What happened to the bench seat?

Interesting article. Thanks John. Best remembered in my teen drive-in years.

@chris Really?

1963 Thunderbird Sports Roadster...weight 4395, length 205 inches

1963 Chevrolet Impala convertible...weight 3870, length 210 inches

@bob-jackman Well shut my mou-y-th!     😳 😳 😳   

I mean, I know of course that your '63 is considerably larger than the '55-'57 roadsters but further researching DOES put 1963 Ford Thunderbirds "up there"  among the full-size automobiles of the day.     

I would've NEVER bet that (obviusly! )  🙄 😯 🙄 

These Forums  have, once again, taught me something - another reminder of just I stupid I really am.      Thanks Bob!    😉 😉 😉 

@chris Stupid? Hardly. Because the T-Bird came out as a small car, most think of them as Sporty cars meaning small. As you know, that all changed in 1958 when they became four passenger cars.

@bob-jackman That's true enough Bob but to my eyes the '58 to '60 looked very much full size whereas the pseudo aeronautic styling of the '61 to '63 presented as far more sporty and even smaller.

@jack-dodds Jack, I agree with them being more sporty than the square birds and appear smaller. Surprising to me that the Buick Riviera weighed 3998 pounds as I always thought they looked  heavier to my eye.

@bob-jackman The beautiful '63-'65 Riv looked wider and larger to my eye...probably not the case though.

Posted by: @chris

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@ed-davis I understand......

LSS: About 13 yrs ago, my wife had a flat on her 10 month old car (we knew we had no spare or run-flats ) she called me, I told her, "Have it towed - I'll meet you there."

When I arrived, a guy about my age, waiting outside was livid!   After overhearing, I had to intervein.   

- He too had a flat but no spare and had to have his new car towed - BUT - he DIDN'T KNOW he didn't have a spare; no salesman ever told him.   

He was furious!  😬 😬 😬 😬 

Posted by: @sizedoesmatter

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"....unless it's going to put $ in his or her pocket.   Buyer beware!" 

Sad, but so true - their livelihood is in your pocket - generally speaking, they'll do anything  to get it. 

A week after I took home my new 1989 MBz 300 my left rear went flat, and after I changed it the salesman asked me to bring the car in, so he could put another new tire on the spare for me, free of charge.  You pay for the car, and you get the service.  It was also the last brand new car I ever bought, or will buy.

@chris  It was the mechanics for the top and the extra frame support.  That would be my guess.

@chris   I'm not so big on vent windows, after I was in an accident in 1968 and sitting in the right front seat.  I still have a scar running up most of my right arm to my elbow, where the broken frame of the vent became a stationary saw and went to work on my arm, during the impact.  Granted, it was one of the lesser injuries I suffered, but I have no problem with the disappearance of that amenity.

@gdh Oh, no question vent windows were (are ) quite dangerous; I'd ALWAYS drive with them fully open - pointed inward - with their sharp angled chrome frame point aimed directly at my chest, as I drove 70mph on bias-ply tires with drum brakes, a single master cylinder, and no seat belts....and that was just a few years ago in modern traffic.   

It takes GUTS to drive collector cars!  🙄 😲 

I'm sorry about your accident; I understand your joy regarding the demise of vent windows.  

@chris That reverse vent window idea for a blast of cool air is great....until you scoop up a furious wasp!  I used to like the vent window when I used to smoke many years ago; great for ash flicking.

@gdh Love to hear GREAT customer service stories!