11 UNUSUAL Car Features…No One Wants Anymore
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
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#recollectionroad #nostalgia #cars - Zábava
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I loved vent windows and bench seats too!
Yeah, my 71' VW Bus had both.
I just stick out my hand and make a bowl like figure point it toward you and, Bingo air flow, with out the cost, Except you might catch a big bug while your at it, and you can custom make it as you change the configuration of your hand. They still give intructions on google how to do it for better performance.
Looks like a large number of viewers also agree that the vent windows need to make a comeback. It was a handy piece of kit on all cars and light trucks.
I’d be happy if they brought back a real light truck.
Vent windows were for smokers. That is another thing missing from modern cars: ash trays and cigarette lighter.
@@jongilbertson2106 Vent windows were not just for smokers. You could really control the comfort of the interior with front and back vents, as well as in hance the operation of the defrosters and prevent windshield fogging. They were a very helpful accessory.
@@ronfullerton3162 They're great at catching wasps and directing the dazed insect onto the lap of the girl riding in the middle of the bench seat...causing me to have to quickly grab the wasp by the wings and fling it outside.
I WISH car brands would bring back real wood dash as an OPTION. One time, Chrysler tried to offer it and tree huggers/eco wienies sent them so many threatening phone calls that they dropped it. It still makes me mad to this day. "Going green" is a SCAM.
The little triangle window was awesome. You got fresh air when the weather wasn’t really hot. It was much quieter than rolling the window down part way and it didn’t whip your hair around
I really MISS the little triangle window!!
What is it with Boomers getting all fussy about “getting your hair whipped around”?!
My mom throws a fit whenever I open my sunroof, or roll the windows down an inch; you’d think I’m sending her into space without a helmet! 🤣
To expensive to make and maintain are the real reasons for triangle windows to dissapear.
They're absolutely essential if you're driving a vintage air-cooled Volkswagen.
Yep you got a nice blast of air right in the face to cool you down.
I know I for one would love to see the vent window return. The convenience of being able to crack it when you needed just a little fresh air in your vehicle but did not want to put the main window down. Also made it easy to see your side mirror when conditions in the vehicle caused your windows to fog up.
The vent windows is a feature I would like to see make a comeback 😂 I remember them being better than ac in a cool summer night
I loved those. Last chair I had with them was an MGB.
@@samanthab1923 Did they get good flow while you were pushing the MG? Just teasing; I loved the MGB and bug eyed sprites!
@@TooLooze Oh! I swear my dad was a glutton for punishment. Those Lucas electronics. But he passed that love onto us.
Appropriate to the era of car ash trays and cigarette lighters some called them the "smokers' windows"
@@Frank-mm2yp they did work well for sucking out the smoke and ashes without worring about burning the back seat 😂
LOL!
When I saw Ricardo Montalban, I thought you were going to talk about "rich, Corinthian leather."
He always promoted that in the commercials.
About the "pop-up" headlights. I think the final death knell for them was the advent of daytime running lights. When they started becoming popular, there was no need to hide the lights anymore.
KAHHHHHNNN!!!
Same here.
The daylights diving light the took from the Canadiens. They've had those a few years before the US did. However I think till this day they're pointless.... Why in the hell anyone needs headlights in the day time is beyond me....
The lights were usually hidden for aerodynamics. Though, on some luxury vehicles, such as the 77 Continental Mark V, it was more of a fashion statement with no practical purpose (Look what my car can do 😝). However, since molded headlight assemblies were foolishly allowed into existence, headlights no longer denigrate the aerodynamics of a vehicle, so pop ups are pointless. I do miss the old glass, sealed beam headlights. Replacing bulbs could be done quickly, it was inexpensive, and the glass didn't oxidize. Modern headlamps are ugly as sin (which, at least, matches the aesthetics of the rest of the pile of junk, in which they have been integrated), the cheap plastic degrades quickly, the bulbs are a hassle to replace, and the assembly replacements are expensive, especially the higher grade ones that should last longer than 6 months.
“CORINTH IS FAMOUS FOR IT’S LEATHER!!!”-Sterling Archer
I loved the triangle windows in the front. It's impossible to get really good airflow in modern cars.
I recall my friend's dad buying a station wagon and the window sticker said "genuine simulated wood paneling" We laughed about that for years.
Reminds me of the comedy car commercial a German comedian did "... with imitated fake artificial leather seats."
“Genuine faux fur”
The “Woody”
JEZZA: It’s a celebration of man made materials.
