Which antique/classic cars seat 8 people?
June 9, 2013 10:34 AM Subscribe
My brain and googlefu is having a hard time with this one. People used to reproduce more back in the day, therefore, shouldn't antique cars seat more people? Does anyone have a list or know of which classic/vintage/antique cars seat at least 8 people. I'm thinking driver, passenger, and two rows of three.
Old cars had bench seats and no seat belts, so the number of people you could fit in a row depended only on the size of the butts on the upholstery. Four kids could easily fit in a back seat, and a station wagon would add another row.
posted by sageleaf at 10:52 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sageleaf at 10:52 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Rumble seats for the family members? No.
Wagons or wagon style vehicles have been around a really long time. What period are you thinking?
A image search of antique wagon vehicles turned up many options.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:52 AM on June 9, 2013
Wagons or wagon style vehicles have been around a really long time. What period are you thinking?
A image search of antique wagon vehicles turned up many options.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:52 AM on June 9, 2013
When antique cars were being produced, Americans weren't driving their children everywhere.
That said, here is a relatively recent example: 1970's-80's volvo station wagons (240 and similar) were available with an optional rear-facing bench seat that bolted into the cargo area.
posted by Pre-Taped Call In Show at 10:53 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
That said, here is a relatively recent example: 1970's-80's volvo station wagons (240 and similar) were available with an optional rear-facing bench seat that bolted into the cargo area.
posted by Pre-Taped Call In Show at 10:53 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
It was also not unusual in the 1960s/1970s, at least for short trips, to sit on other people's laps. I can remember being piled into stations wagons to go out for ice cream and we might have had 10 people wedged in there.
posted by interplanetjanet at 10:57 AM on June 9, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by interplanetjanet at 10:57 AM on June 9, 2013 [6 favorites]
People used to reproduce more back in the day, therefore, shouldn't antique cars seat more people?
People used to die in childbirth more back in the day, too.
By the time the Model T came along the average family size in the US was four and a half people, not the eight you're positing.
posted by ook at 10:59 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
People used to die in childbirth more back in the day, too.
By the time the Model T came along the average family size in the US was four and a half people, not the eight you're positing.
posted by ook at 10:59 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Frank Gilbreth, of Cheaper by the Dozen fame, drove a Pierce Arrow. It's listed as 7 passengers. It's hard to tell in the books how many kids the family had when they were driving it, but "Mother...sat in the front seat with 2 of the babies in her lap", and I would bet that some of the older kids had toddlers in their laps, too.
posted by CathyG at 11:07 AM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by CathyG at 11:07 AM on June 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Do we know that families were really that much bigger in the era you're talking about? I don't know that an 8 person family would have been the norm in the US during the 20th century among people who bought cars.
When people say that families used to be bigger, they're talking about the 19th century (and earlier) agrarian lifestyle. People who continued that lifestyle into the 20th century wouldn't have been worried about buying a car that fit the whole family. You lived out on a farm and spent most of your time there. The only place the whole family ever went at the same time was probably church. And there was no taboo about piling a dozen people into the back of a pickup truck. People living a remote farming lifestyle also had horses and horse-drawn wagons much later than urban/suburban people did.
I actually remember the time when car makers started producing larger vehicles that specifically seated more than 4-5 people with seatbelts. That was in the 80s with the onset of the minivan and the SUV. I'm one of 4 kids, and I have memories of my parents dealing with the challenges of having a car that would safely transport all 6 of us. Our neighbors across the street, who also had 4 kids, continued to pile into their old station wagon with the jump seats pretty much until the point where cops in rural Louisiana started enforcing seatbelt laws. I also knew kids whose parents just had them ride in the back of the pickup truck, which also disappeared around the time of seatbelt laws and minivans.
posted by Sara C. at 11:10 AM on June 9, 2013
When people say that families used to be bigger, they're talking about the 19th century (and earlier) agrarian lifestyle. People who continued that lifestyle into the 20th century wouldn't have been worried about buying a car that fit the whole family. You lived out on a farm and spent most of your time there. The only place the whole family ever went at the same time was probably church. And there was no taboo about piling a dozen people into the back of a pickup truck. People living a remote farming lifestyle also had horses and horse-drawn wagons much later than urban/suburban people did.
