End of the bench seat

When the 2013 Chevrolet Impala makes room for its all-new replacement next year, it will mark the end of the front bench seat in passenger cars -- they'll still be available in some pickups and SUVs. According to Chevy, less than 1 in 10 buyers shelled out for the $195 option last year, and the Impala is the last car to offer it. Summer nights at the drive-in will never be the same. (They still have those, right?)   (GM)

As was the case with the very first car from Mercedes-Benz, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/leisure/2011/11/02/chevrolet-turns-100/#slide=1">the first Chevrolet</a> featured a front bench seat. (GM)

The 1937 Chevrolet Coach had a bench seat that would rival some living room sofas. (GM)

The 1959 Impala Sport Coupe featured inserts for driver and front seat passenger, but still plenty of space for someone on top of the hump. (GM)

The 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Sedan apparently had a very inviting interior. (GM)

Seatbelts were regular equipment by the time the 1976 Impala Custom Coupe hit the road, and by the look of that shiny upholstery you probably needed them to keep from sliding around in the curves. (GM)

The sixth generation Impala was the last one available as a station wagon - a breed already absent from Chevy's American showrooms today. No word if the plaid upholstery in this 1979 model had anything to do with that. (GM)