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07-26-2015, 01:45 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Southampton, England
Posts: 326
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How do I get behind the wheel
With my dignity intact I am only 5' 8" tall, not very big, I have the seat back as far as it will go and I always find it difficult to make an easy entry, I get one leg in but the other foot jams and has to be juggled, much to the amusement of friends and others, I've taken to getting in from the passenger side
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07-26-2015, 02:02 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kennesaw, Ga
Posts: 511
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Welcome to the model A. Entry and exit require agility.
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07-26-2015, 02:07 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Posts: 997
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Dennis, if you are having trouble then imagine what it is for me. I am 6'4" and 225lbs and long legged. My Model A is a '28 and the seat does not go back at all. I cannot lift my legs up to use the pedals because the steering wheel is in the way. So I just pivot my feet on my heels to have my feet go on and off the pedals.
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07-26-2015, 02:11 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: joppa maryland
Posts: 209
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Dennis,left or right hand drive? Don't know if it would make a difference. Read somewhere on barn that model t's are entered from pass side. Tom
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07-26-2015, 02:13 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Posts: 2,109
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
The best way of entry for me is to dive in head first with my right hand on the seat cushion for support. Then bring the legs in. I mostly drive a '28 phaeton, which is notoriously cramped for space. Going in feet first followed by the body is too hard on my back and other parts of the body, besides looking I'm trying to do the limbo. Think of entry as "bailing in" instead of "bailing out". To leave the cockpit, once again go head first. Now you are actually bailing out.
Marshall |
07-26-2015, 02:15 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
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Bill W.
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07-26-2015, 02:19 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 83
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
I share your pain. 6'2" with. 34" inseam. I own a 31 Coupe.
Learn to love it! |
07-26-2015, 02:23 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southbridge, Ma.
Posts: 1,614
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Or A King Midget ! Couldn't wait to get rid of that one.
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07-26-2015, 03:19 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: oroville calif
Posts: 893
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
I put my butt on the seat first, then bring my legs in, im 6' and 205, I own a 29 tudor sedan , works for me
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07-26-2015, 03:23 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pemberville, Ohio
Posts: 456
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
One of the previous owners of my fordor moved the seat back 3-4" and it is great. Glad they did it.
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07-26-2015, 03:35 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: N Illinois
Posts: 447
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Want a challenge?
Try gracefully entering and exiting at 5' 11" (1.8m) and 330 lbs (150kg). That's what I was when I got the A. I basically step right foot in and plant butt on seat, then put left foot up on running board, push with left foot and slide the rest of the way in, then left pull left foot in. |
07-26-2015, 03:39 PM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,789
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Quote:
On our Roadster it seems like I do OK by stepping in w/ the right foot, sliding in the car and then dragging the remaining appendages in last of course, never ever pulling on the steering wheel I make it a habit to not even touch it. I was at the Bishop Hill car show today, and some guy had (in my opinion, the sharpest car of the whole show) a 1925 Willys-Knight touring car. Maroon. Absolutely a stunning car. Super nice guy. He asked if I'd like to sit in the back seat, I did and it had gobs of room very spacey. Then, he insisted I try to sit in the driver's seat and laughed as I couldn't BEGIN to do that maneuver. I'm well over six feet tall. He also had a cut-away of one cylinder and how the piston traveled and the 'valves' opening and closing. He cranked his display so you could watch. Pretty neat! weren't any true valves had a sleeved cylinder set up kind of like a two cycle engine design, hard to explain. They advertised it as the 'Engine that will never wear out'. Car was $1900 new vs. a $475 Ford. Lot of unique engineering in the car. Distributor ran off of the rear of the generator, you timed the car by turning the dist. base kind of like a 1960's car would be. He just came home from a 700 mile tour in the New Hampshire mountains on his newly rebuilt babbitted engine and the car ran flawlessly! |
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07-26-2015, 03:44 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southwestern Connecticut
Posts: 931
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Dennis,
What body style do you have? It appears to be a coupe in your avatar. It that it? Ken
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07-26-2015, 03:55 PM | #14 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lakeville, MN
Posts: 5,159
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
I have the same problem as Dean in Bozeman. I am about the same size 6' 4" and 220 lbs. I can get in my 28 coupe without too much trouble, but I can't safely drive it. I can't easily get my right leg between the shift lever and the steering wheel to hit the brake, especially in low gear. That is dangerous! Luckily, I enjoy making a rusted hulk into a car that is close to how it came off the assembly line. Driving is secondary for me. I know a lot of people are just the opposite and like to drive their A's verses restoring them and I would to if I weren't so tall.
Rusty Nelson |
07-26-2015, 04:19 PM | #15 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pace, FL near Pensacola
Posts: 374
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
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07-26-2015, 04:50 PM | #16 |
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,763
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
I was lucky enough to buy my late 31' Tudor from a guy who installed longer seat bracket... I'm 6'3" and come to think of it I really have not though much about getting in to my car... It's much easier that my Mrs. KIA I assure you.
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07-26-2015, 04:55 PM | #17 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
Put your right foot in
slide your butt on the seat pull your left foot in shake it all about [ no running board involvement] Wasn't that once set to music ? I'm 6'2" 220# and took a few minutes to figure this out. The 30/31s have a bit more room than the 28/29s. |
07-26-2015, 05:18 PM | #18 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: NH
Posts: 182
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
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07-26-2015, 05:28 PM | #19 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto.
Posts: 5,800
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
There is absolutely nothing wrong with entering thru the passenger side and sliding across the seat ! I do it all the time with my 1929 pickup Roadster and my 1924 Model T Roadster Wayne
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07-26-2015, 05:36 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portland Or
Posts: 137
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Re: How do I get behind the wheel
I've always ben caught off guard when I see an old movie and someone will pop into the passenger side and slide across the long bench seat. It really is oddly eye catching, and it keeps you off the street.
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