Certainly, the quintessential sports car is the tiny, svelte machine that you can sling through corners. However, not all of us measure under 6-foot or weigh less than 200 pounds. (Me included.)
What about the bigger folks? They love fast, sporty vintage rides, too. (I can speak from experience.)
…
You'd think that a convertible would be the easy button, but I get that sometimes it's less about headroom and more about legroom.
Classic Mini, anyone? I didn’t have issues putting taller people in mine.
6'2" here, slightly more legs than torso, and just a little extra around the middle, let's say I think I'm probably 225-ish. 
I'm also reasonably flexible and adaptable, and love little cars. Here's my anecdotal evidence based on the best I can remember, trying to focus on sports car and sports-car-adjacent classics I've experienced, but far from exhaustive, YMMV.
No-go, just not comfortable for me:
-Lotus Europa
-Lotus Seven S2/S3/Classic Caterham
-Lancia Stratos
-Autozam AZ-1
Do-able but a bit awkward position/proportions-wise:
-Classic Mini
-Suzuki Cappuccino
-Alfa GTV6/Alfetta GT
-Midget/Sprite
-First-gen Honda Civic Si
-G-body Porsche 911 coupe
-NA Miata
Just dandy:
-Volvo P1800
-Toyota Corolla AE86 (no sunroof)
-Toyota MR-2 AW11 and SW20 (no sunroof)
-Lotus Elite (50's/60's)
-Ford Falcon
-Datsun 240Z
-Mazda RX-7 (no sunroof)
-BMW E30 3-series
In reply to ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) :
That's a great list. Many of those are also easily obtainable for someone looking to get into classic sports cars, too.
Since the AE86 and 240Z work well, what about the 944? I have a bit of seat time in them, including a cross-country drive, but I’m not exactly the tallest one in the room.
The Sunbeam Alpine is more than roomy for taller people. I'm not that tall (5-10) my friend (6-6) had no problem with leg room or head room once he was in the car.
Probably obvious C5 Corvette.
When driving the 968 and 944, I never had to run the seat all the way back.
Love the list thus far. Fun additions that I fit (6'4") in are the Lotus Elise and Exige. I fit in nearly all BMW's. I was amazed that I fit in an original Mini Cooper, not super amounts of space left but that isn't really an expectation. I did also fit in an FD RX7 but it was snugish.
You need to look at inseam and torso lengths for people over 6'2". It is easy to end up with a 6"+ difference in leg length or torso length on people whose heights are similar. As an example, a 6'0" driver who wears 36" inseam pants has a torso 9" shorter than mine.
As someone with a tall torso, all Porsches and Japanese sports cars are out. I keep trying to make lotus work without much luck. The classic mini is ok once I get my feet around the steering column. Bmws and modern minis without sunroofs are ok but require an aftermarket seat to fit with a helmet. Are modern minis vintage yet?
5'-17" and 35 inseam... all I can do is wish there was an NC Miata or Nissan Z or any P-car produced at 115% scale.
No clue how NBA players drive cars. My dad's big Healey fits nicely, surprisingly.
David S. Wallens said:Since the AE86 and 240Z work well, what about the 944?
I'm not sure; never driven one. I rode passenger in a 924 once and don't remember a fit issue...does that count? 
To add additional context, I'm 6'2" with a 35"-36" inseam. Peak-pandemic photo with one of my Cappuccinos for reference:
It's a struggle. I've got a long neck and tall torso so I don't seem to fit right in anything with a sunroof or low roofline. Hot hatches for the win!
I want to try on an NC Miata and an RX8 without a sunroof. The NA almost works if I slouch, and with a drop floor and race seat it would fit just right. But race seat and daily driver aren't really ideal. I sat in a BRZ at the auto show when it first came out and remember thinking it was snug but I could make it work. That was a long time ago and I'm probably not as limber as I was then, lol. Porsche 924 had issues with knees and the steering wheel trying to occupy the same space.
A 2019 GT3 RS has loads of room between the racy seat and the rounded roofline. You know, in case you'd want to run out and pick one of those up.
MGB. Lost count of the number of times I have seen a tall person climb in and exclaim how much leg room there is in the car. The GT has ample headroom to match.
The MG Midget is the same, but on a smaller scale.
Added benefit both are pretty cheap cars to purchase.
BlueInGreen - Jon said:It's a struggle. I've got a long neck and tall torso so I don't seem to fit right in anything with a sunroof or low roofline. Hot hatches for the win!
I want to try on an NC Miata and an RX8 without a sunroof. The NA almost works if I slouch, and with a drop floor and race seat it would fit just right. But race seat and daily driver aren't really ideal. I sat in a BRZ at the auto show when it first came out and remember thinking it was snug but I could make it work. That was a long time ago and I'm probably not as limber as I was then, lol. Porsche 924 had issues with knees and the steering wheel trying to occupy the same space.
A 2019 GT3 RS has loads of room between the racy seat and the rounded roofline. You know, in case you'd want to run out and pick one of those up.
Yes, the RX-8 is out for me, too - my head hits the roof. I haven't tried one without a sunroof, though.
I, too, fit comfortably in some of the more modern Porsches.
Great suggestions. Keep them coming.
I'm 6'3" and wear a 34" inseam, I race hillclimbs in my 1976 BMW 2002, but i did have to go with a full race seat mounted as low as possible to fit with my helmet. Later BMWs fit fine with helmet with the exception of the Z3 that I'm building for my next Hillclimb car and I'll have to mount full race seat as low as possible to fit with a helmet as well, I can drive it fine now without a helmet, but I'm very close to the headliner of the soft top. I've driven 944s with no problem, and never had an issue with my S12 Nissan 200sx, or my best friend's old S14 240sx.
I realize that it isn't a very popular car but I think tall people fit in an Opel GT. Had a friend that is somewhere aroung 6'5"-6'6" and he fit in my Opel GT comfortably. The seat moves back far enough that I can't reach the steering wheel or pedals, I'm 5'10". Tall people may have an issue not banging their heads getting in/out but once in Ok and it is a bit narrow inside.
In reply to wlkelley3 :
I liken getting into roomy but small (low) cars to climbing under my kitchen table.
Once I get under there it's roomy. It's just a royal pain to get in our out.
I am 6'-5" with a 36" inseam and drive a '74 TR6. Before you say "no way", let me say I had to modify the seat and the car to get comfortable. First, I had the driver seat moved back about 2" in the cockpit. Then I took a 2" cut out of the driver-side rear wheel well so the seat could recline another 2" back. My legs are still a bit cramped but I can drive for 3-hours plus before I need to stop and stretch.
You'll need to log in to post.
