Trunk vs rumble seat...

[PeteVS]

A friend posted an old family picture of an A on FaceBook. Someone went through a lot of effort to load up the family roadster!

[700rpm]

One reason why I converted my rumble back to a trunk.

[KGBnut]

That's a fantastic picture. Thanks for sharing.

Ken

[marty in Ohio]

I received my March Hemmings yesterday and saw an article about 1928 - '29 Ford Roadsters. In the story they stated that price wise the "trunk equipped cars hold a slight advantage over those with rumble seats." My car is a town sedan so the point is lost on me, but I always thought the rumble seat was a plus.
Marty

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

A Friend had a suitcase in his Rumble, it "migrated" back & he couldn't open the LID!!!---He wore the SAME clothes, for FOUR DAYS! Don't know HOW he finally opened it???
Bill W.

[JBill]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I wish I had put a trunk instead of a rumble seat in my '29 roadster. I never let anybody ride in there anyway.

[Oldbluoval]

The "romance" of a rumble seat is WAY over-rated.

A. They are hard to get in and out of, period (well, unless you are less than 15 years old)
B. They are dangerous to ride in them. In an accident, one could be decapitated or thrown into the front panel
C. They leave no feasible room for storing much of anything.
D. They run up the cost of a resto.
E. Too small and cramped for romance (that's where I started this!)

Want to hear my diatribe on side-mounts!!!!!

[Tim Ayers]

As an owner of a '28 roadster who has two boys (15 & 11), a rumble was the only option. I'm going to rig up a safety catch to keep the lid from coming forward.

We wanted a roadster, so this is the only option for us.

[katy]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

A Friend had a suitcase in his Rumble, it "migrated" back & he couldn't open the LID!!!---He wore the SAME clothes, for FOUR DAYS! Don't know HOW he finally opened it???
Bill W.

A panic stop might get the suitcase to "migrate" forward.

[wingski]

When I first tried to climb into my rumble seat, I realized that the last time I’d been in a rumble seat was in 1957. It wasn’t in an A, but was in a ’33 Plymouth roadster. That day, I had my first beer while riding along with my cousins on a beautiful, hot sunny day on the Southern Oregon coast. I was 13 and 1/2 years old.

My older cousin Roy had installed a radio, and I heard Jack Scott sing “What In The World’s Come Over You’ and “Buring Bridges” for the first time. That beer tasted good for the first two ice-cold swallows, then warmed up and tasted what I thought pee must taste like. I was never much of a beer drinker after that.

Believe it or not, but I had my first A back then. It was a 1931 coupe with a trunk. I remember back then wondering where people with rumble seats carried their tools. The idea of trying to lift a heavy tool box up out of a rumble seat was beyond me even back then when I was young and full of it. Also, the idea of having an open car without windows totally turned me off. Hey, it rained a lot in Portland, Oregon, and even back then I hated the feeling of damp upholstery. Even worse was the feel of that bakelite steering wheel. I remember my hands turning black when driving after I’d left the driver’s window down in a rainstorm. After that, I bought my first leather steering wheel cover. After several tries, I was able to get that stitching correct, and wow did that black cover ever look good. It made the steering wheel bigger and easier to grab. I’ve put leather covers on almost every steering wheel of every car I’ve had since then.

I’ve got to thank you guys again for stirring up wonderful memories.

Thanks,

Mike

P.S. That first beer was Olympia and had four stars on the inside of the label. That meant that I was going to get “Some.” What a joke!

[WHN]

We have only owned Sport Coupes so have had just rumble seats.

I understand the safety concerns.

Growing up our kids and their friends loved riding back there. Our grandson and his friends now are enjoying the same experience.

I don’t think riding in one on the highway would be a good idea. Enjoy.

[JDupuis]

I'd prefer my roadster had a trunk.
Its cool to say you have a rumble seat, but I wish I had a trunk. Jeff

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by JBill

I wish I had put a trunk instead of a rumble seat in my '29 roadster. I never let anybody ride in there anyway.

