[Fot] Shop building thoughts

[Barr, Scott]

Great reference to the GRM insights!


From: vfracing at aol.com <vfracing at aol.com>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 6:00 PM
To: of Triumph Friends <fot at autox.team.net>; Barr, Scott <sbarr at McCarty-Law.com>
Subject: Re: [Fot] Shop building thoughts

About 10 years ago I put an extension onto my barn designed by Dan Ferguson (whom some of you may know as a vintage MGA racer).  We did it 25 feet wide and 44 feet long, 12-1/2 foot ceiling.  Dimensions were dictated by proportions to the existing structure.) Hindsight says it should have been about 4 feet wider to give me an extra foot or two on each side of the car.  It has two four post lifts for storage and a 2-post for service.  As someone pointed out earlier, even at 12-1/2 feet I need to make sure I close the hoods of some cars before lifting the cars to max height.  I find the four posters are better for service on my Jag and TR due to the low ground clearance of the cars coupled with an ancient two post lift (likely older than my 4A), unless of course I am doing suspension or brake work.  Footings under the two poster uprights are 10" thick.  The entire floor area is at least 4" thick with a wire mesh reinforcement, 4000 pound concrete.

Two very valuable tips from Grassroots Motorsports: 1) put all storage somewhere other than your garage area and workshop.  Storage has a way of taking over space. 2) put as much as possible on wheels so it can be readily moved.

Happy Planning!

Phil
On Friday, January 23, 2026 at 05:26:03 PM EST, Barr, Scott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net<mailto:fot at autox.team.net>> wrote:



If you were going to put up a new shop building, and wanted to have a 4-post lift (or two) for your race cars and other projects, what sort of interior height/wall height would you go for?  With our collection of Triumphs and Spec Racer Fords, I feel like I could get away with 10 feet.  Is 12 feet necessary?



Looking to minimize possible spousal objections concerning the perceived egregiousness of eyesore…



Scott (B.)
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