old cars that small or new cars that big ?

[bartsscooterservice]

I notice when driving in the Z that all the modern cars are much bigger and taller... I was thinking what this has got to do with ?

Did the people grow larger and the cars grow with them, or they just made cars smaller back then? I mean when I stand next to a modern small car, it looks big from the seat of my Z..

[Hodgimus-maximus]

I don't think people are all that much bigger than they were 40 or 50 years ago, anyways American cars from the same time of the s30 were huge in comparison. Most of the size you see now is because of regulation and safety equipment. For example all headlights must be at least so high from the ground.

[psdenno]

In addition to the current safety mandates noted above, the "mine is bigger than yours" mentality probably has a lot to do with the greater number of larger cars today - vans, Escalades, 4X4 crew cab pick-up trucks. Although, park your Z next to a '60s Cadillac and it will also seem quite small.

Dennis

[Patcon]

This is purely anecdotal evidence, but I am 6'5" and when I was in college I rarely saw people as tall as me, basketball players excluded. In my church of 500 or so there were a handful as tall as me. Today I routinely see people my height or taller and I know several women that can almost look me in the eye. Also very old homes have the door knobs that are much lower than new homes so I believe we are gradually getting taller.

That being said I think Hodgimus is probably right. The taller stance of cars has as much to do with crash protection and regulation as occupant size does.

C

[bartsscooterservice]

In addition to the current safety mandates noted above, the "mine is bigger than yours" mentality probably has a lot to do with the greater number of larger cars today - vans, Escalades, 4X4 crew cab pick-up trucks. Although, park your Z next to a '60s Cadillac and it will also seem quite small.

Dennis

OK compared to American cars yes, but they didn't have them here in Europe much.

[bartsscooterservice]

This is purely anecdotal evidence, but I am 6'5" and when I was in college I rarely saw people as tall as me, basketball players excluded. In my church of 500 or so there were a handful as tall as me. Today I routinely see people my height or taller and I know several women that can almost look me in the eye. Also very old homes have the door knobs that are much lower than new homes so I believe we are gradually getting taller.

That being said I think Hodgimus is probably right. The taller stance of cars has as much to do with crash protection and regulation as occupant size does.

C

interesting point about the doors, I do know door height also changed over time here. I do know people where alot smaller in the 17th and 18th century.

[siteunseen]

Funny you posted this today. I bought my 240Z in January and only drove it the first month I had it, I wanted to pay it off before driving it too much in case I decided I couldn't keep it. Yesterday, Monday was the first time I have driven it to work while we were open, too hot in the Deep South until now. I'm usually the first to get there and parked where I normally park my Camry. An hour later I went outside and there was a Ford Expedition on one side and a newer Ford F-150 4 door truck on the other. My roof was lower than the bottom of their windows! Everybody started calling it my Barbie Car or said it looked like a Go Cart. The restaurant I'm working at is next to local Nissan Dealership. 3 salesmen came over looking at it and snapping phone pictures. Today I parked away from those big a$$ cars because their door would bust out my windows. Those salesmen were bringing customers over to look at it all morning. Great fun owning these cars.

[Big sam]

I did temporarily "lose" my z in a big car park once, it was hiding between two modern cars...

[Virto]

The last couple of times I've gone to drop parts off at the shop, I've seen my car in the middle of all the typical everyday stuff, and boy, it looks tiny.

Of course, when I get in it, it FEELS tiny, too.

[hr369]

Tire sizes have grown also. 13" and 14" inch rims

used to be standard. That makes cars taller.

Headlights have also gotten alot brighter. With

these taller vehicles and super bright lights shining right in my car, I have to use my sun visor to keep from being blinded. All they see when they pass

me must be my teeth glowing as i cuss at them.

[psdenno]

The last couple of times I've gone to drop parts off at the shop, I've seen my car in the middle of all the typical everyday stuff, and boy, it looks tiny.

Of course, when I get in it, it FEELS tiny, too.

As you noted, compared to "typical everyday stuff... it looks tiny". However, compare it to current sports cars (Miata, FRS, Boxster) or sports cars from the early Z production era (MG, Triumph, Volvo 1800, Lotus) and it just fits in nicely. Well fed Baby Boomers are taller and wider than earlier generations - just like the cars they/we drive. The Z is a sports car, it's supposed to be smaller than most cars around it, whether now or 40 years ago. No mystery, no surprise.

Dennis

[djwarner]

Recently my wife bought a 2006 350z. Looking at them side by side in the garage, besides the 1000 lbs difference in weight, I realized that if my 240z was a Fairlady, then my wife's car was a Fat Lady.

When my wife heard me calling it a Fat Lady, I quickly told her I said PHAT LADY.

Edited September 17, 2013 by djwarner