I actually remember the time when car makers started producing larger vehicles that specifically seated more than 4-5 people with seatbelts. That was in the 80s with the onset of the minivan and the SUV. I'm one of 4 kids, and I have memories of my parents dealing with the challenges of having a car that would safely transport all 6 of us. Our neighbors across the street, who also had 4 kids, continued to pile into their old station wagon with the jump seats pretty much until the point where cops in rural Louisiana started enforcing seatbelt laws. I also knew kids whose parents just had them ride in the back of the pickup truck, which also disappeared around the time of seatbelt laws and minivans.
posted by Sara C. at 11:10 AM on June 9, 2013
People used to drive station wagons and stick the kids in the way back, like literally in the trunk area. You could also fit three kids or three kids (or more on laps) in the cab of a pickup.
Seatbelt laws are what later invented the mini van.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:14 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seatbelt laws are what later invented the mini van.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:14 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
FWIW, an old friend of mine just had his 5th kid, and I was ribbing him about the size of his family. I said, "Don't minivans only seat 7? One more kid and you're going to have to buy a bus!" He informed me that the Chevy Suburban is the vehicle of choice among large families, because it seats 9.
So if you're looking for a specific vintage vehicle that specifically seats more than 8 people, you're probably looking for a Chevy Suburban. They've been in production since the early 1930's, though I don't know that they specifically seated a ton of people all through the run. Wikipedia mentions that the first generation, which was designed for the National Guard, seated 8.
posted by Sara C. at 11:23 AM on June 9, 2013
So if you're looking for a specific vintage vehicle that specifically seats more than 8 people, you're probably looking for a Chevy Suburban. They've been in production since the early 1930's, though I don't know that they specifically seated a ton of people all through the run. Wikipedia mentions that the first generation, which was designed for the National Guard, seated 8.
posted by Sara C. at 11:23 AM on June 9, 2013
I can tell you that in 1967 my family had its 7th child; the oldest was 9 at that time. We had a station wagon WITHOUT the rear seat, so it just had 2 bench seats. Baby in the lap, little kid (or 2??) on the middle of the front seat next to Mom, everyone else in the rear bench seat. As we got bigger, several kids would sit on the floor boards of the rear cargo area (much like we used to sit in the back of pickup truck beds, but at least the wagon was inside the car area). We called it the "tippy back" and we loved to sit there. That's how we "called dibs" on seats as we ran out to the driveway: "I get the tippy back"
In 1969, we got a 12-passenger Ford Econoline van. Rows of 3,3,4 bench seats, each with its own seatbelt. We were able to sit one kid per seat with an empty seat in between each of us to minimize the "he's touching me" hysterics. This was luxurious for us* and I remember showing off to our friends at school how the step emerged from underneath the car when you opened the rear passenger door. I still miss that when I ride in the back of SUVs and have trouble climbing down.
We knew people that had the extended edition of that van with 15 seats, because they had 15 kids. They squished together on the seats. I remember someone (maybe I read it) talking about putting all their kids in there and not insisting on seatbelts because if there wasn't enough for each kid, what did that tell the kids who weren't belted - we don't value your life as much as this other belted kid?
*Luxurious, except of course for me, because now we had assigned seats and I was assigned to the farthest back inside seat on the left side with another kid right next to me. The air conditioning vents were on the left side along the top of the windows, but they stopped just behind row 1 and there was no way to point that damn thing straight back. The back windows didn't open either. We lived in Phoenix, so being able to point the AC right at yourself was a highly prized achievement.
posted by CathyG at 11:24 AM on June 9, 2013
In 1969, we got a 12-passenger Ford Econoline van. Rows of 3,3,4 bench seats, each with its own seatbelt. We were able to sit one kid per seat with an empty seat in between each of us to minimize the "he's touching me" hysterics. This was luxurious for us* and I remember showing off to our friends at school how the step emerged from underneath the car when you opened the rear passenger door. I still miss that when I ride in the back of SUVs and have trouble climbing down.