At least the simulated wood was genuine. 😂
I miss the vent windows they were really great to cool the car off when you don't need A/C
Agree. Even with air con I was only saying the other day to my partner as we drove I wish we still had the vent windows as it was handy on those days you don’t want the air con on but your traveling fast enough that a windows being down is an annoyance.
I was just going to make a comment about how much I miss the vent windows -- so functional! Definitely a feature the manufacturers should consider bringing back ☺
Hate to say but they were good for smokers too.
@@xr6lad I have been there many times. I wish I could easily add them
Great for defragging windshields too!
I to miss the vent windows especially when it rains because you could use it to clear the fogginess that tends to develop on the inside of the front and side window during rain storms.
Yes. That fog is a problem after the loss of those lovely vent windows.
My 1967 mercury wagon has those, I love them because the AC is broken, lo
I don't know about your car but my 2014 yaris has this option of a defroster setting that blows air on the windows and the side windows by the mirror. However I agree that I do miss them.
Don’t ever diss the pop up headlights. I loved how clean the front looked during the day when they were down.
most cars today designs would not work with pop up lights, only work on slant nose type cars.
My favorite 70s car was a silver Lincoln continental mark five with the silver, upholstery sunroof and pop up headlights ❤
1965 Buick Riviera headlights were ultra cool
What I miss most on modern cars, is the trip odometer being operated by one simple button, rather than scrolling though different displays. Simple, effective, and the same on all the old cars I drove.
Some modern cars have a compass already built in to the instrument panel rather than you having to buy one extra.
They need to bring back vent windows
They need to bring back the 50's minus the racism with equal rights for women.
If you can't bring back the 50's I'll settle for 1967, the summer of love.
I agree!!
Yes those windows were the best.
They need to bring back Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster
Totally with you.
I miss the vent windows the most. As a former smoker they were great as smoke and farts were quickly vented without any fanfare...
It wasn't me, who ever smelt it deltit
As a child who had 2 heavy smokers for parents, I can attest that the vents quickly vented the smoke away from the front seat to the back seat. It was horrible especially on long cross country trips.
Lol smoke and farts
I know someone (no not me). That told me they once farted sitting in the back seat of a Pinto. His sister rolled down the window. But he said he was still gagging because there was no window in the back to roll down.
The vent window was a great smoke extractors if you positioned them properly. The C B radio disappeared after the repeal of the idiiotic 55 mph speed limit
Bring back bench seats! They are so much more comfortable, I much prefer them over plastic cup holders or whatever in its place, put them in a flip down arm if you must. I am generally in favour of anything that improves car comfort, I believe that it should be the goal of all car manufacturers to make cars as comfy as humanly possible.
I have a 1999 Chevy Silverado and it still has a bench seat with a console that you can lift up and it actually has three seats and a cigarette lighter and still uses a key to open the door and start I personally like the older ones better because they don’t have all that technology that breaks and it’s expensive to fix
Bench seat were great for when my girl would lie on my lap nakey to flash truckers on the highway. Lots of horn blasts from those boys. The good old days. 😁
I loved bench seats. Also agree about the vent windows.
I had a 63 Chevy ll that had the wing windows. I liked the floor vents that pulled open too. Shame neither is an option anymore.
When I saw Ricardo Montalban, all I could think of was "fine Corinthian leather" 😂
As is true for all of us of the requisite age
Agree
Wasn't it rich Corinthian leather?
@@claude.acampbell1393 no, he said "the rich traditions of Chrysler excellence," but "available even in fine Corinthian leather."
My first car had a bench seat. My girlfriends would slide over right next to me. They were a relationship aid !
So many good memories there, Felix the cat
Made it appear that the car required two drivers to anyone following.
@@JanLarson 😄😁😆
Our pick up truck has it, and I do slide next to him, or at time he will do it
I miss them as well!
The vent window is called a quarter glass in the UK and was a very nice feature, I think its absence now is simply down to cost cutting by manufacturers as it was popular particularly in the rain and used suction to clean the air out of the car when in motion as opposed to having fans blasting in your face which are noisy and drain the battery not to mention give you a headache after a while. The ride quality was better in cars too and everything inside was within reach, all round vision was better too.
I loved the vent windows too. My first three cars had them, but they were really easy to open from the outside and became an invitation for car stereo thieves.
It might be a good selling point in a car now, are you listening designers?
Two things I miss are the wing windows and the floor switch to turn on the high beams.