You can change it back. I did it, and it only cost me about $200,including repainting the deck lid. Then I sold all the rumble parts for $800.

I did an article on this which was published in the Restorer: Jan-Feb 2016 (60-5) p 12-15

[cpf240]

Originally Posted by wingski

...
P.S. That first beer was Olympia and had four stars on the inside of the label. That meant that I was going to get “Some.” What a joke!

Was there an expiration date to go along with those four stars? I'm guessing it didn't specify 'when' you were going to 'get some'...

[HoarseWhisperer]

Originally Posted by Oldbluoval

The "romance" of a rumble seat is WAY over-rated.

A. They are hard to get in and out of, period (well, unless you are less than 15 years old)
B. They are dangerous to ride in them. In an accident, one could be decapitated or thrown into the front panel
C. They leave no feasible room for storing much of anything.
D. They run up the cost of a resto.
E. Too small and cramped for romance (that's where I started this!)

Want to hear my diatribe on side-mounts!!!!!

Oh, no! I opted for the rumble seat and side mount because they were unique to the era. How could I have gone so wrong?

[daren007]

Rumble seats are cool...for about ten minutes. After painting my sport coup I wouldn't let anyone ride in it. Sold the car and now have a coup with trunk.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by PeteVS

A friend posted an old family picture of an A on FaceBook. Someone went through a lot of effort to load up the family roadster!

Nice pic! Appears to be 30 Deluxe - 31 didn't have side-mount, luggage rack and full-length rear bumper. Also has accessory Sportlite and metal spare tire cover - pretty spiffy car!

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by Oldbluoval

The "romance" of a rumble seat is WAY over-rated.

A. They are hard to get in and out of, period (well, unless you are less than 15 years old)
B. They are dangerous to ride in them. In an accident, one could be decapitated or thrown into the front panel
C. They leave no feasible room for storing much of anything.
D. They run up the cost of a resto.
E. Too small and cramped for romance (that's where I started this!)

Want to hear my diatribe on side-mounts!!!!!

I've never had a trunk but I did have a rumble and yeah, this ^^^ - never again! (Course E. applies to pretty much every A, except maybe the back of an AA. )

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by wingski

When I first tried to climb into my rumble seat, I realized that the last time I’d been in a rumble seat was in 1957. It wasn’t in an A, but was in a ’33 Plymouth roadster. That day, I had my first beer while riding along with my cousins on a beautiful, hot sunny day on the Southern Oregon coast. I was 13 and 1/2 years old.

My older cousin Roy had installed a radio, and I heard Jack Scott sing “What In The World’s Come Over You’ and “Buring Bridges” for the first time. That beer tasted good for the first two ice-cold swallows, then warmed up and tasted what I thought pee must taste like. I was never much of a beer drinker after that.

Believe it or not, but I had my first A back then. It was a 1931 coupe with a trunk. I remember back then wondering where people with rumble seats carried their tools. The idea of trying to lift a heavy tool box up out of a rumble seat was beyond me even back then when I was young and full of it. Also, the idea of having an open car without windows totally turned me off. Hey, it rained a lot in Portland, Oregon, and even back then I hated the feeling of damp upholstery. Even worse was the feel of that bakelite steering wheel. I remember my hands turning black when driving after I’d left the driver’s window down in a rainstorm. After that, I bought my first leather steering wheel cover. After several tries, I was able to get that stitching correct, and wow did that black cover ever look good. It made the steering wheel bigger and easier to grab. I’ve put leather covers on almost every steering wheel of every car I’ve had since then.

I’ve got to thank you guys again for stirring up wonderful memories.

Thanks,

Mike

P.S. That first beer was Olympia and had four stars on the inside of the label. That meant that I was going to get “Some.” What a joke!

