San Diego Sevens? Will I fit

[socalrider]

Hi all,

 

Longtime seven admirer but never actually been in one. I've owned several NA miatas, e36m3, most recently an STi. I now have the opportunity to get a pure toy so I'm attracted to the sevens.

 

There's a nice looking Birkin S3 in LA but I'd like to get a sense of whether I'll fit before blowing a day going up and back and possibly wasting the seller's time. I hear they're about the same as Caterham S3's. Anyone have one they'd let me sit in real quick?

 

Alternatively, I can tell you that I've got size 10.5 feet and I'm 6'2" but all torso. My head hits the top in every generation of Miata; I can squeeze into the NA's if I take out some foam. I don't fit at all in air cooled 911s or Ferrari 3x8s due to headroom. This seems like a non-issue in a 7, as it is in a Miata if the top is up - though I had to remove sun visors so my vision wasn't obstructed too badly by the top of the windscreen.

 

Any help/advice is appreciated!

[rzempel]

I've got the same height/long torso issues. In a standard Birkin S3, the windshield frame is about in the middle of my visual field. I solved the issue by cutting the floors and installing dropped pans so the bottom of Birkin's plastic seat shells could be below the original floor. Now I look through the middle of the windshield and have no issues with head versus weather hood/roof.

 

I'm not especially near you, but my car's for sale and I'd be happy to let you sit in it.

 

 

Randall

[drewbrese]

I am 6'2" with long legs. Car is a standard older Caterham S3 chassis. It's not so much will you fit, it's more do you want to fit. It's very tight for me. Not difficult for me to get in or out of, but operation of the pedals is less than natural feeling. I recently put on an aero windscreen deflector in place of the windshield to improve visibility. Taller roll bar is next.

[papak]

I have an XS Birkin in LA that you are welcome to try. It is cavernous compared to an S3 but the pedal box is the most rewarding difference. PM if you are interested.

[Davemk1]

I'm 6'4" with a long torso and like you I don't fit in many sports cars due to the lack of head room. I drive a 2014 Westfield S2000 and it has a longer cockpit than the original Seven and it has lowered floors and I fit very well. If my legs were much longer it wouldn't work but as it sits it's near ideal.

 

When I first built the car I set it up with a full windscreen and weather gear and ironically I fit in it just fine even with a helmet - I don't fit in a Vette but I fit in a Westfield! Go figure. Over time I realized that I almost never used the full weather gear and wanted to try an aero screen and it was one of the best mods I ever made to the car. It's quieter with much less buffeting at speed and overall just more comfortable and fun to drive.....and of course it's awesome in autoX where you can see everything perfectly. Depending on how you want to use the car you might consider an aero screen.

 

dave

[escondidoron]

I'm 6'4" w/ long torso and size 13 feet. I have done a bit of revision to the foot box along with adjustments to the foam in my seats on my '62 Lotus Seven and now I find it quite comfortable. Driving shoes are a necessity for me as well. Note: I think that the S2 Seven is a fair bit smaller cockpit-wise than the Birkins. The windshield height is another matter however. I find that I need to either look over the top or bend my head to one side slightly to look through the glass.

 

I'm in Escondido and will be happy to have you visit to try on my car. But you'll need to wait a couple of weeks until it's again ready for habitation. I'm just finishing up its full restoration. Here's a pic for back in March when I was re-skinning it:

 

Drop me a PM if you'd like to get together.

[socalrider]

Thanks all for the helpful responses! Ron, I sent you a PM - would love to pop up to Escondido to check out your S2 when it's ready.