I noticed there was no mention of the floor switch and that was one that I really enjoyed. Glad I read your comment before I posted.
Loved the floor button!!
The floor switch is still used today, just in police vehicles. You press it down along with the brake pedal to take the car out of park. That's why they leave them running. You can't take the car out of park without using the ole high beam switch.
Oh yeah, I remember that, thanks for including forgot all about it
I wish vent windows would make a come back
Vent windows should have never been discontinued. They are great to let that bit of air in especially when it is raining.
Totally agree. Manufacturers got rid of them to save money.
When I was younger, almost every car had vent windows. But in those days, everyone called them “wing windows.” I never heard anyone call them vent windows until recently. 😉
I heard it was also a safety thing. When it was wide open facing forward, the rear edge would be facing you in a accident it would cut you.
@@JayDee-xj9lu The criticism I heard in the old days was security. They were considered to be easy to break open. 😉
@@DoubleMrE Look, if a person wants to break into your car, they'll get in it no matter what, unless you have bullet proof glass or other reinforcements. Have you seen what's going on in San Francisco?
CB radios became popular with the 55mph speed limit. People used them to share information on speed traps. Radar detectors and the repeal of the 55mph limit ended the interest in having one.
"Break 1-9"
I'm old enough to remember some other "features" that are no longer seen on cars. For example, the Bight/Dim foot switch on the left-floor; The "3 on the tree" manual gear shifter on the steering column; The once-popular "curb feelers" used to aid in parking; the steering wheel ball knob that was popular before power steering was developed; Electric outlets that were actually cigarette lighters;
a few thing i remember that you dont see anymore. Floor mounted push button High Beam switch, seen at 5:02 and fender mounted driver facing turn signal lights, they were there to let people who are driving beside you that you want to change lanes since they would be unable to see the front or rear signal lights.
Thank you for mentioning the high beam switch. I was waiting for that to be one of the main topics. I really miss them!! So much easier!!!
I remember the high beam switch. We had a 71 Malibu that had it and the front bench seat. Awesome vehicle. Solid and was fast.
The first used car my father bought with the blinker high beam switch took us a month to find! Then I just found it by accident.
Another feature I'd forgotten until somebody brought it up. My mom's Cadillac DeVille, which she let me drive my senior year in high school on days she didn't need it, had that feature, and it would be pretty handy even now.
Those dimmer switches were convenient, yes and I too sort of miss 'em. The downside was that if you live in a snow zone, after a while the snow off your boots would short circuit the dimmer switch. Admittedly that was probably a rare event. But it happened to a 68 Torino I had - while driving one day, I was like "Woa! Where's that smoke coming from?"
I want my dimmer switch back on the floor. I hated when they switched to hand operated ones. I also liked velour seats. Warmer in winter and you didn't stick to them in summer. I disagree about seats now being more comfortable than ever. I think they have tended to get harder, smaller, and cheaper made.
And what is it with leather? It smells nice (when new), but leather is cold in the winter and scalding hot in the summer- especially here in Phoenix! I have to buy base model cars just to avoid leather seats.
@@61rampy65 Agreed. It's no picnic here in the south either.
Agree on all counts
Agreed!
Man, I fully agree with you. Could've been my comment.
The question is... how many of these disappeared because the customers didn't WANT them, vs. how many were phased out because of regulation or cost cutting measures? I can't really imagine anyone not WANTING vent windows, even if they also have air conditioning.
I enjoyed this video. I have owned a lot of cars and other than wood paneling and t-tops have had all of these features. I think you could do another one and include bias ply tires, swamp coolers, squeezable horn switches in the steering wheel, dash mounted rear view mirrors, street light indicators, metal hubcaps, cigarette lighters (used to be standard and are optional now), real metal bumpers, and hood ornaments that stick up. Surely the audience can contribute many more ideas.
Boomer alert.
I want all these features still! I miss the old days and the old cars.
The simplicity of it all was most appealing - no gadgets, no bull..
.t safety specs - more emphasis on driving skill and road manners.
You could just buy an old car,right?🤔
@@anthonyforfare7223 Yes, I drive a 1979 Oldsmobile 98 Diesel, bought it brand new and still like new and works perfect! At this point, I will not get rid of it, they say the 1985's are nice, I am reading the brochure - but I can't pull the trigger.
@@groovy1937 that’s what I’m talking about!👍😁😎 heck yeah buddy! Love it !