Mike,

My first beer was Oly too, about the same age. My older brother and I sneaked two beers out of my sisters wedding reception and we drank them out on back porch. Don't remember if I finished mine!

In 1977 my wife and I bought a VW Van and we went camping up to Vancouver B. C. On the way up I HAD to stop in Olympia, WA and toured the brewery.

David Serrano

[California Travieso]

HoarseWhisperer,

Looks like you could be the "Dog Whisperer" too.

David Serrano

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by HoarseWhisperer

Oh, no! I opted for the rumble seat and side mount because they were unique to the era. How could I have gone so wrong?

Well, yeah, you gotta have a rumble - there's no windows in a roadster for the dog to stick its head out!

[31Cabriolet68-C]

[QUOTE=Tim Ayers;1593676]As an owner of a '28 roadster who has two boys (15 & 11), a rumble was the only option. I'm going to rig up a safety catch to keep the lid from coming forward.

We wanted a roadster, so this is the only option for us.[/QUOTE


Rumble Seat Safety Catch sounds like a truly great concept. I have a question, since this my
first post, I'm not sure exactly how Ford Barn works. Is it OK to ask to be notified/informed if/when Mr Ayers designs such a catch. What's the protocol? Thanks in advance for the (off topic?!?) tutorial.

[pooch]

Both of my roadsters have positively locking lids as I have lap/sash retractable belts fitted to top of lid.

[HoarseWhisperer]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

HoarseWhisperer,

Looks like you could be the "Dog Whisperer" too.

David Serrano

It is useful when teaching them to navigate. "Left! Left! NO! Your other LEFT!"

[Anton Voycheck]

Originally Posted by Oldbluoval

Want to hear my diatribe on side-mounts!!!!!

I am betting we agree on this

[700rpm]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

[QUOTE=31Cabriolet68-C;1593790]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

As an owner of a '28 roadster who has two boys (15 & 11), a rumble was the only option. I'm going to rig up a safety catch to keep the lid from coming forward.

We wanted a roadster, so this is the only option for us.[/QUOTE


Rumble Seat Safety Catch sounds like a truly great concept. I have a question, since this my
first post, I'm not sure exactly how Ford Barn works. Is it OK to ask to be notified/informed if/when Mr Ayers designs such a catch. What's the protocol? Thanks in advance for the (off topic?!?) tutorial.

You could send him a private message (PM). Click on his name and select View Public Profile.

[ronn]

I received my March Hemmings yesterday and saw an article about 1928 - '29 Ford Roadsters. In the story they stated that price wise the "trunk equipped cars hold a slight advantage over those with rumble seats." My car is a town sedan so the point is lost on me, but I always thought the rumble seat was a plus.
Marty

Marty,
I wouldnt put a lot of weight on the opinions of the editors of Hemmings............

rumble seats sell cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every newbie thinks they are cool and I would bet, add a heck of a lot more value then a trunk. Guys wanting trunks are the seasoned types on the Barn here. They are practical.

[russcochiolo]

The grandkids love a parade! We do 3 or 4 each year. Big & Little kids are entrigued by the rumble seat at car shows and community events. The rumble seat attracts a lot of interest. I have met some really fine folks requiring a photo as price of admission to the rumble seat. I have seat belts in the rumble seat but have never gone very far with passengers back there.

[HoarseWhisperer]

rumble seats sell cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every newbie thinks they are cool and I would bet, add a heck of a lot more value then a trunk. Guys wanting trunks are the seasoned types on the Barn here. They are practical.[/QUOTE]

Ah, thanks for that. We are not worthy, we are not seasoned.

On behalf of all rumble seat owners, I guess we should be sufficiently insulted.

[Tom Wesenberg]

"Jack Scott sing “What In The World’s Come Over You’ and “Burning Bridges”


Mike, thanks for mentioning Jack Scott. I really like his singing, and now I need to see if he's on U Tube. Lots of great music came out of the 50's.

