The Rumble Seat: A Ride Through Its Rise, Reign, and Retirement by Mike Thies

The rumble seat, also known as a "dickey seat" in Britain, was one of the most charming and distinctive features of early automotive design. Tucked into the rear of coupes and roadsters, it offered a semi-enclosed, open-air perch for passengers. Though rarely comfortable or convenient, it became a cultural icon, symbolizing both the ingenuity and limitations of early car design. Let’s explore the origins, peak popularity, and eventual obsolescence of the rumble seat in American and international automotive history.

Beginnings: A Carriage Legacy in a New Machine

The rumble seat has its origins in the horse-drawn carriages of the 19th century, where a similar rear-facing bench, sometimes referred to as a "groom’s seat" or "rumble", was used for servants or guards. As the first automobiles emerged in the late 1800s and early 1900s, many were little more than motorized carriages, and designers borrowed heavily from the existing coachbuilding tradition. By the 1910s, car makers such as Ford, Packard, and Auburn began offering coupes and roadsters with optional rumble seats, which folded out from what looked like a traditional rear deck or trunk lid.

The term "rumble seat" became widespread in the United States by the 1920s. It was considered an innovative solution to the problem of limited passenger capacity in two-door body styles. These seats were generally spartan, no windows, roof, or side protection, but provided a functional way to carry two extra passengers, usually children or the young-at-heart who were willing to brave the elements. Some models even included flip-down footrests or steps built into the rear fenders or bumper brackets for easier access.

Middle: Style and Romance in the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties

The 1920s and 1930s marked the golden age of the rumble seat. With the rapid rise of the automobile as a symbol of freedom and personal style, the rumble seat became a romanticized fixture in popular culture. It was a common feature on many iconic models, including the Ford Model A, Chevrolet Series AA Capitol, Cadillac V-8 roadsters, and premium brands like Auburn, Duesenberg, and Packard. It was especially popular among the youth, who enjoyed the thrill of an open-air ride with no adult supervision, and among automakers, who could promote a two-seater coupe as a "four-passenger" vehicle.

Design-wise, rumble seats became more integrated, with better upholstery and stylistic harmony with the rest of the car. Some upscale models included leather padding, armrests, and custom upholstery, though passengers were still exposed to wind, dust, and rain. They were a staple of hot rod and custom culture as well, often retained in early Ford builds from the 1930s for their vintage charm.

However, despite their novelty, rumble seats were not without drawbacks. Passengers lacked protection in accidents, and weather exposure limited their practicality. As automobile engineering advanced, trunks became necessary for luggage space, and manufacturers began emphasizing comfort, safety, and convenience over novelty.

End: The Decline of the Rumble Seat

By the late 1930s, the rumble seat was rapidly falling out of favor. The Great Depression led to more practical car designs, and consumer preferences shifted toward enclosed sedans and touring models with full seating inside the cabin. Innovations such as trunk storage, folding rear seats, and better suspension made rumble seats obsolete from both functional and safety standpoints. Federal safety regulations did not yet exist, but the exposed nature of the seat raised liability concerns among insurance companies and manufacturers alike.

By the start of World War II, the rumble seat had virtually disappeared from mass-market production. The last widely recognized American model to offer it was the 1939 Ford Deluxe coupe, after which the layout was abandoned. Postwar car design embraced streamlined, integrated body shapes with enclosed passenger compartments, and the rumble seat became a quaint relic of a bygone era.

Legacy: Nostalgia, Style, and Collector Appeal

Today, rumble seats are cherished features in the world of classic and vintage cars. Their impracticality is overshadowed by their unique style and nostalgic value. Enthusiasts prize rumble seat-equipped cars for their historical significance, conversation-starting design, and connection to early automotive culture. They remain a favorite among collectors, hot rodders, and concours judges who appreciate the period-correct charm of these quirky additions.

Though gone from modern production, the rumble seat lives on in automotive history as a symbol of a more adventurous, experimental time, when cars were still evolving, and riding out back was part of the fun.