Click above for gallery of Stadnyk receiving his custom car
Leonid Stadnyk towers 2.58 meters (8' 5") above the earth's surface, making him the world's tallest man. He was officially crowned in 2007 by the Guinness Book of World Records, taking the title away from a Chinese man who is just 7' 9" tall. As you might imagine, many things we take for granted are difficult for this 37-year-old from the Ukraine. Fortunately, ever since becoming the center of attention for his lofty height, good-natured people have provided him with things like custom-fitted clothing, electricity for his home, a giant bicycle, satellite TV and a home computer. Yesterday, however, the Ukrainian government went one step further and gave him keys to his own custom-built Chevy Tacuma van. The car was presented to Stadnyk yesterday by Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko outside the presidential office in Kiev. Stadnyk, who has lived with his growth disorder since a brain operation at age 12, had written the president for help after discovering there no vehicles for sale that suited him.
Reports say that the Chevy Tacuma was built by a team of designers from the ZAZ factory in Zaporizhia, which builds a number of Chevy models for the region. Unfortunately, no mention is made of what modifications were used to accommodate Stadnyk's significant stature. According to our images in the gallery below, the small car still looks like a very tight fit. He should come to the U.S., as our ever fattening population has made this market the automotive equivalent of a Big & Tall store.
[Source: Trend News via Motor Authority, Photos by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
iSpec @ Mar 25th 2008 12:49PM
I saw a recent documentary about this man. He's a great guy.
HotRodzNKustoms @ Mar 25th 2008 12:50PM
Someone send that poor man a Suburban!
All kidding aside it's heartwarming to see people reaching out to a man with such difficulties.
eric bonwit @ Mar 26th 2008 11:29AM
I know you were making a joke, but I can sure relate to this guy's problem (and I am only 6'1"). I have short legs (30" inseam) and a long torso. Headroom is a big issue for me when making car purchasing decisions. I was unable to purchase a BMW convertible or a Honda S2000 convertible, because I can't get my head underneath the roof when the top is up on either car.
Randy @ Mar 26th 2008 1:46PM
Yeah. It's nice to reach out! I know his pain a little. I'm 6'3" tall and a pretty big guy in general. I look at cars like the Mazda 3 and say WOW but I have to drive a full sized car to get my leg even remotely straight. Currently an 06 Charger R/T.
On top of that, I can't find clothing anywhere but big and tall stores that are overpriced and the clothing is garbage.
The list goes on but those are my biggest gripes! And oh the "Wow you're so tall, do you play basketball?" - Um, no, I'm a Jockey!
tankd0g @ Mar 25th 2008 12:50PM
Big man, small car. The new reality show on Life network.
James @ Mar 25th 2008 1:23PM
.. and how is this comment funny?
Jibreel Riley @ Mar 25th 2008 12:50PM
If he came to the states, there is a bunch of Caddy Fleetwoods he can fit into easily.
havoc @ Mar 25th 2008 12:51PM
i'm sure they just cut out the florboards, so he can travel Flintstones style...
reminds me of Commando, when arnie rips the seat out of the little (mg/triumph ? don't remember what it actually was)
or pics of shaq in his merc
rar @ Mar 25th 2008 12:55PM
Looks more like Police Academy when Hightower ripped out the front seat and sat in the back seat to drive.
Jay @ Mar 25th 2008 9:20PM
It was a Sunbeam Tiger.
Sheesh. You call yourself a car guy and you don't notice the details? Come on, man!
psarhjinian @ Mar 25th 2008 12:54PM
Damn, and I thought I was tall...
In all seriousness, I can see this working. With enough seat-track travel, roof space and a low seating point, a small car with a tall roofline would work faily well. A lot of large cars and trucks are actually fairly small inside:
* the dash is pulled in towards the driver, compromising kneespace
* the steering wheel is large, again compromising kneespace
* the seat hip point cannot be lowered, compromising headroom
* the windscreen is too short, and/or the roofline is low
* the seat track travel is insufficient
* mandatory sunroofs (they take at minimum 1-2")
I'm 6'9", and I found the vast majority of big cars and trucks are built for small people, and that I've had the best luck with either European models, certain sportscars (footroom and a small steering wheel are important; the last Celica was a good example of this), form-over-function econocars like the Fit or Yaris, or oddballs like the xB or Element.
havoc @ Mar 25th 2008 1:01PM
the honda element i had was probably the most space efficient vehicle i have ever owned. at only 6'2" i fit in both the front and back seats comfortably. infact with the front seats all the way back, i still had enough knee-room in the back seat that my legs don't touch the front seat at all. only problem is front seat, auto trans no probs but test driving the manuals i would constantly whack my knee on the hard dash.
the integra i slotted into like a glove, although i only had about 2 inches remaining headroom.
yeah-up the 1st thing you do is slide the seat all the way back, then tilt the wheel down.
i do find that in my mazda3 i actually don't slide allt he way back, it's TOO MUCH length.
and i agree on full sized, the tundra and ram for as big as they are, are not made for people over 6foot (imo)
James @ Mar 25th 2008 1:27PM
I think you mean "function over form" and not the other way around. But yes, the Fit, xB, Element are surprisingly roomy!
Dan @ Mar 25th 2008 1:52PM
Exactly. There's no excuse for 5000 lb, sub 20 mpg vehicles being tight inside. But instead of using that space for genuinely spacious seating for large adults, they waste it on enormous center consoles and cramming in more rows of seats sized for
P @ Mar 26th 2008 11:27AM
Hi, I was wondering how tall r you? I'm 6ft 2 :o)
Brent @ Mar 25th 2008 1:06PM
He still doesn't fit. They failed.
rar @ Mar 25th 2008 1:11PM
Have you sat in a Prius? I am 6'5', my sister who was visiting over the weekend instisted I drive her new Prius. I have to admit the center display that tell what drive it is in is cool and it is quiet, but my knees were an the dash! Full size GM trucks have good leg room, one reason I drive one. I also drove a ext cab Colorado. Not the greatest truck, but a great improvement in leg room over the S10. But it is strange how some small cars have more leg room than larger ones.
icu812ru469 @ Mar 25th 2008 1:18PM
I think the modification was that someone moved the seat all the way back. I'm mean come on, this is "custom" ?!?!?!? Look at the dude in the picture where he is sitting inside. He's still cramped in there. Get a Chevy Yukon, not this mini-minivan. Ugh, what a fluff piece.
FThorn @ Mar 25th 2008 1:19PM
Uh, CONVERTIBLE guys.
HotRodzNKustoms @ Mar 25th 2008 1:54PM
It would have to be like a Mustang Conv. with the driver seat taken out so he could drive from the rear seat