Not An Option On Older Cars

[Mildoc]

First, thanks to Mark, got my old user name back. Thanks again Mark!

Now on to the question. Just thinking about this. Many things now standard on cars were either options or not available at all decades ago. For example:

- Mom's old Plymouth had no turn signals; you signaled your turn intention with your arm out the window.
- Also had no side view mirrors until I added one on the driver's side.
- No passenger side sun visor
- No seat belts of course
- Single speed wipers
- Heat through floor vents only - made your feet too hot while the rest of you froze

What else do y'all recall?

[cabinetman]

Congrats on getting your name reinstated.

How about:

Disc brakes
Auto high beam dimmer
Remote door lock/unlock (fob)
Windshield/hidden radio antenna
Tubeless/radial tires

.

[Whaler]

Starter switch on the floor
Dimmer switch on the floor
Solid front and rear axels
Leaf springs
Windshield washer

[jackellis]

I suppose it depends on the model, but...

ABS
Electric windows
Two-way rear view mirror
Warning flasher
Shoulder harnesses for all seats
Head rests

A lot of what's become standard is safety-related. Seat belts became required equipment just before I started driving, and wearing a seat belt (not mandatory at the time) saved my life. Same for side-view mirrors on both sides.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, I remember speed limits on the New York parkways were around 45 MPH. Today people drive closer to 65. If not for the safety equipment and better road design, I'm sure the death toll from driving would be a multiple higher than it is today.

[gsmittle]

Electric wipers and windshield washers.

My first ride (a 1968 Rambler Ambassador, two-tone green and as aerodynamic as a Velveeta box) had vacuum wipers and to actuate the washers you had to press a tiny pedal up under the dash above the brake pedal.

It did have fully-reclining front seats, however. Just the thing for a teenage boy…

g.

[All Thumbs]

First VW Bug and then AMC cars with no radio (AM, or FM).

So my mom sung to us while driving.

But she didn't know most of the lyrics. So she hummed a large part of the songs.

So when I got to school and we'd have music class with singing, I thought humming was acceptable if you didn't know the words. So I'd hum away.

Apparently (according to the music teacher) humming was not okay.

A lot of things my parents did made my school years somewhat confusing for my teachers, and difficult for me.

[Greg in Maryland]

Manual transmission and clutch
Choke
Power steering and brakes
A/C
Chrome bumpers
Wood floorboards
Vinyl seats
manual door locks
rust proofing

[Daryl]

Three on the tree, metal dashes, power brakes and steering, bias belted tires.

[LCHIEN]

bluetooth handsfree mobile cell phone, CD, DVD, MP3 player, satellite radio, GPS navigation...
oh, you meant decades ago, not 5 years ago...

electric starter, (any speed) wipers, roof, pneumatic (not solid) tyres, suspension
rear lights and brake lights, horn, ...

And finally, where's the cupholders????

[pelligrini]

I can't believe no one mentioned air conditioning yet. I think that it's one of the best things they put in cars. My '69 Camaro didn't come with it, nor power steering or power brakes. It does have a padded dash. (OK, I just saw that Greg did mention A/C)

Angled firewalls
Sound insulation
12v wiring
V8 engines
vacum advance (computer now)
automatic choke (computer now)
hazard lights

[Sweet Willy]

Anyone mention automatic transmissions?
I like the old cars and trucks. Here's a link to some pics of my '54 chevy truck if you'd like to take a peek.
http://s1114.photobucket.com/albums/...2/The%20Truck/

[pelligrini]

You can't even get a standard trans on most cars today, not an option.

[dbhost]

My first car was a 1966 Dodge Dart GT, 235 HP V8 4 BBL engine, 4 speed manual transmission, and 4 wheel drum brakes, steel dash board, no air conditioning, manual windows, manual steering, manual brakes, heat on the floor only. It would go like crazy but God help you if you needed to stop...

My current vehicle is a 2004 Ford F150 300HP V8 Engine, 4 speed automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows, door locks, 4 wheel power disk brakes, heat through the floor dash face, and windshield. I believe the new Ford is 2.5X the weight of that old Dodge, but gets far superior fuel economy. And safety not to be beat...

[LinuxRandal]

Any options that USED to be available that you all miss?


For me, it is Vent wings (triangle windows to direct air for young ones), and rain gutters/drip ledge.

[LCHIEN]

"Any options that USED to be available that you all miss?"

real spare tires.

vinyl roof (just kidding).