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MG MGA - Any Tall Divers?



How tall can one be and still drive an A in comfort? I’m 6’2” and wonder if I’d fit in an A. Any comments?


Steve
Steve Averka

I'm 6'2" and the car is comfortable enough. I gave myself a little distance from the wheel by inserting wooden wedges under the seat rails where they attach to the floor. Raises the front of the seat 3/4" and tilts it back slightly.
The stock steering wheel is kind of big if you have long legs, but I routinely spend all day in the car and am not uncomfortable.
John V.
John Vallely

I'm just over 6'3". My wife is 6'2" (yes, she played basketball) and we fit fine in my coupe. I have adjusted the steering wheel a little close to clear my knees, that's it. The 'A is quite roomy compared to the midget I drove in college. I had to remove the glovebox so she could fit. Her dad (my father-in-law) is 6'8". He once wedged himself into an 'A roadster I had and nearly couldn't get out. So by my experience the height limit is between 75 and 80 inches.
Kemper

I agree with John. I'm 6'2" and I can easily fold myself into the car. I've got just enough knee room to work the clutch, brakes and gas. I definitely do not feel uncomfortable when driving. Yes, the steering wheel is large, but that is so vintagely cool it doesn't matter.
Alex Mullin

Yep, 6'2" here (feel like an NBA player here). It's not too bad once you figure out where to rest your legs. If those darn pedals were a couple inches further in I would be quite comfortable. I usually rest my left foot on the upper frame y support.

Oh, I also used an old steering wheel hub, machined it down and made a boss. To that I have a F1 style Momo steering wheel (with a homemade MG center cap) with a small circumference and a flat bottom. Nice in the twisties I must say.
Tom Baker

I'm 6'2 and my only problem is, top up, the vision throught the windshield is poor. My head seems to be up in the top, so I have to cock my head to see far down the road. Hence--the top has only been up once--when I fitted it. I could fiddle with the seat..possibly removing some of the padding to get a bit lower myself a bit...but then, I'm afaid comfort would decrease. Tilting the seat back is not an option, as it is currently back as far as possible, and to tilt it would require moving it forward a bit--which would decrease the already skimpy leg room. My advice to you is to find an A owner who will let you "try it on" and see if it will fit. My overall impression of the A is that it was designed (as were most cars of the period) for the average sized person, which as defined at that time as a 5'10" male, weight around 160 lbs. I've had worse problems with other vehicls of the period: My head actually was touching the roof, for example, of an early Camaro I considered purchasing back in the 60's and I could not get my legs into an early model Toyota Hilux pickup at all.
R. L Carleen

I'm 6'1" and had to remove the sidecurtains from the storage bag behind the seats. This allows a little more room to move the seats back.

I wish the A had as much legroom as the B but what are you gonna do.
Jim P


Also checking in at 6'2", I agree with RL that my vision is somewhat obstructed by the top of the windscreen frame.

I am long in the torso, not in the legs, and so that probably accounts for it. But you do adapt quickly...I do not notice it anymore and it is not a big deal. Certainly not enough to keep me from driving my beloved A as often as possible!
Frank Nocera

I'm 6'2" and there is no problem.
Bill Haglan

I am also 6'2" and fit ok. I have tilted my seet back by placing spacers under the front seat to floor bolts. If you slide the seat all the way back and tilt it back till the top of the seat back just starts to go under the rear deck it woks good. At least on my car (62 MKII). Gives a little extra thigh support too (very little). You also cannot carry your side curtains behind the seats.
J.H. Hall

Boy!! There sure are a lot of 6'2" tall people driving these. I'm only 5'6"., so I guess that when I get mine on the road, I won't have ANY problems at all!
mike parker

I'm 6'5" and it is a bit of a challenge.

Tip the seat, go for a smaller wheel and watch the expression on the faces of prople when you crawl (literally) out of your A.

Russell

Is 6'2" even considered tall? (Just kidding guys)
Russell

Well, in Japan I feel tall at least :)

I happen to be the shortest man in my family at 6'2". 6'5" would be a challenge.
Tom Baker

I'm 6'4" and don't have a problem even when driving long distances in one stretch (400+ miles).

I am fairly slim however which probably helps.

Steve
Steve

i'm 6'3'' and fit in my coupe, smaller steering wheel and inclined driver seat, not easy to get in or out but driving is fine. Tight with the pedals. But Tight is alway better than loose, agree ???

Cheers,

Jean Marc
Jean Marc

Also part of the 6'2" club, and echo the others' statements. I took the the top off the car entirely, and this provides a smidgen more room.

Regards,

Joe
Joe Cook

OK, so 6'- 2" seems to fit. How about waist size? I've got 2 MGAs awaiting restoration (retirement projects). I've got to admit, I've never even driven an 'A. For the record, I'm a 36" - 38". And I'm a member of the 6'- 2" Club.

TTFN

Derek Nicholson

6'2" waist size 44. I don't have any problems except freeway driving. Like others have mentioned, the pedals are a little close, so I usually need to sit sort of splay-legged with my heel under the brake pedal and by toe on the gas pedal which can get very uncomfortable after a time. "Active" driving has never been an issue. My ultimate goal is an mgc roadster for the long distance treks, saving the MGA for backroad flinging withing 100 miles of home.

Last week I had a "new right foot built" to correct a bone-position defect I've had since birth but has made itself more troublesome in the last 10 years. Repositioned ankle, lengthened calf muscle, shortened tendon over the arch and a replaced tendon from the ankle to the underside of the arch. That means I won't be driving the A again until early June, but I'm anxious to see if the "new" foot workes better that the "old" one.
David Breneman

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2006 and 22/04/2006

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