[Bikerider58]

Ok, a newbie, and yes I think the rumble is cool. Don’t know anything about value differences, and do not see need for trunk but holding on to fold down luggage trunk deck.

How hard is it to remove the seat cushions if room for a suit case or two is needed?

[Russ B]

Heresy I know, but I converted my Cabriolet's rumble seat to a trunk. Just more useful.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by wingski

When I first tried to climb into my rumble seat, I realized that the last time I’d been in a rumble seat was in 1957. It wasn’t in an A, but was in a ’33 Plymouth roadster. That day, I had my first beer while riding along with my cousins on a beautiful, hot sunny day on the Southern Oregon coast. I was 13 and 1/2 years old.

My older cousin Roy had installed a radio, and I heard Jack Scott sing “What In The World’s Come Over You’ and “Buring Bridges” for the first time. That beer tasted good for the first two ice-cold swallows, then warmed up and tasted what I thought pee must taste like. I was never much of a beer drinker after that.

Believe it or not, but I had my first A back then. It was a 1931 coupe with a trunk. I remember back then wondering where people with rumble seats carried their tools. The idea of trying to lift a heavy tool box up out of a rumble seat was beyond me even back then when I was young and full of it. Also, the idea of having an open car without windows totally turned me off. Hey, it rained a lot in Portland, Oregon, and even back then I hated the feeling of damp upholstery. Even worse was the feel of that bakelite steering wheel. I remember my hands turning black when driving after I’d left the driver’s window down in a rainstorm. After that, I bought my first leather steering wheel cover. After several tries, I was able to get that stitching correct, and wow did that black cover ever look good. It made the steering wheel bigger and easier to grab. I’ve put leather covers on almost every steering wheel of every car I’ve had since then.

I’ve got to thank you guys again for stirring up wonderful memories.

Thanks,

Mike

P.S. That first beer was Olympia and had four stars on the inside of the label. That meant that I was going to get “Some.” What a joke!

I grew up 30 miles from Olympia, we all called it monkey piss. Rainer was the beer, unless someone smuggled in some coors ( it was illegal in Washington)

[pooch]

Originally Posted by Bikerider58

Ok, a newbie, and yes I think the rumble is cool. Don’t know anything about value differences, and do not see need for trunk but holding on to fold down luggage trunk deck.

How hard is it to remove the seat cushions if room for a suit case or two is needed?

Funny that, I can fit a lot more in my rumble than I could in a trunk.

I have carried 6 ft lengths of timber in it.

And as you say, remove the cushions and it is the same size as a trunk even with lid closed.

The well seasoned or ole farts group here are just too old to enjoy a rumble .

[klawockvet]

I wouldn't have anything but a rumble seat in my roadster. Way more practical.

[CB919ER]

My Coupe has a rumble seat and I have way to many found memories riding in it as a child to convert it to a trunk, but to each his own. Luckily my girlfriend and I travel pretty light so there is plenty of room in the floor of the rumble seat for out bags if we use it to travel.

[wingski]

Wow, what wonderful pictures. I just realized that there is something that only a rumble seat can do. That is to let your dog see everything, and for everybody to see your dog. The bigger the dog the better. One of my best buddies is a St. Bernard named Romeo. I can just imagine Romeo in the back of my cabriolet. The back of my car would probably be a little bit lower because Romeo is a pretty big boy.

If I had a real picture, not photo-shop, of Romeo in the back of my car, it would be priceless. I know I would have to build a ramp on wheels like they used to use for air-planes, but, by god, it would be worth it. The sound of that enormous WOOF as we drove by some pretty young thing would be worth all the tea in China.

Like I’ve said before, you guys cause a lot of neat memories to resurface. In this case, you’ve caused one to form.

