I know that the idea of a 2+2 for Pontiac, who also used the badge, was "seating for 4" which seems stupidly redundant to me, as only Corvettes and AMXs were American 2 seat sports cars (ignoring the Crosley on purpose in this category of 1960s American Sports cars)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/84715792@N02/33082706602/sizes/k/
The reason why it was called a 2+2 was due to the ability to lower the rear seat back expanding the trunk area and making it a 2 seater.
ReplyDeleteBTW fix the URL on your Hemmings listing please!!
that is great info! Thank you! Was that a term in the manufacturing jargon? Or did it only apply when a car company (Ford with the Mustang) deem it appropriate? As I've not heard the the 1964 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 had the back seat / package tray conversion installed, nor have I heard that the 67 the Parisienne 2+2 did either.
DeleteI believe the 66 and 67 Charger had fold down back seats, I can't recall, but it never had the 2+2 desgnator
Pontiac's use of the 2+2 moniker came from the same place as the GTO did: from Ferrari models. Ferrari 2+2, Ferrari GTO.
ReplyDeleteFord's 2+2 moniker was more of an engineering one, a description of the actual seating arrangement that the car had. Clever marketing IMO.
There is no "model" designation for those cars that converted from 4/5 seaters into two seaters. Many did like the early Barracuda, and the Camaro just to name two. It did entail having 2 bucket seats up front and a bench in the back which would fold down. I think the last car to offer a "2+2" was the Dart Hang 10 model.
wow! Damn, it's good to have knowledgeable experienced car guys like you reading along, and willing to comment and remind me about the stuff I've forgotten, like that Car and Driver or Road and Track fake GTO vs Ferrari GTO battle - I never realized that was the 2+2 theft, as well as the "GTO" theft from the Ferrari for the Pontiac benefit (I do completely know the GTO badge theft, never for got it) but until you pointed it out, I never realized the 2+2 was ALSO stolen from Ferrari!
DeleteSteal from the best, right? Damn... that is an example of blatant "screw you, I'm taking your reputation for my own sales and marketing" unlike any other I can think of!
I wonder if anyone realizes how much information we need to learn, understand, and remember just to be conversant about cars?!
Right! The mid 60s Valiant Barracuda had the fold down rear seats, which Im pretty sure led to the Charger of 66 67 getting the same interior design.
I don't think I've ever seen a 67 or 68 Camaro with the rear seats folded down.
I looked through my few Dart Hang 10 posts, and can't find the one I know I took interior shots of... and not I realize why!
I was thinking Hang 10 interior shots, but when I came across the post, now realize, my memory had mixed it up with the Spirit of 76 Dart interior photos... http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/04/spirit-of-76-dart-only-one-ive-ever.html
memory, is a tricky thing. Some of the details get blurry, like looking through binoculars - the center is a lot easier to see than the peripherals
Thanks again for the info/experience adding to what I knew, to make a more complete and thorough understanding!
For the 1967 - 1969 Camaro: RPO A67: Seat: Folding Rear (67) $30 (68/69) $40
ReplyDeleteI think of 2+2 as kind of a generic term for a car that is normally a 2 seater, with 2 seats in the back that are only useful for kids or adults for a short ride. Ferrari had some cars designated as 2+2s, as well as the Jaguar E-type and Nissan 280Z and 300ZX. Adding the back seats on the E-type and Z's kind of messed up the proportions, in my opinion. The Porsche 911 is usually considered a 2+2 coupe because the back seats are basically useless. I didn't know that Mustang had a 2+2 version.
ReplyDeletethen that proves I'm still on my game! Bringing up something as common as a Mustang, but in a trim level that you didn't know of... that's why I make the BIG bucks! Lol... I haven't seen one since 1995, in Pearl Harbor, and was beginning to doubt the darn existence of them, and my memory of it, or it's legitimacy, because I haven't seen one since!
DeleteFrom 1965 to 1968 Ford Marketing used the moniker "Fastback 2+2" for the Mustang. For the 1969 model it was changed to "Sportsroof."
ReplyDelete