n00b question - Will I fit??

[Randy V]

Hi folks,

A couple of you may know me from ffcobra.com. I've recently sold my FFR and will be selling off a totally over the top Pro-Street Nova this spring.
I am looking for my next project.
I'm a long time Can-Am car addict and still totally in love with cars of that type..
Coupes are my real love although some of the open top cars are interesting. I want something that would be very docile on the street and am after roughly 350 RWHP maybe 400 tops.
I can do much of my own fabrication and am a competent weldor.
Cars that knock me out are;

* Lola T70-IIIB
* GT40
* Porsche 917

Now the $60,000 question - I am 6'3" tall - 205# (before breakfast) - 34" inseam. Wife is 5'8" tall and would shoot me if I told you what she weighed (not that I know anyways..).. She'd be my co-pilot

What am I going to fit in comfortably enough to stay in it for an hour or so at a time?

Thanks in advance for your help. I've searched for the info but can't seem to find it..

 

[Bill D]

Hi andy! Bill (2FAST4U) here. Welcome to the forum.

Fran has a Lola Spyder that he makes. Ron Earp, the admin, has one.

Maybe he or Fran will chime in.

Cheers
Bil D

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Big-Foot

You will fit in any and all of the RCR cars with one exception...the 917..it is significantly smaller in the cockpit that the others.

I have had many 6' 3"-5" tall guys in the cars and most significantly larger in frame than you...

Enjoy the Forum...full of good guys with a wealth of knowledge

 

[Bill D]

I meant "Randy"

 

[Randy V]

Hi Bill & Fran,

Thanks for the info and the welcome!

Now to find a suitable transaxle...

If you hear of anyone looking for a crazy fast Nova - please send them my way. Fran - do you take trade-ins??

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Yes,
I will take trades but I am afraid growing up in the UK...Novas dont float my boat...sorry....

 

[CliffBeer]

Randy, it probably really is just personal preference as there is likely a way to make you fit in any of these (perhaps more difficut in the 917) with bubbles and dropped floors, etc. You're not Wilt Chamberlin, more like Dan Gurney in the day.

Here's a thought, if you plan on you (and your wife) using these cars for a street car with occasional track use, perhaps it's wise to consider what you'll feel comfortable in on the road. What I mean is not so much physically, rather, what will you feel is an acceptable road car that you'll be able to drive and actually feel like you're not screaming out for attention. While I absolutely love the Lola and the 917, I'd feel a little too conspicuous driving these on the road. The GT40 certainly is no Toyota, but, at least I feel like I can sort of "fit in" on the road as just a sports car out for a nice drive. I don't think I could feel the same way with the 917 or the Lola.

Just depends on what are your goals for the experience. Worth a thought I think.

 

[Bill D]

Randy-
Have Fran make a GT40 Mirage!!

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Cliff...
some people might not want to "fit in"....hence the reason we are all on this forum

 

[TimB]

Yes,
I will take trades but I am afraid growing up in the UK...Novas dont float my boat...sorry....

How about a 68 E-type Ser 1.5 2+2?

 

[Randy V]

Hi Guys - thanks again for the help and support..

Cliff - I'm not really afraid to stand out in a crowd.. Although I do hear what you're saying.. There are times when you'd just rather be out for a drive and not have to spend hours answering questions or having inattentive drivers change-lanes over the top of you because you're smaller than your average 6k pound SUV..

Fran - This Nova is special.. 1100hp. GMC Supercharger. 18.5x31 rear tires. Wheelie bars (that really work). Take your breath away acceleration. Heck it even threatens tunnel-vision unless you're ready for it..

I know - I know.. But it was an early in life passion that brought me to drag racing.. I'm ready for 2G corners now.

I am very happy to hear that your cars will support a person of my size Fran.

Will the T70-IIIB be available with left hand drive? There's enough challenges on the roads these days without driving an RHD car on the wrong side of the road for which it was designed..

Bill - What's a GT40 Mirage? Fran?

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

The 3b is definately available in LHD....

The Mirage is a derivative of the GT40....

