How long should a car coat be?

[Pinkleton Stanley]

New poster, so please bear with me.
I have searched the threads and can’t find a good answer, but please redirect me if one exists.
I am contemplating a HH car coat for winter.
I already have several shorter jackets (FlatHead Type 2 horse hide, Freewheeler Buena Vista, Big John Type 3, Warehouse and Co Type 1. Etc)
I am very short. 158cm male, but with athletic build.
Getting a good fit can be challenging and in my case critical so I don’t come across as an Oompaloompa or Hobbit
Many of the photos of car coats/work jackets (there seems to be overlap in terminology and that might be part of the problem) just seem too short and tight to me with the jacket sitting above the back pockets of a pair of jeans at just below the belt, layered with a t shirt.
Is that “correct”, or should they sit a bit lower with a less fitted look- similar to a well fitting Barbour?
Is it era dependent? Is a case of confused terminology re. Work jackets vs car coats?
Thanks in advance

 

[Pinkleton Stanley]

Just bumping this gently.

 

[Trouser Bark]

I look at them from a different angle and I have a couple that qualify as roughly fitting the widely variable description of a car coat.

My suggestion would be to put on one of your other leather jackets and get in your vehicle. Have someone else measure the distance from the base of your collar to the seating surface.

If you order a car coat much longer than that it should (for me) be long enough that it then comes close to the back of my knees. The reason? Sitting on the hem of the jacket isn't particularly comfortable and it can lead to odd creases that can make it look like a brisk wind has escaped your jacket hem and blown back the leather in the seating area. I don''t care for that look myself. My recommendation is that the shorter of the two versions is my preference.

 

[Edward]

The original concept of the car coat was a warm coat for driving in the cold, back when open tops were more common and no car had heating built in. By the 30s they were being cut somewhat shorter such as not to get in the way of the driver's free leg movement with the pedals. Since then, mid-thigh has become a norm; personally, I'd regard anything long enough to cover a blazer and remain north of the knee as fit for that purpose.

 

[Bfd70]

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/car-coats-are-they-out-of-fashion-now.118882/

 

[Pinkleton Stanley]

Useful perspectives. Thank you.
I’m looking at a few options.
However, I’m increasingly thinking a woollen (or similar) material would be much more comfortable in the car than leather.
Somewhere in the mid thigh length seems sensible.
For those familiar with the UK, I had a great cashmere /wool single breasted camel coat from Jigsaw (from back in the day) which was perfect for the car.

 

[Pandemic]

Using Barbour as a reference, I’d prefer something with a Bedale fit - able to be worn as an overcoat but short enough to be comfortable while seated, getting in and out of the car. Others will opt for Border length for better warmth while on your feet and Beaufort as a good compromise between those two. Ashby is the runt of the litter - too tight to be practical and best reserved for Insta posing. In other words, there’s no right answer but what is going to be practical for you.

 

[Pinkleton Stanley]

Using Barbour as a reference, I’d prefer something with a Bedale fit - able to be worn as an overcoat but short enough to be comfortable while seated, getting in and out of the car. Others will opt for Border length for better warmth while on your feet and Beaufort as a good compromise between those two. Ashby is the runt of the litter - too tight to be practical and best reserved for Insta posing. In other words, there’s no right answer but what is going to be practical for you.

Thanks.
Yes, I have a Bedale for reference and it is a great length.
Made even more practical by the 2 way zipper and poppers. A great design.
Border is too long for someone of my height, unless I was a genuine Countryman out in the fields and stables. (Which I’m not)