Hi - I'm new to the forum and Speedsters in general. I am seriously considering buying a Speedster. I'm currently talking to the seller. I live in southwest Florida (Cape Coral to be exact) and the car is out of state. I have one big concern (pun intended). I am a big man, 5'11", 30" inseam, size 9 shoes, 52" waist and over 300 lbs. My concern is will I fit? Does anyone have a Speedster within a couple of hours of me that would allow me to come and see if I fit?
Thanks,
Martin
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It's gonna be tight!
Hi Martin,
Welcome to the forum. I don't have a Speedster you can test fit yourself in, but I wholly recommend that you test drive one before buying one. I hate to say a Speedster replica may not be the car for you, but who knows I might be wrong. Most Speedster replicas are built with small tight fitting seats, and there are several styles. Some have what is called a comfort seat which is wider and made for a larger driver to fit in comfortably. Good luck on your quest Martin, let us know how it goes.
I'm 5-11 at 220lbs and it is snug for me. Wish you luck.
I am very tall 6’5 and I have to wrestle my way into my toys. I’m not comfortable for long drives, but there still is a smile on my face. You can move the seat back to relocate it, and take it off its tracks and reattach directly to pan for more headroom. You have to be creative. I’ve always wanted a speedster go kart, but that would be impossible to fit. Also sit in a Beck and a pan based speedster so you can to see the difference. Like the guy in the link below, size shouldn’t keep you from living the dream 
@Jimmy V. posted:Hi Martin,
Welcome to the forum. I don't have a Speedster you can test fit yourself in, but I wholly recommend that you test drive one before buying one. I hate to say a Speedster replica may not be the car for you, but who knows I might be wrong. Most Speedster replicas are built with small tight fitting seats, and there are several styles. Some have what is called a comfort seat which is wider and made for a larger driver to fit in comfortably. Good luck on your quest Martin, let us know how it goes.
Your comfort seat image did not show up.
depends on where your mass is, if it rhymes with mass ur in trouble
If it helps I can sit comfortably in a 17" wide coach airline seat with both arms down, including exit rows with the solid, immovable armrests.
Martin
We just had this discussion in a Spyder thread. These are miniature clown cars, not for big guys. Even if you shoehorn in, I don't think you'd be comfortable driving. jmo, get in one.
I just found a Speedster for sale about 90 minutes away. I'm driving up to see it tomorrow. Fingers crossed I fit.
The car: https://www.idealclassiccars.n...orsche-356-speedster
Martin
Just remember that some are roomier than others. The tightest seem to be Fiberfab/CMC/Street Beasts. Intermeccanica and Beck seem to be the roomiest.
If you can make it to the Carlisle show in May you could try several different ones on for size.
Street Beasts is the tightest fit, the left kick panel is affixed to the steel framework on the inside so you lose 2" of clutch foot to kick panel - foot well room with the fix being to move the fiberglass panel to the outside of the 2 x 4 steel tube frame, another fun job.
Both the car I am looking to buy and the local one I'm going to see were built by Vintage Speedsters in Scottsdale, AZ.
Martin
You probably will fit better in the seats used in the red one because they have a thicker higher cushion compared to a shallower cushion that will squeeze you if you are a wider fellow. Remember, you can probably reposition the seat 4 inches back if you want.
And there is no better diet motivation than to have a beautiful speedster sitting in your garage that you don't quite fit into yet. Women do that with dresses with success, I assume men can do it with cars too.
Welcome aboard.....My WB Speedster has seats from a late 1990's Mazda Miata, they are a little beefier than what came with the kit and more comfortable, I'm about 6' 250 and is a snug fit, had to take the seats and have them moved back as far as they would go. Good idea trying a few out to see how you like it before buying anything....
I have an IM and I was 250 at the time and my cousin was 325, I think, and we both fit in together, but it was hard to use the seat belt and we took turns leaning to do tie it up. Not a pretty site as we were rather poured in there.
If your not much over 300 you could fit but at 52 inches of girth, it might be hard unless you modify the seat or modify yourself.
I am 6'3", 30-31" inseam, size 10.5 foot. This time last year I was 385 with a 54/56" waist. While I fit in an standard airplane seat, I used a belt extension. That being said, I drove my speedster everywhere (with the top down - no way in hell with it up). My car has the typical slotted back spyder style seats and I use the old fashioned bayonet/simpson style race lap belts that came with the car when it was new. I also run a banjo steering wheel. I think they are 14" - not small in any way.
Since losing over 100 pounds what I have noticed it that my legs are much further away from the gear shift - I would catch myself resting my leg on it here and there in the past. Gear changes are easier (probably because my gut is no longer in the way of leaning forward).
Everyone is build/carries their weight differently, so I don't want to make false promises. When I graduated undergrad I was 245, but with a 32" waist. I have broad shoulders and chest. As well, you are 4" shorter than me.
Bottom line is that I was a big guy and had no issues.
Edit: this pic was from last May when I was at my heaviest, taking the girls to school.
Great pict !
