Muscle Cars for Tall People
Are you tall? I mean really tall? Do you have to carefully consider what the cars you buy to be sure you have enough leg and head room? If you are 6-foot-5 (like me) or taller, it’s safe to assume that you do. Just like modern cars, muscle cars can be uncomfortable to drive for long periods due to a lack of leg or head room. If Camaros and Mustangs feel a bit cramped, here are few classic and modern performance cars that will satisfy your need for speed without being too uncomfortable to drive.
1966 Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre Hardtop Coupe 428/345
Price: $9,100 – $33,000
0-60 time: 7.1 seconds
Length: 210 in (17.5 ft.)
Front leg room/head room: 41.4 in / 38.9 in
The 1966-only Galaxie 7-Litre was Ford’s answer to Mopar and GM’s full-size performance cars. As the name suggests, the 7-Litre only came equipped with 7.0L engines. The 428 was the engine of choice on this car, although a very rare few are reported to have left the factory with the race-tuned 427. On top of the engine choice, the 7-Litre package added power front disc brakes and additional badging. This really was a full-size hot rod. With plenty of interior room, it’s the perfect choice for the Ford enthusiast who finds that even Fairlanes are a little cramped.
1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee Hardtop Coupe 426/425
Price: $58,900 – $107,000
0-60 time: 5.3 seconds
Length: 206.6 in (17.1 ft.)
Front leg room/head room: 41.9 in / 37.4 in
Dodge introduced the Super Bee in 1968 as the sporty version of the full-size Coronet. Much like its cousin, the Plymouth GTX, the Super Bee came standard with the 383 but could also be ordered with a 440 or 426 Hemi. Since the Super Bee was based on Mopar’s massive B-body platform, there was ample leg room. If you were one of the handful of people who could afford the 426 Hemi, this 3,800-pound car could really scream down the track. Of course, if the Hemi is a little pricy or difficult to find, the 440 presents plenty of torque to get this massive piece of American iron off the line.
1966 Impala SS Sport Coupe 427/425
Price: $32,800 – $94,300
0-60 time: 6.4 seconds
Length: 213.2 in (17.8 ft.)
Front leg room/head room: 42.2 in /39.1 in
In 1966, the Chevrolet B-body saw plenty of upgrades. The aged 409 was finally dropped in favor of the new 427, which could be had with either 390 or 425 horsepower. Nearly 18 feet long and with that much power, it was a reasonably quick car. The high horse 427 is most commonly seen in 1966 cars, although they do come at a high price; 396 prices are reasonable for a big block car; and 327 cars are everywhere for a those on a budget. These cars have way more than adequate leg room and will be comfortable for even those who are 6½ feet tall or taller.
2004 Mercury Marauder Sedan 4.6/302
Price: $7,000 – $20,000
0-60 time: 6.9 seconds
Length: 212 in (17.6 ft.)
Front leg room/head room: 42.5 in / 39.4 in
This isn’t your average Mercury Grand Marquis. It’s a Marauder. In 2003-04, Mercury took your great, great, great, great grandparent’s Grand Marquis and poked it with a big stick, adding the same DOHC 4.6L V-8 that came in the Mustang Mach 1 and upgrading the suspension. With visual upgrades, the Marauder performed as well as it looked. Because it is based on the Grand Marquis/Crown Victoria, interior space is plentiful. And with more than 11,000 produced, they aren’t impossible to find.
1996 Chevrolet Impala SS Sedan 350/260
Price: $7,000 – $30,000
0-60 time: 7.1 seconds
Length: 214.1 in (17.8 ft.)
Front leg room/head room: 42.2 in / 39.2 in
The Impala SS came roaring back in 1994 after a 25-year absence. The car was essentially the Caprice 9C1 (police interceptor package), which came with the Corvette/Camaro LT-1 350 engine and heavy duty suspension. Because the chassis used the same basic B-body design initiated in 1977, interior room was still very spacious, and with four doors there is plenty of space for the entire family. With more than 40,000 cars produced in 1996 alone, and being instant collectibles at the time, this generation is relatively easy to find at a reasonable price. A handful have been put up for sale with less than 1,000 miles on the clock, and they have brought very good money. But generally the Impala SS is a very affordable modern classic.