We knew people that had the extended edition of that van with 15 seats, because they had 15 kids. They squished together on the seats. I remember someone (maybe I read it) talking about putting all their kids in there and not insisting on seatbelts because if there wasn't enough for each kid, what did that tell the kids who weren't belted - we don't value your life as much as this other belted kid?
*Luxurious, except of course for me, because now we had assigned seats and I was assigned to the farthest back inside seat on the left side with another kid right next to me. The air conditioning vents were on the left side along the top of the windows, but they stopped just behind row 1 and there was no way to point that damn thing straight back. The back windows didn't open either. We lived in Phoenix, so being able to point the AC right at yourself was a highly prized achievement.
posted by CathyG at 11:24 AM on June 9, 2013
In high school my friend's dad had a 70s-era Cadillac de Ville. We could almost stretch out completely on the back seat, and I'm 5'7".
Also, people were probably smaller.
People used to drive station wagons and stick the kids in the way back, like literally in the trunk area.
The worst thing was being the last kid after the back filled up and then you'd have to sit in the back seat. You'd turn around, of course, but it wasn't the same. You might even have to sit next to a grown-up!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:25 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, people were probably smaller.
People used to drive station wagons and stick the kids in the way back, like literally in the trunk area.
The worst thing was being the last kid after the back filled up and then you'd have to sit in the back seat. You'd turn around, of course, but it wasn't the same. You might even have to sit next to a grown-up!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:25 AM on June 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I grew up during the late 1960s/1970s and before seatbelts became law it was common to fit three people in the front seat (if the car had bench seats) or maybe four if one was slender enough. (Slipping that fourth person in the front seat was taking a chance since at that time there actually was a law limiting the number of front-seat passengers to three, and you could be pulled over and ticketed for having four there by eagle-eyed or bored cops.) Likewise you'd squish as many people in the back bench seat as possible....if we're talking kids, it wasn't uncommon to fit four of them back there as well. And I'm talking a standard sedan. Station wagons had an additional backward-facing bench seat in the rear of the vehicle that seated three to four youngsters comfortably.
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:26 AM on June 9, 2013
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:26 AM on June 9, 2013
People used to reproduce more back in the day
The infant mortality rate in the U.S. was much higher in the early 20th century -- around 100 deaths for every 1000 live births (compared to roughly 6 per 1000 now). So the higher birth rate was offset in part because far more children didn't live to their first birthdays.
posted by scody at 11:26 AM on June 9, 2013
The infant mortality rate in the U.S. was much higher in the early 20th century -- around 100 deaths for every 1000 live births (compared to roughly 6 per 1000 now). So the higher birth rate was offset in part because far more children didn't live to their first birthdays.
posted by scody at 11:26 AM on June 9, 2013
Duromg the 1950s and 60s station wagons usually had a tail gate that was flat when opened and where up to three teen-agers were often seated with feet dangling over the edge for short trips.
posted by path at 11:29 AM on June 9, 2013
posted by path at 11:29 AM on June 9, 2013
My maternal grandpa put the 7 kids in the back of the truck. Before 1946, it was a buckboard wagon towed by a tractor.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 11:49 AM on June 9, 2013
posted by Mr. Yuck at 11:49 AM on June 9, 2013
Sara C.: "I actually remember the time when car makers started producing larger vehicles that specifically seated more than 4-5 people with seatbelts. That was in the 80s with the onset of the minivan and the SUV."
Nine passenger wagons were a thing way before the SUV/Minivan. They started having seat belts for each position in the 60s. Even Edsel offered a 9 passenger wagon. My 70 Ford Country Squire had belts in all positions.
posted by Mitheral at 12:48 PM on June 9, 2013
Nine passenger wagons were a thing way before the SUV/Minivan. They started having seat belts for each position in the 60s. Even Edsel offered a 9 passenger wagon. My 70 Ford Country Squire had belts in all positions.
posted by Mitheral at 12:48 PM on June 9, 2013
You'll have to qualify what you consider an antique car-- 50 years old? When I was young our family had a VW Bus just like this one that easily seated 8+.
posted by TDIpod at 1:16 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by TDIpod at 1:16 PM on June 9, 2013
This Plymouth Satellite station wagon had more than enough room for The Brady Bunch, including Alice, probably Tiger, and maybe even cousin Oliver.
