Good points. I agree that much of it is image-centered. That, and the fact that much of the auto press regularly pushes for side-bolstering.

 

Sports cars are designed to be light weight, able to be thrown around. Introducing heavy weight drivers is a contradiction. Like tiny jockeys for horse races. You would not see a 250lb line backer winning a horse race.

 

Oh come on, people come in all sizes. I always thought its kind of whack that small sports cars like the old guard MG, Austin Healey, Lotus Elan or even a newer Miata wouldn't comfortably seat a man over 6' tall. I mean is it that big of a deal to give an extra 2" of wheelbase to make the seat slide back a bit???

 

2" of wheelbase can have a huge impact on the look and feel of the car, handling, etc.

 

With small 2-seat roadsters like the ones you are talking about, though, the issue with seat-travel is not so much the car's short wheelbase (although that certainly doesn't help), but the fact that the top drops back down into a compartment just behind the seat, and there is little if any room for the seat cushion or seat back to move rearward or drop down. Usually, to rake the seat back-angle some and drop it down, you have to slide the bottom seat cushion forward a few inches to give it room......and then, if you have big or tall legs, you will have your legs wrapped around the sides of the steering wheel LOL.

 

Mike, I don't design the cars but am simply trying to put a theory out why the they are what they are.