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From: jackh@zehntel.UUCP (jack hagerty)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Auto Occupant Positions
Message-ID: <1746@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Jan-85 16:28:24 EST
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1746
Posted: Wed Jan 16 16:28:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Jan-85 10:45:27 EST
References: <60@ucbcad.UUCP>
Organization: Zehntel Automation Systems Inc, Walnut Creek CA
Lines: 39

> Ever since the first cars were built, automakers have always sat the
> driver and passenger(s) on a bench, sofa, or separate seats, always
> next to each other about in the middle of the vehicle.  This sounds
> like nobody's bothered to think about it since then.  
> It's suspicious that basic car designs haven't changed much in 80 years!
> -- 
> 
> 		-Mike Klein
> 		...!ucbvax!ucbmerlin:klein	(UUCP)
> 		klein%ucbmerlin@berkeley	(ARPA)

The Cornell (I think) saftey car design of the 1950's, which looks hopelessly
naive today, had the driver all by himself in the front row. The seat was
on the centerline of the car and the pillarless windshield wrapped back past
the seatback giving him an unobstructed 180 degree view. The passengers were
seated more-or-less conventionally.

The Renault Bageehra (sp?) sports coupe has one row of three across seating.
This model, like most innovative European cars, is not imported (sigh).

There are several low volume commuter/cycle cars that put the driver and
passenger in tandem.

Finally, there are many show cars that experiment with different seating
arrangements: interleaved left-right occupants (like a Ford Trimotor) to
allow a narrower body, raised driver/lowered passenger for visibility, a
lone, centrally located driver (like the Cornell car) with the second and
third seats arranged facing each other in a "conversation pit", etc.



-- 


                    Jack Hagerty, Zehntel Automation Systems
                          ...!ihnp4!zehntel!jackh