@@godfreyberry1599 whatever skills someones claims they have won't help if an accident does happen. So rather safe than sorry and have safety features
Two important points you overlooked - how great those vented windows were when you accidentally locked your keys in the car, and that wonderful feeling you felt when your new girlfriend first scooted over on the bench seat to sit close to you when out on a date. I really miss that ol' '69 Buick...
Ha! yes, I remember well that feeling of electricity going through your body! Always caused immediate "swelling".
Heck I had a Jaguar XKE with no bench seat. Both me and my girlfriend were black and blue by the end of the evening. The chrome parking brake in the middle was part of the problem!!
It's a miracle that the British could reproduce at all! I guess the bad rubber in British cars meant the English race would eventually survive.
Young women used to sit in the middle next to her man--that was back when women really liked men and wanted to be sitting super close--I remember that being a big part of dating attractive women. My girlfriends usually liked to shift the 4-speed in my car (68 Roadrunner)--some got remarkably good at it!
@@gymshoe8862 Also. with three guys in the front seat, the guy on the outside would duck down making it look like the other two were snuggling together!
You talked about button tuft car seats... my dad reupholstered many cars (and furniture) in the 80's, 90's and even 2000's with the "diamond tuft as well as the roll and tuft upholstery." That is truly an era long since passed.
A fascinating video especially because I remember all these trends appearing and eventually dying out. I think another reason vent windows vanished is they were very easy to break into and allow a thief to reach in and open the door. I think the “shark fin“ on the roofs of most cars replaced the classic radio antenna.
They would leak, and they would create wind noise at highway speeds.
We always called the Vent Window a Cozy Wing. Very handy window to have and needs to be brought back. Open one just a little to circulate the air and keep the windows from fogging on a rainy night OR open all the way on a hot Summer day for a quick cool down. I also miss the Floor Vents that you could open in the sides under the dash. They took away the best features!! lol As for the Hideaway Lights, they were plagued with motor problems. Especially in colder climates. I had a 69 GTO with them and they were always getting stuck open or frozen shut.
My dad had a TR7 with the pop up lights
My 55 ford truck had a big vent =on top of the hood that you could open for fresh air. My RX7 had pop-up lights; you could just leave them up if there was going to be freezing precipitation.
I really miss the floor vents. You could have fresh air without opening the windows and our dog loved them as his "seat" was on the floor in front of my mom.
I remember the hidden headlights looking like the cars were winking at you when only one opened and some looked like a frog with them , they looked cool but boy a disappointment!. They were kind of a dumb idea as they broke . The vent window should be brought back. A nice feature if you hot but others are cold like I am because of being hit with sonic weapons of war the gov is not wanting we the people to know are real. But hey what do we expect from people wanting to over power and control hmm I mean govern.
As a mechanic my two most hated features on your list: The power antena, because it was buried deep in the A pillar, it was very hard to get at; the power seatbelts, I got strangled more than once when turning the ignition key by leaning through the driver’s side window.
My son is a mechanic and he loves working on older cars. Not as fun with the newer cars.
The power seatbelts were incredibly stupid. They caused us to forget the lap belt. But even worse, you couldn’t put anything in or out without the damn seatbelt getting on the way.
@@BitSmythe The first time I got in my new Nissan 240 SX, the car dealer had the window down and when I got in my head was out the window and the seatbelt pushed my head back. I took my head out of the seatbelt put it out the window, opened the door and the seatbelt pushed my head forward. Learned how to use it the hard way…
Agreed! Those power seat belts were the stupidest design ever!
In the Fiax X1/9 vs it was in back , behind the mid-engine. But mine failed repeatedly, as did the pop-up headlights - shame, my first car and so much fun to drive.
I had a 83 Firebird with pop-up headlights and my older brother had a Opel GT with headlight assemblies that would roll around by pulling a level, very cool!
I was born in 1951 and I remember these car features that have disappeared over the years. I also would like to see side vent windows come back. The side vent windows were ideal when you wanted some ventilation, all you had to do was crack open the side vent window.
@@Another-AddressIf you can't find a way to lock them it's probably a lost cause
Outside of America you can still purchase a 70 series LandCruiser with vent windows, I saw one at a Toyota dealership recently with manual windows and vent windows
@@brandonfoley7519 even when locked, some could be forced to open. Also, they are easy to break, and would call less attention than a broken window.
