Original Cobras - how tall can a driver be and fit?

[CSX2259]

There is far more room in an original 289 Cobra than a 427 Cobra and the seating position itself is more normal than in a 427 Cobra that has you twisted to the left to make room for the larger engine next to your feet. As a matter of fact the 289 Cobra has so much more room that there is a dead pedal fitted in the foot box to rest your left foot on.
I have converted both the aluminum and fiberglass bodied 289 based Continuation Series Cobras to the correct 289 foot boxes, it's not an easy conversion but it very worthwhile once done.

[FL SAAC]

still say that they are beautiful cars

[Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas]

I can't fit in them well, but I'd drive it every day if I had one

[FL SAAC]

I can't fit in them well, but I'd drive it every day if I had one

that makes two of us so + 2

[Side-Oilers]

There is far more room in an original 289 Cobra than a 427 Cobra and the seating position itself is more normal than in a 427 Cobra that has you twisted to the left to make room for the larger engine next to your feet. As a matter of fact the 289 Cobra has so much more room that there is a dead pedal fitted in the foot box to rest your left foot on.
I have converted both the aluminum and fiberglass bodied 289 based Continuation Series Cobras to the correct 289 foot boxes, it's not an easy conversion but it very worthwhile once done.

I was able to have a dead pedal built for my Kirkham 427.  Still have to dance on your toes for the pedals, but it's nice to have a foot rest.

[shelbydoug]

we have no opposums....lol

all we can say they are certainly beautiful and we will leave it at that....

Everything is relative. Another opposum thinks there is nothing better looking then another opposum.

The last one I had was hanging upside down by it's tail pulling the garbage can cover off with it's hands. I thought I had run into Dracula?

"Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed"

[FL SAAC]

amen my brother and many blessings!

we have no opposums....lol

all we can say they are certainly beautiful and we will leave it at that....

Everything is relative. Another opposum thinks there is nothing better looking then another opposum.

The last one I had was hanging upside down by it's tail pulling the garbage can cover off with it's hands. I thought I had run into Dracula?

"Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed"

[aCMXCVIIIer]

Well, there was the Nygaard mod, which I took advantage on my 289 Cobra.  John and Paul Nygaard were the original co-owners of CSX2577, which they regularly raced until the late '60s, mostly in Arizona.   They were both well over 6' tall.  Their fix was to take a BFH and whack in the rear fender behind the driver's seat.  This allowed the seat to move back a few more inches and added a bit more leg room.

R

[CSX2259]

Here is what a 289 Cobra foot box would look like, it has an oversized dead pedal installed.

[ITHERTZ]

The biggest problem for me is the 16" steering wheel and drop dash in respect to leg/knee room.  I can work around a tight foot box, but if there is no place for my knee to go, what's a guy to do?  I'm 6'2" and was able to make myself drive an original CSX 2000 car by first removing my shoes and abducting my hips as much as possible.  I made it work. I wouldn't be able to do it for more than an hour.

I have experienced more room in my 427 ERA replica cars.  A part of that is the dash and a few mods ERA has figured out along the way to get the most room possible while maintaining the original wheelbase.  I have the most room in my ERA FIA car with the comp dash (no drop dash) configuration.  Best of both worlds. 

[aCMXCVIIIer]

One other factor that I suspect made life easier for the Nygaards and most likely Gurney and other taller competition drivers were the comp seats.  The stock street were fairly thick and cushiony while the comps were thin and without cushioning.

R

[Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas]

we have no opposums....lol

all we can say they are certainly beautiful and we will leave it at that....

Everything is relative. Another opposum thinks there is nothing better looking then another opposum.

The last one I had was hanging upside down by it's tail pulling the garbage can cover off with it's hands. I thought I had run into Dracula?

"Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed"

Love them marsupials

[FL SAAC]

indeed, tasty

we have no opposums....lol

all we can say they are certainly beautiful and we will leave it at that....

Everything is relative. Another opposum thinks there is nothing better looking then another opposum.

The last one I had was hanging upside down by it's tail pulling the garbage can cover off with it's hands. I thought I had run into Dracula?

"Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed"

Love them marsupials

[Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas]

I got a can of that for Christmas a few years back

[FL SAAC]

steve canned will do in a bind, but nothing beats fresh road kill...
let's drop this and go back to the topic at hand...how tall can a driver be in a original cobra? only mickey knows...

I got a can of that for Christmas a few years back