Comments on: 15 Defunct Automotive Options.

By: Charles~Humble Mechanic

Charles~Humble Mechanic — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:13:44 +0000

My 1991 Eclipse had those dang seat belts. GRR

Also, my 2005 VW has a tape player. HAHA

By: Buckeyedave

Buckeyedave — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:33:24 +0000

My dad had an early 70′s Ford Torino and the seat belt buzzer, if you did not buckle up, was obnoxiously loud and irrating. It was no low chime, ding-ding, or melodic tone.Glad to see that go away.
Also, in the 1940′s and 1950′s the swivel dome lights that were mounted in the front windshield roof pedestals like you see today on police cars. I have always found this add on interesting when I go to car shows and see these big beautiful cars with their police-like chrome lights.What on earth were these used for?

By: MrAngry

MrAngry — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:14:26 +0000

I own two cars with floor mounted dimmer switches and still think they rock…

By: mcycle-nut

mcycle-nut — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 22:35:42 +0000

I had a ’61 Biscayne with a 3 on the tree. Yes, they did jam up, but it was just a matter of replacing the plastic bushings. I managed to get brand new ones from the Chevrolet dealer when the car was over 20 years old!

Push button trannies. I remember being in a friend’s ’63 Valiant when he did a neutral drop. Stripped the ring gear in the rear end!

T-tops. I heard the Camaros and Firechickens with these tended to get cracked windshields due to extra flexing. Anybody?

Cassette decks. They were ok until they starting eating tapes. Not cool. I really like CD players. Not into the memory stick, I-pod, MP3 thingees yet. C’mon, give me a break, I’m 50 years old!

What I do miss is the floor mounted dimmer switches. Having to replace the one on my ’79 Parisienne,(Catalina to you Americans), involved dropping the steering column!!!! To replace the floor mounted one on my ’66 Ford truck, I spent more time picking the crap out of the Phillips head screws than I did actually removing it and installing the new one!

By: Alec

Alec — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:44:51 +0000

Quite a few immediate pre and post WW2 British cars such as the Rover 16 and the Armstrong Siddleys had hydraulic jacks built into the 4 corners of the chassis. These were operated from inside the car by selecting 1, 2 or all the jacks and revving the engine thereby lifting the car. Brilliant if you got a flat in the rain!

By: MrAngry

MrAngry — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:36:16 +0000

Don, I couldn’t agree more…

By: Don Paulk

Don Paulk — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:58:13 +0000

I go back even before these 15. Remember the “autronic eye” that changed the hi-low headlight beam? And the button that lifted/lowered the antenae? Not to mention the floor mounted headlight dimmer switch … and whatever happened to to the gravel guard chrome strip like I have on my ’48 Cadillac. Personally, I think the old guys had more personality than the areo-dynamic boxes they build today that all look alike.

By: Alex Parrish

Alex Parrish — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:32:10 +0000

Headlight wipers; I’m sure they lasted far longer than the 80′s because my 2000 SAAB 9-5 had them. I haven’t noticed whether newer SAABs still have them — but I agree that they were pretty useless.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:13:11 +0000

Yup drove a few 3 on the tree,didnt mind till the column started to wear out and get jammed up!(usualy in middle of a busy intersection)I realy miss vent windows!!They worked great for air in,smoke out without rain coming in!

By: Jeff DeWitt

Jeff DeWitt — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:39 +0000

The end of the stick shift has been predicted for a very long time but it’s still with us. I’ve only ever had one car with an automatic (my first, a 60 Studebaker Hawk), everything else since has had a stick.