Mike

P.S. It took a while for the four stars on the back of an Oly label to pay off. However, when they did, they did in spades. Thank god for my love and obsession with model A’s. If it hadn’t been for those cars taking up most of my spare time, I would have got in trouble BIG TIME with the law and with the ladies. I can remember pretty girls coming over to the house to visit me. I would talk and try to be polite, but some project on my A was more important than a sweet body in a poodle skirt. Most would finally leave, but some came back, and back, and back.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. “Model A’s saved my butt more times than you can imagine.” Thank god my hormones were channeled towards the A’s.” I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if they hadn’t been.

[HoarseWhisperer]

wingski, you might consider a Model A Pickup for Romeo.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I knew a guy that had a piece of carpet fastened to his hood on his Dodge Power Wagon wrecker, and he let his German Shepard ride on the hood when he drove 1/2 mile to town and back.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by JBill

I wish I had put a trunk instead of a rumble seat in my '29 roadster. I never let anybody ride in there anyway.

YO' JBill,
With a regular trunk, I've seen Folks plop a cushion on the seat riser & ride the trunk, in a Parade!
The LID makes a GOOD SHADE!---I could "doll" this up with Funny Faces, but they still don't work for me????---And, YES, I know how to work them, been doing this for 11 YEARS, so there!
Bill Greatfun

[ronn]

On behalf of all rumble seat owners, I guess we should be sufficiently insulted.

wickipedia definition of "seasoned" old........................

I was being nice..............

[WHN]

Originally Posted by ronn

On behalf of all rumble seat owners, I guess we should be sufficiently insulted.

wickipedia definition of "seasoned" old........................

I was being nice..............

I felt the same way after reading a few of the posts.

I guess if your car came from the factory with a rumble seat, and your “Smart”, you will change the rumble seat to a trunk or even better yet, sell it for a sedan.

I really enjoy all Model A’s and like seeing and talking with the proud owners.

[jboggess]

My family loves the rumble seat, especially when they like to dress up for the national car tours.

[wingski]

Hey guys, how did the rumble seat end up with that name?

Mike

P.S. I can’t wait to hear the different answers.

[WHN]

Rumble seat in USA, Dickey seat in England.

Based on the rear servants seat on a coach or carriage. Out in the open, for one or two people.

[frank55a]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by wingski

P.S. That first beer was Olympia and had four stars on the inside of the label. That meant that I was going to get “Some.” What a joke!

As I recall the mythology behind the "4 stars" was it only counted if you got a girl to sign it. I did save all the "4 star" labels that I got. Oly also was the first beer that I drank. Oly was the beer of choice in the North West at that time, as Coors was next to impossible to get.


I was in the Navy in the late 60s and the only beer I could get out in Hawaii that did not give me a headache was Primo (local Hawaiian beer that tasted like pineapple, and made you appreciate any other beer) and Oly in bottles. During that time I really liked my beer, and in the fall of 68 there was a shipping strike so Oly was becoming a very rare commodity. One payday I stopped at the Pearl Harbor Supply Base package store and low and behold some place they found a full pallet of Oly in bottles. My friend and I invested heavily in Oly "stock" purchasing the full pallet (probably 30-40 cases). We lived on a house boat in the Ali Wai boat harbor and our boat was well stocked with beer. That was a very good in-port period.

[wingski]

Frank, you made me remember another one.

When I got divorced in 1980, I threw a party for all my friends who had stuck by me. I was going to furnish all the beer they could drink, but there was a brewer’s strike and I couldn’t get any beer. So, I went out to Henry Enry’s winery. It was really called Henry’s, but everyone called it Hen-er-rie En-er-ries, and they made the best rubarb and gooseberry wine in the world. They were all out of gooseberry, so I bought ten gallons of rubarb. You may think that ten gallons was a lot, but wait for the rest of the story.

When my friends started showing up, they all bitched because I didn’t have any beer. However, after a few glasses of ice-cold Henry’s, that all changed. For some reason, my best friend couldn’t make it. However, he made me promise to save a gallon of Henry’s for him. I hid that jug under my kitchen sink and put a lot of stuff around it and made sure that cupboard door was shut tight so it was really hid.

