10 Baby Facts for SPN Fic Authors
[I swear this is not a rant - it ISNâT. Honest.]
It is actually kind of cool to realize that you possess specialty knowledge that may be of use to others. Stuff that you didnât 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. âThatâs not right â it canât possibly happen that wayâŚâ 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 â 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 heartâs 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. Iâve 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):Â
1) Compared to most modern sedans, Baby is BIG. Like REALLY BIG. She is 17 and ž 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, Iâm 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 driverâs thigh. If the passenger is in this position, the driver can,  at best, entwine fingers with the passengerâs outstretched hand. Thatâs IT (even with Samâs 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 (4â6â 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 someoneâs 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.
More below the cut.
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Excellent post! Only thing to note is that shoulder restraints were not required as standard equipment on U.S. vehicles until January 1, 1968, so they would have been an option in â67. Baby does not have them, though she does have the relatively rare (for Impalas) front cornering lights and bumper guards.
