Rumble seat experiences

700rpm

700rpm

Well-known member
My coupe came with a rumble seat, but should have a trunk if it was original. I would prefer a trunk. The rumble seat just doesn't seem practical or safe in modern driving conditions.

What is your experience and opinion?
 
I agree they are dangerous in this day.However you cant tell my Grandchildren that.I do like a trunk.I take the kids out in the car but i keep it slow and on the back roads.I do wish it had a trunk though.
 
I have had several roadsters with rumble seats. It seemed that all I was ever doing was taking those cushions out in order to make room for luggage for overnight club tours. One roadster had a brand new, and never set on rumble seat even ten years after restoration when the car was sold. In today's hobby, rumble seats are more conversation piece than practical in my opinion.
 
My coupe also has a rumble seat. I like it and for the reasons stated. The kids love it too. As far as it being unsafe, I intend to install seat belts. When you consider that we have better roads today and better brakes on 100% of the other cars on the roads, the risks seem smaller, not greater.
Terry



700rpm said:
My coupe came with a rumble seat, but should have a trunk if it was original. I would prefer a trunk. The rumble seat just doesn't seem practical or safe in modern driving conditions.

What is your experience and opinion?
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I didn't buy an old vintage vehicle to be practical.

A rumble seat is appealing to me, as it is unique to a bygone era. We don't allow anyone in it, so it's not a safety issue for us.

Personally, I would not modify any original vehicle whether it had trunk or rumble. Just the preservationist in me.
 
I've had my roadster since 16 years old. Back then it was appreciated by all when we had 4 or 5 people in the car. I can't tell you all the unsafe things I did back then! Now when we take the car for rides with couples that are friends they love the rumble seat. Always wear a good hat, as it will whip hair around like crazy. Go slow (not difficult in my car!). And sometimes we find it more comfortable to have the top up and just snap up the rear window for the larger opening to talk through. And you will get even more admiring looks than you would in a car with a trunk.
 
I'm like you, in the process of converting a 29 roadster from an original rumble installation to a trunk. My reasona are somewhat different, though. There is a lot of repro sheet metal on it and I just got tired of all the hassle with repro hinges, inner panels, etc.
IMO some of us in older age brackets wanted a rumble seat because we had fathers who were young men when this car was new and that was all we heard about.
 
I love the trunk on my 29 coupe but my sport coupe only came with a rumble seat. I put seat belts in it in case anyone ever wants to ride in it.
 
ericr said:
I'm like you, in the process of converting a 29 roadster from an original rumble installation to a trunk. My reasona are somewhat different, though. There is a lot of repro sheet metal on it and I just got tired of all the hassle with repro hinges, inner panels, etc.
IMO some of us in older age brackets wanted a rumble seat because we had fathers who were young men when this car was new and that was all we heard about.
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Eric,
Chief said that those romantic episodes DID NOT happen in the rumble seat,:eek: they happened in the woods, with the aid of an old quilt that lived in his rumble seat!! (He called it his WHOOPEEE QUILT):D
Bill W.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Eric,
Chief said that those romantic episodes DID NOT happen in the rumble seat,:eek: they happened in the woods, with the aid of an old quilt that lived in his rumble seat!! (He called it his WHOOPEEE QUILT):D
Bill W.
Click to expand...

LOL let me share this: I asked an old-timer once if he remembered how that Model "A" gear shift lifted up and rotated over and he broke into a big grin and explained what they used that function for.
 
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