Minimum passenger age/size?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
One of my grandsons is now 8 years old. He has been riding in the "Blue Car" since he was 3-1/2 years old. The first time he got to ride in the car, I put his carseat in the passenger's seat and he started crying. I said "Michael, what's wrong? Don't you want to go for a ride with Grandpa?" He replied with a whimper, "I wanna drive..."
He rides in the C3 every time he visits and, NO, he doesn't go to sleep in it. When my kids were small, I had a '68 C3. The younger one sat in a 'Punkin Seat' (with seat belt on); the older one liked riding in the storage compartment [it was a coupe]. I felt they were pretty safe back then. I probably wouldn't do that now.
Check your local laws for age and size (weight/height) that can be in a forward-facing child seat. Since you don't have a front air bag, a child seat is allowed in front with a 2-seat car. Seatbelts are required!!
He rides in the C3 every time he visits and, NO, he doesn't go to sleep in it. When my kids were small, I had a '68 C3. The younger one sat in a 'Punkin Seat' (with seat belt on); the older one liked riding in the storage compartment [it was a coupe]. I felt they were pretty safe back then. I probably wouldn't do that now.
Check your local laws for age and size (weight/height) that can be in a forward-facing child seat. Since you don't have a front air bag, a child seat is allowed in front with a 2-seat car. Seatbelts are required!!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 47
From: Sarasota Florida
My 7 y/o grand daughter loves riding in the c-6.
She made me pick her up at school in it.
Some idiot teacher wasn't too thrilled. I asked him what he does if a parent only has a pick-up.
I just make damn sure I turn off the airbag.
USAF
She made me pick her up at school in it.
Some idiot teacher wasn't too thrilled. I asked him what he does if a parent only has a pick-up.
I just make damn sure I turn off the airbag.
USAF
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 4
From: Georgetown Ontario
My youngest daughter is always the first to want to go out for a cruise!
Last summer on a Hot weekend night she asked me if she could sit in it to listen to the radio! Shortly thereafter sound asleep
She's my vette-lover that's for sure! She's 6 in the pic
Last summer on a Hot weekend night she asked me if she could sit in it to listen to the radio! Shortly thereafter sound asleep
She's my vette-lover that's for sure! She's 6 in the pic
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield County CT
My 20 year old daughter wanted to drive my 73. She "learned" how to drive a stick on her friends BMW.
I take her for a ride and pull over to an empty parking lot. "Heck no!", she replied. I guess the raw riding nature of the car scared her.
My son wants to drive it to his senior prom this year. He is a great student & athlete but knows nothing about cars. I just bought new Camaro that is automatic. That should dissuade him!
He wanted to go for a ride on my servi car years ago. So I stuffed him in the box and took a very slow ride in my neighborhood. I wonder why he never asked to go for a ride again.
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I take her for a ride and pull over to an empty parking lot. "Heck no!", she replied. I guess the raw riding nature of the car scared her.
My son wants to drive it to his senior prom this year. He is a great student & athlete but knows nothing about cars. I just bought new Camaro that is automatic. That should dissuade him!
He wanted to go for a ride on my servi car years ago. So I stuffed him in the box and took a very slow ride in my neighborhood. I wonder why he never asked to go for a ride again.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
Strap in the child seat?-yes
Wait until they can use a mandatory booster? no
Wait until they can see over the dash?heck no
When they start asking if they can drive it? I drove a 427 car at the ripe old age of ten..times have changed but parking lots still exist
Wait until they can use a mandatory booster? no
Wait until they can see over the dash?heck no
When they start asking if they can drive it? I drove a 427 car at the ripe old age of ten..times have changed but parking lots still exist
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 249
Likes: 7
From: Wentworth North Carolina
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield County CT
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Glendon Alberta
Kids
Mine are 2 & 3. One of my kids ride with me more than the wife, they love it, and so do I. My vette also filled the void caused by selling my motorcycle, due to having kids in the first place. It's been worth it!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
As parents we all are very protective of our kids. Taking them for a drive in a classic car will certainly have a higher level of risk. Never mind the front end collision, there is no side impact safety in your corvette. A thin sheet of fiberglass attached to a thin sheet metal pan, with 3 window tracks made from thin steel. That's it.
But the majority of us here grew up in the era of very lax safety rated autos. Seat belts weren't even installed in many of the cars of my youth.
It is a risk if you are in an accident, so don't wreck it.
Fwiw, my kids grew up riding in my 73 camaro, I have fond memories of my daughter screeching faster, faster!
But the majority of us here grew up in the era of very lax safety rated autos. Seat belts weren't even installed in many of the cars of my youth.
It is a risk if you are in an accident, so don't wreck it.
Fwiw, my kids grew up riding in my 73 camaro, I have fond memories of my daughter screeching faster, faster!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
We can put our kids [grandkids] in a "bubble" and they can grow up without any INTERESTING formative experiences. How fun would THAT be???? 
Riding in a classic car....even ONCE...is an experience that young folks will never forget. And, if that car is well-cared-for, that will make a positive impression on them too and carry over into their own lives.
I prefer accepting some resonable level of risk, but helping to nurture young folks into becoming "good people". TOTALLY SAFE, but inexperienced youth doesn't seem the best way to go, IMO.
Riding in a classic car....even ONCE...is an experience that young folks will never forget. And, if that car is well-cared-for, that will make a positive impression on them too and carry over into their own lives.
I prefer accepting some resonable level of risk, but helping to nurture young folks into becoming "good people". TOTALLY SAFE, but inexperienced youth doesn't seem the best way to go, IMO.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '14
I agree that they need formative experiences and they will be going for rides with me. I am sure that they are going to remember going out on papa's boat every couple of weekends fondly some day too. No airbags or even seat belts there at all ( edited "either" to be "at all"). We take risks all the time -echoing - they just need to be calculated and not stupid ones. BTW - that take on seat belts in vettes being akin to the same as they are in airplanes - there to keep you close to the wreck - sticks with me. I drive the vette like I did the motorcycle. Like everyone else is an idiot and probably doesn't see me.
Last edited by 69bones; Jan 25, 2014 at 04:09 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
That's the assumption that you have to make: that any accident you are involved in will be caused by another driver and that you CAN NOT anticipate it. If you aren't wearing seat belts because you think that YOU can avoid all accidents.....you're a DREAMER.
Get real!! Wear the seat belts to protect you and your passenger from damage caused by someone else.
