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How to get in rumble seat


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Most have two steps.  One on fender top and one at the bumper, or low on the fender. 

 

Some fancy big cars had 3, Two on the fender, and one at bumper.

 

and one model of big Chrysler and perhaps others, had a tiny side door to help get in. 

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Few cars had doors to access a rumble seat, here is a RR Phantom II with a door. It's easy to fall and go ass over tea kettle getting in and out of a "dickey" aka rumble seat. I enjoy riding in them often. Ed. 

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Just now, John_S_in_Penna said:

Back when rumble seats were in regular use,

did any shoes scratch the paint on the fender?

I am pretty sure it was unavoidable. Imagine high heels on the rumble seat cushion....

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1 minute ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

Back when rumble seats were in regular use,

did any shoes scratch the paint on the fender?

I **insist** that hard sole shoes must be removed before entering my 1930 Pierce rumble seat....

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Since we are so many decades removed from that

part of history, many people today probably don't realize:

 

The first rumble seats did not fold.  Today, people might

call those rear bucket seats "mother-in-law seats," but I

have seen in an article more than 100 years old that they were

referred to as rumble seats.

 

In fact, one of our local AACA members has a 1908 EMF Model 30

double-rumble roadster.  He wondered why the factory had

so named the body style, but based on what I had found,

I could tell him that the name came from the two rear bucket seats--

two "rumble seats" as they were known then.  (See picture of black car.) 

junk--Mother in law seat.jpg

1908 EMF 30 double-rumble roadster--Brad Kline.JPG

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10 hours ago, JamesDane.Com said:

They look cold back there.

Later that day, they got WET, too!  The geezer memory fails as to the location, but after lunch at an historic farm, it was unmistakable that a drenching of Biblical proportions was inevitable for the afternoon.  Top and side curtains went up (even on Pierce-Arrows, side curtains leak), but the ladies in the rumble seat survived a thorough drenching on the 20 miles back to the host hotel in Fairport, NY.  Talk about good sports!!  All part of the fun!  At least there was NO flat tire or other malfunction. 

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My father had a Buick with a rumble seat when I was in High School. He took a friend and me to a game in our Cheerleading outfits as we sat in the back. I actually hunched down where your feet go as we went through town. I was so embarrassed. LOL 

 

I don't remember it being hard to get in and out and luckily we had sneakers on so they didn't pose any damage to the seat we had to step on. 

 

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Hi All,

You need to find a willing volunteer for a start and it always causes a laugh.

I drove for a wedding last autumn where the Bride and Groom were happy to hitch up and climb in.

And yes we call it a Dickey seat this side of the pond.

Yours John F

 

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As others have described, step plates are used to get in and out but....

At six four, my Whippet isn't easy to cram myself into it under that rear deck! :wacko:

58f0c9e5cd8ab_Whippet-July302013-CompanyfromGermany-pic4.thumb.jpg.bc8628bb8c2aeaee6fd75498f1720ded.jpg

My good neighbour insisted in trying but....

It almost took a shoe horn to get him back out! :lol:

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Notice that all the steps are almost exclusively on the right hand side, except the Packard.  Like door locks being on the right side, it was a safety feature to enter & exit to the curb side.  I see a lot of restored cars add the left side step to balance the trim.

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Guest spooker

I carry a short step ladder behind the seat of my 1936 Ford Deluxe 5 window coupe.. The ladder placed beside the right rear fender will assist any of our older Church ladies to climb right into the rumble seat.  Spooker

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