 

[Lloyd]

fitting is not as much of issue as getting in and out. I'm 6'1" 205# I fit great once in and seated. Its the in and out that cause me the most problem. I have the removable wheel and that does help considerably. Its getting up on to the side tanks from the sitting position. A lot of how you fit is the seat. With out the seat its amazing how much room is in the car.

LLoyd

 

[Randy V]

Hi Lloyd - Thanks for the message.. I would have to think that climbing in over the side pods on any car like this is going to present a challenge for some. I'm used to climbing into racecars through the side window so I'm still relatively limber.
It might present a problem for my wife if she were to try wearing a skirt..

Fran - are you planning on a Mirage version of the GT40?
Also - where can I find / download more images of your Lola 3b ?
Thank you...

 

[CliffBeer]

Cliff...
some people might not want to "fit in"....hence the reason we are all on this forum

Hi Fran, I don't follow. You're saying you're here for attention? My mistake, I thought you were on the GT40 forum because you like the GT40.

 

[CliffBeer]

Hi Guys - thanks again for the help and support..

Cliff - I'm not really afraid to stand out in a crowd.. Although I do hear what you're saying.. There are times when you'd just rather be out for a drive and not have to spend hours answering questions or having inattentive drivers change-lanes over the top of you because you're smaller than your average 6k pound SUV..

Fran - This Nova is special.. 1100hp. GMC Supercharger. 18.5x31 rear tires. Wheelie bars (that really work). Take your breath away acceleration. Heck it even threatens tunnel-vision unless you're ready for it..

I know - I know.. But it was an early in life passion that brought me to drag racing.. I'm ready for 2G corners now.

I am very happy to hear that your cars will support a person of my size Fran.

Will the T70-IIIB be available with left hand drive? There's enough challenges on the roads these days without driving an RHD car on the wrong side of the road for which it was designed..

Bill - What's a GT40 Mirage? Fran?

Randy, yup, you got it. While I love the GT40, the attention (swerving drivers, shouting, challenges to race, lengthy q&a sessions) can be tedious. I don't really know but I'm guessing this phenomenon may be, as a matter of degree, more pronounced with a 917 or Lola on the street. Anyway, to your original question, I believe there is likely a way to make you fit physically in any of these without going to extraordinary lengths. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Ian Anderson]

Yes you should fit as I would love to be as light as you! and I am also 6'3".

I got a DAx which is slightly more generous inside but I have been passenger in GTD and Tornado.

I am not agile and don't even need to remove the wheel now that I have the technique

Cheers
Ian

 

[Dave]

Hi Fran, I don't follow. You're saying you're here for attention? My mistake, I thought you were on the GT40 forum because you like the GT40

Uh oh. I think Frans here cause he loves the cars he builds and enjoys
watching people building them.

Hey Big Foot I'm 6 foot and 110kg, I have a bit of trouble getting in but
Every time you get in and out you get a little better at your technique.
I know I'm getting better as my Mates take ages to get in now and swear
when they are getting out.

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Dave S,

You are quite right we are all here for the love of the cars.........although for some of us it puts food on the table for our families, the love of the cars is certainly the reason I became a manufacturer....it was tough leaving a Corporate dream job in racing but this one is a dream job too..!!

Back to the thread question.....

I dont have any plans to build a Mirage although we have been asked a couple of times...
I no longer take care of the RCR website so I will have to poke the webmaster to upload more pics for you guys looking for pics and info...but thanks for asking.

 

[Randy V]

Fran - After looking over many many pictures of the Lola T70 3B (the shape I dearly love) as well as that of the GT40 - I'm thinking that the GT40 would actually make more sense between the two for street use.

My rational;
GT40 - appears to have much more cabin room and better visibility
GT40 - has far more ground clearance and can be raised slightly more if needed without making the car look totally strange.

Do you have any measurements of the cabins of these cars that you can share?

Thanks!

BTW - I'm going nuts over these transaxles.
Will the Audi 016 box be able to handle 350 RWHP with an occassional blast through the gears? The G50's are getting pretty scarce out there. The ZF's are almost non-existant.