We put 6 in my 56 multiple times although I never dealt with car seats or boosters in it. But, we put four teenagers and two adults in it. And, not that you could get away with this today, but pretty sure I have told you how my dad drove Corvettes and my Mom drove a Trans Am. Me and my brother rode in the back of those growing up. We were just happy to go from the 70 vette to either the 65 or 78 to have a big window we could see out of and more room.
Yeah we got away with a lot when I was a kid. I took naps in many package trays. Whatever it is needs to have adequate seat belts for car seats/boosters. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Back in the dark ages, the Hot Rod gods declared a 1948 cut off date. Followed by endless debate on "1948 and earlier" vs "Pre-1948" LeRoi "Tex" Smith promptly started driving 1948 4 door Chrysler limo to shows. If I remember correctly, Tex found it behind a gas station in Driggs, ID. Credit: https://www.hotrodhotline.com/hot-rod-icon-leroi-smith-walking-‘tex’-book
Some of my favorite memories growing up were of family trips taken with my parents, 4 sisters and brother in a yellow & white '58 Country Sedan.
This is the car I was thinking of, if I remember correctly Tex’s nickname for the car was Walter P. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Sounds very familiar, don't know how to verify that (I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast...).
Personally- early Suburban, or 50's-60's wagon (55 or 57 Handyman, 63 two door Falcon, or '64 Country Squire lead the pack) Fun story though- my mom's best friend's husband HAD to own whatever car my dad drove, and bought a used '58 Corvette about a month after my dad bought his. It was a TOTALLY impractical car for his family, but Russ decided that THIS was the car they would drive to Nantucket (from the Philly area) with him, his wife (very pregnant), the younger daughter on her lap, the older daughter sitting on the console, and the Newf and Golden Retriever at his wife's feet, AND all the luggage for a growing family of 4 and 2 dogs stuffed, stowed, and strapped wherever. Along the way, Russ pulled up to a red light next to a supercharged Studebaker... the light turned green, and the race was on...
My buddy has a sixties Lotus Europa that was his dad's, and when he was young they used to drive up north with mom, dad, and him as a toddler in that thing! How I have NO idea, because I'm six foot two, and it's like a coffin inside, I literally have to bend my body in uncomfortable ways to even get in the driver's seat! That's one crazy car.... I vote for a big Cadillac. I've had 5 in my shoebox. Not hugely comfortable, but possible, so a large sedan like a caddy seems like a good choice if you don't want a wagon/suburban.
1957-1960 Mercury wagon had lots of room & different....1990-1994 Lincoln Town Car ..??? Dare to be Dan "Different Hay. Keep smiling.....
51504bat, is that stretched Suburban still around? I'm looking for one of those rear p***enger doors and an opening!!!
I'll bet your more confused now with all of the great suggestions. Just be sure that the license plate says "HAYRIDE"
I would say a mid 50's wagon either Ford or any GM model. One problem may be installing the kid seats or boosters, can you do that with just a lap belt? don't the new cars have special hooks to attach them to?
Wagons are hard to beat with a family of 6, we love our '54 Ranch Wagon but with 6 a Country Squire 4 door wagon would be a better fit. HRP
I would get a wagon and call it the Hay Wagon, of course. Seriously, get something safe for the family.
61-63 Cadillac de Ville Park Avenue. All the luxury and style of a normal Cadillac, but eight inches shorter for ease of driving around town. I had a '63, but I like the styling of the '62 better. Floated like it was on air driving down the freeway at eighty, steering with one finger. The car I most regret selling.
I have 5 kids, 2 with first wife, 3 with second wife (much better, still married after 16 years.) My older 2 kids grew up riding around in the back of some cool cars. Since my younger ones have come along, I've been more financially stable, but boring. I've really been itching for an old car to daily again with my younger kids in the back seat. They are currently 14, 11 and 9. I found a really nice 4 door 57 Chevy wagon today that would fit the bill to a T, but just can't swing it. Devin
A cl***ic "working" limo. I remember reading how a guy who wrote for one of the British cl***ic car magazines needed a minivan to transport everything ***ociated with a growing family, but bought a Daimler limousine instead, newly retired from use by an undertaker. I recall that he especially appreciated the acoustic benefits of the centre par***ion. The Daimler had a relatively long production run, especially if you count seven years of related Jaguar Mk X production before it: I can't think of an American equivalent. Other options are dedicated taxis, like a Checker, or cars often seen as taxis, like a '42 De Soto 4-door. I've had the idea of an Austin FX4 with a stout turbodiesel four in it (though we're unlikely to have the need: I'm pushing 60 and my wife is pushing 50, and we don't have kids. I think that bus —and the need for one— has left.) But it would be cool to run with practical packaging cleverness as a theme.
My great grandfather was a Packard man. He had a standing deal with the local Mortician. He bought all of the used Packard family cars. Dad said when he was a kid, his fields were full of 20's -40's Packards. Sadly they all went for s**** in the 50's.
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