My two dogs were downstairs in the basement, and I had one of those weird hidden stairways that had two trap doors that opened up like an L. I left the first one closed, but left the one that bent to right open and put a barrier in front of it so no one could fall through. There was a flat area where the stairs took a hard right bend down into the basement. All night long there were people laying on the bellies on the carpet in the dinning room petting my dogs who were on that flat area below. The black cocka-poo dogs (Inky and Spud) loved all that attention.

Somehow that jug I had hid was discovered when the wine started to run low, and I actually had to get out my baseball bat and threaten everyone with a busted head unless they left it alone. They did, and later Bob got his jug of wine, but boy did he hear the story of me and the bat.

For a bunch of beer drinkers, those guys and gals sure sucked down that rubarb wine. Amazingly, no one got a ticket or had an accident that night. What a party!

Mike

P.S. I hate to brag, but I tell one hell of a story, and they are all true.

[Dodge]

I’m partial to rumble seats. I grew up riding around in the rumble seat of a 1931 Auburn.
When it came time to get a Model A Roadster I got one with a rumble seat. Love it
A red neck rumble seat catch is a motorcycle tie down going from the rumble lid to the rear bumper. Or two of them one for each side.
P.S a couple of years ago we were giving rides at an elderly living home and had a 101yr. Old Nun get into the rumble seat for a ride. She remembered rumble seats from her youth and insisted on getting in she did it pretty well.

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

I grew up 30 miles from Olympia, we all called it monkey piss. Rainer was the beer, unless someone smuggled in some coors ( it was illegal in Washington)

Chuck,

We drank Oly because it was cheap and we also drank Coors. I remember Rainier Ale but not the beer.

Speaking of Cheap beer, here in So. Cal. we had Brew 102, they had a brewery with a big sign in L.A. where the I-10 and the 60 freeways intersect near the Olympic Auditorium. Didn't drink it unless there was nothing else to drink.

When I went to school in San Jose, I had a chance to work part-time at the Schlitz Brewery but I figured I'd never graduate if I took the job.

David Serrano

[HoarseWhisperer]

Originally Posted by Dodge

P.S a couple of years ago we were giving rides at an elderly living home and had a 101yr. Old Nun get into the rumble seat for a ride. She remembered rumble seats from her youth and insisted on getting in she did it pretty well.

It does put a smile on their face!

[WHN]

Originally Posted by HoarseWhisperer

It does put a smile on their face!

I have another view of why he’s smiling!

[fordf1trucknut]

Rumble on both of my coupes.. Our daughters love them.

I added a seat belt to both as well as a removable safety rod to prevent it from slamming shut and put a removable piece of foam over the gutter.

[31Cabriolet68-C]

Originally Posted by pooch

Both of my roadsters have positively locking lids as I have lap/sash retractable belts fitted to top of lid.

Can you post a pic? Thanks

[racingrufus]

My friend has a 29 Standard Coupe with a rumble that he leaves open when he parks at shows. He was away from his car for a short time when a 300 + lb. women climbed in his cars rumble seat. It took 3 men to extract her. He was very lucky that no damage was done to car.

[KenCoupe]

When I bought my 31 coupe, it had a trunk. I thought I would convert it to a rumble seat - everybody did that didn't they? As time went by, and I had other things to fix on the car, I came to appreciate the trunk. I will never convert to a rumble seat. I rode in a friends rumble seat one time. We were going probably 45 - 50 mph. I don't want to do that again. Rumble seats are cool for parades and low mph rides, but I'll keep my trunk.

[Tim Ayers]

This thread proves once and a for all, to each his own.

[ronn]

My friend has a 29 Standard Coupe with a rumble that he leaves open when he parks at shows. He was away from his car for a short time when a 300 + lb. women climbed in his cars rumble seat. It took 3 men to extract her. He was very lucky that no damage was done to car.

cant stop laughing!

made my morning thinking about that situation...................