1979 Mercury XM Concept Car: Rumble Seat FTW!

Peter Tanshanomi

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Comments


Ran across this on the web, and had not seen it before. It looks vaguely like a EXP/LN7 derivative, but with a bit cleaner styling. Probably would have made an unimpressive production car, but as an unabashed fan of open-air motoring, I gotta give this one a hell yeah!

“While most concept cars looked forward to the future, Mercury went backward in time with the bright yellow XM, a two-door concept which re-introduced the rumble seat, an open-air design from the 1930’s. Though basically a two-seat vehicle, the rear hatch could lift upward into the deck, and a rumble seat would emerge, transforming the car into a four-passenger vehicle, with the rear occupants receiving fresh air.”

From www.wingedmessenger.net

About

Peter Tanshanomi

Peter Tanshanomi

Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for “motorcycle(s) only.” Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.

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  1. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    My mother-in-law would make one heck of a crumple zone.

    Reply
  2. dmilligan Avatar
    dmilligan

    Yeah, that's a helluva good idea, a rumble seat. I'm sure that'd pass DOT safety in a hot minute, even in 1979.
    Don't get me wrong; I think rumble seats are great. I rode in a couple when I was a kid and loved it. I also loved riding in the back of an open bed pickup when it wasn't raining or snowing. The fun got thin mighty quick then. Anyway, having said that, the safety nannies would have conniptions if anyone tried to introduce something as charming as a rumble seat, unless it had a full roll cage, 5 point harnesses and a wrap around windscreen. Hell, they'd piss and moan even then.

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      At least the BedRyder is still legal in most states.
      <img src="http://image.off-roadweb.com/f/tech/1005or_bedryder_truck_bed_seating_install/32633061+pheader_460x1000/1005or_01_+bedryder_kit_install+bedryder_seats.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. BGW Avatar
        BGW

        I always wondered why nobody combined that with the bumper dumper. Seems to me that's the best idea since you got your chocolate into my peanut butter.

        Reply
        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          They could call it the S*it and Spin.

          Reply
      2. dmilligan Avatar
        dmilligan

        That looks a lot easier on your butt than riding on the bare bed or a bedliner. Especially on washboard roads.

        Reply
    2. Feds_II Avatar
      Feds_II

      Last I checked, it is legal to ride open-bed in ontario, as long as all of the seatbelts are in use (i.e., once the cab of a pickup is full (2-6 people), you can have unlimited people in the bed.

      Reply
      1. dmilligan Avatar
        dmilligan

        No kidding? That sounds unusually practical for a modern US city. I was under the impression that the state defines those types of laws, but I'm poorly educated in that area. I thought in California, riding in the bed of a PU was illegal period, unless those BedRyder things are legal here. I'm too old to do that any more anyway.

        Reply
    3. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Subaru got away with calling the BRAT a passenger car by sticking a couple of seats in the bed in 1978. Only in the last 10 years or so have the safety regs cared about rear seat passengers. It wasn't until the late 1980s that shoulder belts were available for the rear seats on most cars.

      Reply
  3. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    The 1966 American Motors AMX show car had what they called "Ramble Seats". They were considered for production but safety laws killed the idea.
    <img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1175/3265514886_841b99c494.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. dmilligan Avatar
      dmilligan

      I like the wind screens. They would help keep the bugs out of your teeth. It looks like they pop up; I wonder if they flap in the airstream when the car gets up to speed.

      Reply
  4. Charles_Barrett Avatar
    Charles_Barrett

    The perfect parade car for those megalomaniacal dictators on a tight budget…

    Reply
  5. K5ING Avatar
    K5ING

    Acutally, according to Barrett Jackson, Ford "offered" a rumble seat in the Mustang in 1969. This is from their website which has a picture of it…………….
    http://www.muscularmustangs.com/2007/2007barrettj…
    1969 Ford Mustang Convertible with Rumble Seat
    Lot: 428.1
    An extremely rare and most unusual Mustang; a "rumble-seat convertible". This particular package was a joint effort by Ford and Autocraft of Dearborn, MI. The option was not shown on the build sheet or Ford window sticker because the conversion was done after assembly. It was a "Blossom-Time" sales promotion offered only during April 1969 to certain Michigan dealers. Documented by 2 different magazine articles, it is still un-certain exactly how many were done. This one is believed to be the only one in "Meadowlark Yellow". This one was built April 16, 1969 and delivered to Jack Dykstra Ford in Lansing, MI. It is V8, automatic, power steering, power disc brakes, power top, factory tach, and more. It has only 55,000 actual miles and original upholstery, mechanically refreshed and ready to go.

    Reply
    1. dmilligan Avatar
      dmilligan

      How unusual. I'd never heard of such thing on the old Mustangs. I'm not too sure I'd like to ride around with my butt on top of a Mustang's gas tank however, and It'd be interesting to see how much leg room there was.
      Nice find!

      Reply
  6. Stumack Avatar
    Stumack

    I wouldn't say that it's an EXP/LN7 "derivative", but rather the styling prototype that led to them.

    Reply
  7. EscortsForever Avatar
    EscortsForever

    Looks more like a X1/9 than a EXP if you ask me

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      I was thinking of a Nissan Pulsar NX (EXA).

      Reply
    2. Age_of_Aerostar Avatar
      Age_of_Aerostar

      I was thinking Mercury Capri… the most recent version
      <img src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vehicle-pictures/1994/mercury/capri/91161121990308-480.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
  8. marian c Avatar
    marian c

    i love capri ford fiesta granada cortina mercury

    Reply