years ago I paid serious money for a purple chair from California car covers when they were the first of what chairs we buy for under 10 bucks this time of year at Walmart were around. Hell of a good and well made chair that I used for a number of years. That was a real car show chair because I bought it at a car show. It went to Bonneville with me in 1998. Now I usually pack along one of my Cabellas chairs because it is strong enough to hold my weight and I don't like sitting in other people's chairs. lately it has been what some folks call a deck chair that has the side table because it is easier to get out of with my knees.
This is one of those vintage college examination folding chairs with the padded seat, and its own little desk. It was old when I bought it at Hardwicks swap shop here in Seattle back in 79. It used to have the price tag on it that was $6.50 and it was held on with string that lasted for many years till it fell off at some point and was lost. I took this chair with me to a lot of events, and it was shipped cross country many times as well. Where ever I took it, I was always offered money for it, it was never for sale, once I turned down an offer of $300.00 for it, I told the man, if I sell it, all I have is money, and I would not have this cool vintage chair. It was built in a time period, when things were built to last a lifetime, and be high quality! It weighs I bet about 15 pounds and its not practical to drag it to car shows as its just too big for some trunks of vintage cars, so I just use a collapsible chair now.
I have about a half dozen of these vintage Zip Dee lawn chairs. They made awnings for airstream trailers and these chairs were commonly used with airstreams. They are bar none the most comfortable lawn chairs that you can buy
I’ve got a pair of those Zip Dee chairs too. Blue. Must be 35 to 40 years old. Took them out of my Dad’s Airstream motorhome when I sold it. Been from Seattle to Florida, up and home thru Canada, and 3 times round trip on the AlCan Hwy. Work and look like new. You can still buy them, all the colors to match the awnings. Not exactly cheap, but 40 years later at least reasonable.
Pretty amazing about those ZIP DEE folding chairs, indeed, they are not cheap, nor is the carrying bag for the chair as well. That being said, you wont find these on Amazon, but they are still for sale from the original company. https://www.zipdeeoutdoor.com/fold-away-chairs/
I brought a chair to the last few shows I attended but I never took it out of the car, too busy walking around taking pictures for you guys and yakking with my friends. Gotta get my steps in! A chair does come in handy though. We attended a show while my granddaughter was in town over the 4th (she was fresh out the swimming pool here), I wore new shoes without socks and immediately had a blister on my heel the size of a Sacajawea dollar. Cheap chairs my wife found at the dollar store that matched the paint job on the car we drove that night, came in handy (or footy, as it were). I did have to rinse princess' chair off when we returned home.
We have a motorhome, go to car shows, grandkid’s sporting events, outdoor concerts, so use folding chairs quite a bit. For us the Holy Grail of folding chairs must be strong, lightweight and inexpensive. I’ve come to the conclusion you can have any two of those attributes but not all three. I like the bag chairs because they are easy to store not taking up a lot of space. As of yet have not found the ideal chair. Have found price doesn’t equate quality.
Yeah I know exactly what you mean. I have been mulling over whether to invest in one of those @Moriarity endorsed ZIP DEE el- s****o-matic beyond cool folding chairs! That is a hefty price to pay for just one chair, I am sure they are high quality, and I have spent a hell of a lot more money on other things that are just toys! But, its tempting, I just wont tell any of my friends what the cost of the chair was!
No need to buy new when these last forever because they are so well made. Here are 3 for 145 on CL in Washington https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/camano-island-vintage-airstream-zip-dee/wgvvTfMKidd9dYoRcWgdZa
I just now fired off a response about those 3 zip dee chairs, thats a great deal, lets see if they respond! Thanks again for that heads up!
hope it isn’t too far away. One benefit is that you’ll get to sit in them before you buy and make sure you like them
Yeah the seller and I are conversing and its not that far to go see the chairs and test them out. I will probably go to Mount Vernon also to see my friend Matt Field @Hitchhiker and have lunch and shoot some photos of his new shop up there. AKA Seattle Speed Shop. I figure its worth the gas, to go get those three chairs, especially if they are in good shape, which they appear to be, still a hell of a good price in my opinion! Thanks again for the heads up! Thanks from Dennis.
Maybe, if we asked @Ryan real nice, he could get us a deal on 500 or so, all the same color (Red) with the HAMB logo (Black). After all, he's got that new shop and office with all kinds of space.
I don’t ever take a chair to car events. I spend all my time walking around, taking pics, and talking to friends.
Very lightweight, folds easily and stores in a nice shoulder bag. It is stable and easy to get up and out of the chair. Allowable weight total, 300 lbs carry weight total 4 lbs. in a neat carry bag with a shoulder strap Hello, We have not gone to a walk around car show for quite some time. When we went to those car shows, we usually walked around and talked to the owners of the cars on display. That was more fun. Our 327 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery was not a car show hot rod, but a daily driver. Our lightweight canvas folding beach chairs got plenty of use. But, we knew that the canvas being wet from our bathing suit sitting during the “drying” stage made the canvas wet. Then when we were off in the salt water again, the canvas had dried, but also got wet for a second time. Now, it was the standard motion and continued action each time we were at the sandy beach locations. So, what happened to the canvas support beach chairs that we sat in wet bathing suits until dried? They eventually ripped at the most funny time. Deep sleep, warm sun and now a giant ripping sound to wake everyone up… ha! Eventually, the canvas got replaced with nylon supported thicker material for strength. We have been to plenty of car shows, but, our experiences with canvas beach chairs pointed us toward nylon supported material for our granddaughter’s soccer playing years. Canvas has a tear rate and over use or moisture weakens the material so, one day… a giant rip will show up when one least expects it. That scene causes plenty of laughter as one falls lower in a sitting position and the sound was awful, too. The two chairs we bought, made of stronger nylon have lasted over 5 years of full sideline sitting for each of her games and also, countless sideline practices until dark. So, they did get a good workout. The simplicity of strong sewn-in support for each of the edges is the main advantage. It gives more support for us to sit comfortably for long times during games and practices. But, it also allows us to be there to support her during those little kid soccer practices that were endless and the fun games on Saturdays. Over 5 years of use and we still have them in the garage if we need them. We even took them to the 4th of July Fireworks Shows around our area of So Cal. Simplicity, light weight and comfortable for the time spent in the chairs was the key. Our granddaughter had her own version of the chairs and it got plenty of use at the beach, the soccer games/practices and just in the backyard usages. Jnaki As old as we were back then, the chairs allowed us to pop up to get out of them at the end of the games and practices with ease. I even used one of them in the garden, to sit and plant a couple of plots of succulents in the new yard area. It allowed me comfort between planting each plant and sit back and relax when finished. No rips, tears or unraveled edges on our stronger nylon folding seats. Canvas had its days prior to the development of stronger reinforced nylon material, but, good bye canvas...YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
