Long before backup cameras, crumple zones, and crash test dummies, car design was a wilder affair. In the infancy of the automobile—when speeds were low and roads were more accustomed to the clatter of hooves than the growl of engines—passenger safety was far from a top priority. It was in this context that one of the most precarious and peculiar inventions in motoring history came into being: the rumble seat.
This exposed perch, mounted at the very rear of a car, might seem like a quaint relic from an age long gone. But the rumble seat not only lingered longer than you might think—it helped shape generations of seating concepts that followed.
Before Cars, Carriages Did It First
The rumble seat wasn’t born from gasoline and rubber but rather from wood and horsehair. In the early 19th century, carriages used by the upper class often included what were called “jump seats”—fold-out perches that let servants ride along without invading the more dignified interior space. Positioned either up front or around back, these temporary accommodations gave butlers and nannies a place to perch and remain at the ready.
It’s here that the term “rumble seat” first surfaced. Riders stationed at the rear had to endure the vibrations and noise—or “rumble”—of a rolling carriage. When the age of the automobile dawned, these jump seats transitioned right along with it.
The Rise of the Rumble
As the automobile shifted from novelty to necessity in the early 20th century, so too did its design. While the emerging middle class demanded larger interiors and more utility, not every car was built for the whole family. Roadsters and coupes—often sporting just a single row of seats—remained popular for solo drivers or budget-conscious buyers. But when an extra rider needed a lift, out came the rumble seat.
Often folded into what looked like a trunk, these seats could be popped open in a pinch. The concept became particularly widespread by the 1920s, with two-door cars frequently sporting them as standard or optional features.
British buyers, ever so proper, dubbed them “dickie seats.” Regardless of what they were called, the experience was similar: riders sat forward-facing behind the rear axle, often in a padded seat with minimal shelter. Upscale versions occasionally offered a folding top or side curtains, but for most, it was an open-air affair—bugs, wind, and all.
Charm, Chill, and Compromise
For all their nostalgic charm, rumble seats were never truly comfortable. Legroom was laughable, headroom non-existent, and weather protection scant. Those who drew the short straw at carpool time were often treated to windburn and dust, or a dousing from any passing rain cloud. And if a manufacturer didn’t include a pop-up windscreen, goggles were a must.
Despite their shortcomings, rumble seats soldiered on into the late 1930s. By then, practical concerns—luggage space, passenger comfort, and basic safety—began to outweigh their novelty. The 1939 model year marked the final bow for rumble seats in American cars, while some British marques held on until just after World War II.
Rumble Revival: The Retro Fascination
Even as they disappeared from factory specs, rumble seats continued to haunt the automotive imagination. Postwar designers and dealers occasionally resurrected the concept, adding quirky flair to modern cars.
In 1957, California outfit Bird’s Nest built fewer than 150 aftermarket rumble seats for Ford Thunderbirds. Studebaker dealers experimented with custom installs, and even Yenko—a name better known for high-performance Chevys—devised a special jump seat for the 1963 Corvette coupe.
The final rumble seat hurrah came in 1966 with American Motors’ AMX Vignale concept. Dubbed the “Rambleseat,” this bizarre feature let passengers ride partially outside the car, sheltered only by a pop-up rear window. It was more performance theater than practicality—and as you might expect, it never made it to production.
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 effectively sealed the rumble seat’s fate, ushering in a new era of regulation that made such precarious perches legally—and morally—untenable.
The Legacy Lives On (Sort Of)
Though the original rumble seat is extinct, echoes of its design lived on in creative ways. Perhaps its most notable descendant is the rear-facing third row in old station wagons—the so-called “way, way back.” These fold-out benches were a staple of family road trips through the ‘70s and ‘80s, transforming cargo space into impromptu kid zones.
European carmakers like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz kept the tradition alive into the 2000s with rear-facing third-row seats in models like the V70 and E-Class. Tesla even offered a similar option in the early years of the Model S, until practicality and market demands eventually edged it out.
Jump seats also resurfaced in some offbeat places. The Subaru BRAT famously installed plastic chairs in its truck bed to bypass U.S. import tariffs. Meanwhile, body-on-frame SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser occasionally included stowable third rows that were more form than function—better at blocking cargo than seating adults.
Gone for Good?
In an age of airbags, crash testing, and liability concerns, the rumble seat is unlikely to make a comeback. Asking passengers to ride exposed at highway speeds doesn’t exactly align with modern safety standards—or consumer expectations. Still, the rumble seat remains a whimsical reminder of a time when the joy of the journey mattered more than the destination—or comfort.
While we may never again see a factory fresh rumble seat, its spirit lives on in every cramped third-row, every wind-in-your-hair convertible ride, and every child who remembers the thrill of facing backward on a summer road trip. It’s a piece of history we may not replicate, but one we’ll always remember—rumbling along in the rearview mirror of automotive culture.
