Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I need a favour please: is there a +2 owner who is a well proprtioned 5'10" that is near their car? Would you mind sitting in it and telling me how much clear headroom you have please?

Thanks!

Hi Hal,

I’m 5’11.5” (182cm) and have 40mm head room in my 1969 +2S.
The seats are original so may have sagged a little but i still don’t hit the roof. If i wiggle about i am conscious of my hair brushing the headlining, but it doesn’t effect my seating position.
I can fit a helmet on for track use and just skim the headlining.

Hope this helps,

Darren

Thanks Darren, a great help.

I had to make seat runners for my new seats and wondered if I have them too high (I never took measurents of the standards before I took them out!)
Anyway, the new ones give me 40-50 mms, so I shall rest easy!

Again, thanks.

We see questions like this on many car sites. There is no hard and fast 'rule', "headroom" is dependent on many factors, overall height, long legs long arms, long legs short arms, small torso long legs, large torso short arms etc...the permutations are manifold.

The ONLY way to know is to try. yes, I know how difficult that can be with Lotus but I would hate to see someone buy a car they just cannot fit in based on some general info on 'height'.

The problem with height is that it really depends on back length vs leg length. If you have long legs you should be ok, if you have a long back and relatively short legs, you may have an issue.

I’m 6ft 2in with a 34 in leg, no problems with either head or leg room in standard seats.

The front of the seats has 2 holes so there's another permutation.

Bigbaldybloke wrote:I’m 6ft 2in with a 34 in leg, no problems with either head or leg room in standard seats.

As a matter of interest Bigbaldybloke, how much head room do you have - from top of head to headlining?

I was having doubts about my seat rake angle, but think I have the geometry about right now that gives me a loose 55mm headroom.

Sorry to be so pedantic (actually, not sorry ) but just because some tall dark and handsome person can fit in a car, this does not mean that the person asking this question also can.

As I mentioned above - many permutations etc...if at all possible, find a local club or similar and try before you buy.

FHS! I am not buying a car. I never said I was.
I asked just a simple question for which I have an answer.
Thanks for other suggestions, but I understand well how to position seats. To the person though who said s/he has three height positions - if you refer to the std +2 runners, be careful as these are rake positions and not height adjusters.

Just sat in my car and there’s just over 4 inches clearance between top of my head and the roof, but that is without a headlining in the car at the moment. That’s sat on an original early Plus 2 seat in the right position for me to drive.
I doubt the headlining takes up an inch so at least 3” with the lining in place.

HCA wrote:FHS! I am not buying a car. I never said I was.
I asked just a simple question for which I have an answer.

Which answer is that?

Second post, first line. And laterally, the post before your last one.

So let us close this one down now.

HCA wrote:Second post, first line. And laterally, the post before your last one.

So let us close this one down now.

How churlish of you.

While your question may have been fairly specific "a well proprtioned 5'10" - the responses are potentially of benefit to all.