skive out and so on was straightened out and moved forward also....

OH, one thing, MY floorboard was plastic, so patching was a PIA...the metal ones whould be much easier with some HOme Despot paneling adhesive applied around where the weld beads are NOT.....spray paint black, and no one can/could tell very easy.....

GENE

 

It should be noted that in my '69, I don't have a tilt-tele column, and I still fit. Mostly it is because the typical angle is pretty good for taller (but not large tummied) drivers.

When I went out a few years back to look for a new car, I looked at every convertible under $100K, and I only fit in a handfull of them: C5, Porsche 911, Chrysler Sebring, Trans Am/Camaro, BMW 330/M3, Saab and Volvo, but those were too boring. Didn't have any interest in the F-body cars (I'm not 19 years old) and the Sebring was a no-interest vehicle (owned a Lebaron convertible before.) Couldn't find a new M3 conv available, and was underwhelmed with the 330. So it came down to 911 and C5, and value-wise, the C5 was a no brainer.

Some of the no-goers: Honda S2000, Boxster, Miata, Jag XK8, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mustang, Viper, Lexus SC430, Z3, NSX (yeah, I know, not a conv't, but I tried anyway.)

 

I will be going to one of the classic dealers tomorrow during lunch and taking a seat in one. I am excited. I will let you know how it goes.

RASCH :)