I also knew kids whose parents just had them ride in the back of the pickup truck
The names escapes me, but there used to be a pick-up truck that came with stock seats in the bed.
Mitheral, you almost made me buy a $5K VW Thing from that hemmings.com link.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:18 PM on June 9, 2013
I also knew kids whose parents just had them ride in the back of the pickup truck
The names escapes me, but there used to be a pick-up truck that came with stock seats in the bed.
Mitheral, you almost made me buy a $5K VW Thing from that hemmings.com link.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:18 PM on June 9, 2013
The Subaru BRAT came with seats in the bed. It was, as I recall, some kind of tax scam.
posted by box at 3:23 PM on June 9, 2013
posted by box at 3:23 PM on June 9, 2013
My Dad was the youngest of 6 siblings and always claimed he had to ride under the feet of his sisters. Of course according to family legend, they were also so poor that the sisters all shared a single bra which was passed around to whichever girl had a date that night.
I do remember being one of four kids in the back of a VW pickup truck with three adults and an infant in the cab.
posted by Eddie Mars at 4:50 PM on June 9, 2013
I do remember being one of four kids in the back of a VW pickup truck with three adults and an infant in the cab.
posted by Eddie Mars at 4:50 PM on June 9, 2013
In the 70s and 80s us kids used to pile into the back (i.e. boot/trunk) of a station waggon and/or on each others' laps. Some of our friends had utes (I think American's call them "pick ups"), and kids all used to ride on the tray at the back. With the dogs.
MUCH earlier, like in the early days of automobiles, I don't think people saw them as regular everyday transport, but rather as fun luxury items. So you'd go for a drive as an activity in the weekend or whatever, and why would you take your kids? If you could afford a car, you could afford a nanny. For getting to everyday activities like school or church, the kids would walk or use bicycles.
posted by lollusc at 7:47 PM on June 9, 2013
MUCH earlier, like in the early days of automobiles, I don't think people saw them as regular everyday transport, but rather as fun luxury items. So you'd go for a drive as an activity in the weekend or whatever, and why would you take your kids? If you could afford a car, you could afford a nanny. For getting to everyday activities like school or church, the kids would walk or use bicycles.
posted by lollusc at 7:47 PM on June 9, 2013
Well, technically the '73 Ford Custom Club Wagon my parents drove until I was in college was a classic. Before my dad removed the rear bench seat, it would hold 12. With only two rows of bench seats plus the driver and passenger there was room for 8. This is assuming all are wearing seat belts, of course.
I learned to drive in that orange blunt-nosed monster. I still miss it, it was a big part of my childhood. Every vacation I remember we spent riding packed into the big orange van.
posted by caution live frogs at 9:44 PM on June 9, 2013
I learned to drive in that orange blunt-nosed monster. I still miss it, it was a big part of my childhood. Every vacation I remember we spent riding packed into the big orange van.
posted by caution live frogs at 9:44 PM on June 9, 2013
I don't think people saw them as regular everyday transport, but rather as fun luxury items. So you'd go for a drive as an activity in the weekend or whatever, and why would you take your kids? If you could afford a car, you could afford a nanny.
Well, as that or as farm transport. Which has similar logic, but replace adults going on a fun drive with adults taking produce to market. Ferrying kids around wasn't really part of the equation.
While you might use a vehicle to get everyone to church or into town to go shoe shopping or something, you didn't buy your vehicle with that use in mind, and there was no law against just cramming everyone in.
posted by Sara C. at 10:14 PM on June 9, 2013
Well, as that or as farm transport. Which has similar logic, but replace adults going on a fun drive with adults taking produce to market. Ferrying kids around wasn't really part of the equation.
While you might use a vehicle to get everyone to church or into town to go shoe shopping or something, you didn't buy your vehicle with that use in mind, and there was no law against just cramming everyone in.
posted by Sara C. at 10:14 PM on June 9, 2013
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posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:40 AM on June 9, 2013