Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site zehntel.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!cord!hudson!ihnp1!ihnp4!zehntel!jackh 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