It is actually kind of cool to realize that you possess
specialty knowledge that may be of use to others. Stuff that you didn’t really
KNOW you knew, until, of course, you are reading along in a fic and something the author
describes (or the character says) brings your brain to a screeching halt. “That’s
not right – it can’t possibly happen that way…” And then you go and do actual
research to back up your gut knowledge. This little FAQ is the result of one
such realization.
My dad fixed antique and classic cars for a living from 1964
– 1978, owning his own showroom for 3 years near the end of that time. Born in 1966, I grew up playing in old
cars, hiding in floorboards and exploring them to my heart’s content. Our
family car for several years was a 1966 Thunderbird, but when dad went to car
shows, we rode in whatever he wanted to show off. I’ve been in rumble seats,
hard top convertibles, cars with windshields that laid down flat, and cars with
no roof, doors, or walls of any kind. My 1st car was a fully
restored 1966 mustang. Without really realizing it, I soaked up a LOT of inherent
understandings about older cars. The information below is based in that knowledge,
backed up with some internet research.
The following is true about Baby (the character in SPN, not necessarily
the actual cars that play her):
1) Compared to most modern sedans, Baby is BIG. Like
REALLY BIG. She is 17 and ¾ feet long (5.4 meters) and 7 feet 8 inches wide (2.03
meters). Allowing for door thickness on either side and the gaps between doors
and bench seat, I’m betting the front seat is a little over 5 feet wide. Given
basic geometry and human skeletal limitations, this means it is not possible
for the passenger to have their head resting against the passenger door/window
AND place their hand on the driver’s thigh. If the passenger is in this
position, the driver can, at best, entwine
fingers with the passenger’s outstretched hand. That’s IT (even with Sam’s
monkey arms). Sitting up straight, yes. Slumped over, no. On the plus side, this is why the guys can, in fact, get some
sleep in her (and have fun in the back seat).
2) Despite how big Baby is, she is kinda short. Baby is only 54 inches
high (4’6” or 138 cm). INSIDE the car, she is slightly less than 4 feet tall
total. This means that the following actions WILL make you bump your head (or
butt or hands or feet) on the ceiling unless you are very very slow and careful:
climbing over the back seat, straddling someone’s lap, taking off your pants or
t-shirt (unless nearly lying down in the seat), and lunging across the front
bench seat to attack someone bodily. And you will look graceless doing it.
[Ahem, trust me on these, I KNOW.] Additional negative modifiers for Sam due to
height.
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