@@XB10001 I have a hammer, any window is easy to break
@@XB10001 but I see what your saying
I miss the bench seats , seriously want that back
Born in 89. Had the privilege of three of these growing up. Both my father, and grandfather drove Ford Escorts that had the automatic shoulder belt (I remember forgetting to put my lap belt on in my dad's on the way to my babysitter's at 4 years old and having a meltdown about it lol), the bench seat in a Crown Vic (my grandmother weighed over 500 lbs, it was the most comfortable for her), and a wood paneling town and country, owned by my Uncle. Good memories, all
The "appeal" of automatic seat belts is known: the US government at the time mandated supplemental restraint systems - automakers either had to install SRS airbags (driver/passenger) or automatic seat belts. It was cheaper to do the latter, so that's why they showed up. However, airbags became the norm as the costs and demand came down.
I loved the automatic seatbelts in my 1990 Nissan Stanza. They were more comfortable because they cut across my body a little differently.
@@davidhelvering not me…my head got stuck in the path of that darn contraption.I had a 90 Honda Civic.
Please explain your last sentence, it doesn't make sense...
@@davidhelvering mine broke and you HAD to fix it real quick.
. never liked that feature
@@billymacktexasdetective5827 What they meant was as cost for airbags went down and demand went up. More people started asking for airbags.
I loved the bench seats a lot more than bucket seats!
Yeah I don't know what this guy thinks comfortable is, seats today with side and hip bolsters are Horrible.
They were romantic too! My husband and I on a date in 1983 before we were married, with the radio playing and snuggled up. Young and in love.
I liked them too but if you didn't have your seat belts on, you slid all over the place ;)
@@buckshot6481 You are very correct. Contour seats are made to torture people. Airlines also like to torture people with contour economy seating. Then the airlines narrow the seats for extra fun.
@@frankanon4450, yes, or back in the days before seat belts were standard equipment. My dad told me about executing a maneuver known in the day as an "SOS turn". SOS in this case stood for "Slide Over, Sister!", and the maneuver was a sudden, sharp turn to the right with the left hand on the wheel and the right arm extended over the seatback. If executed with finesse, the result was that your date would slide over the bench seat and into your waiting half-embrace. 😉
The real problem with automatic seatbelts was that the belt would choke/almost strangle people.
I LOVE wood paneling on cars. My dad had a Jeep Grand Cherokee with wood paneling back in the 80's, and I wish he hadn't flipped it, cause I would love to have been able to restore it. I always look for wood paneling liveries in racing games. Such a great look.
The wing window design was great for hot or mild weather because depending on how far you opened it it would make a circular breeze that actually injected cooler air from outside in a circle that actually went around all passengers rear and front and then exited out the same Wing window on the back side of the wing window. And you could use either one to reverse the circle flow depending on who was hot or cold. And they were still a lot of cigarette smokers back then and these windows when cracked open about an inch beside the driver or passenger whichever one was smoking would it automatically pull probably 90 to 95% of the smoke out of the car do that Wing window plus random floating ashes in the air that came off cigarette. They were really quite remarkable the way they affected airflow and how you could use them.
Exactly. The vent window was amazingly functional.
Most cars at the time had electric cigarette lighters as standard.
4 vent windows, 2 cigarette lighters, 5 ashtrays.
Yeah I was going to say that. I always thought those little windows were for smoking. Worked perfectly.
I remember hearing that the vent windows were dangerous in crashes.
This video makes me feel old. I've experienced most of those deleted options now. LOL
I'm only 27 but I'm happy I got to experience all of these old car features due to family having older cars in my childhood.
You forgot: The protruding front & back shock bumpers, the streering wheel side gear shifter, the tyre dusters/ mud guards, headlight lamps water squirters & mini wipers, the dandy white paint/ tyre spats, the manual windscreen jackers & the wide steering wheels.
So many flashbacks. Cars were such an obsession growing up. Still are lol
Vent windows were great. You could quickly force the superheated air out of the cabin by opening the vent 135 degrees which would force massive amounts of outside cooler air into the car very quickly.
I do that all the time without vent windows. Just roll down your driver's side and the right rear door windows about an inch. It does the same thing. That's probably why they stopped doing this.
Don't laugh at me!😆 I still drive a 85 Chevy🚚. It has the vented windows a.k.a wing's. Sad but true I have vents on my doors,the pull type by my feet and most of my rocker panels under my doors are gone, just more air flow. Lucky me I moved to TN where it don't get to cold.
I forgot I have a sliding back window to, I love the back window.
@@largol33t1 yes, but try opening that right rear window while driving at 75 mph.
Repent to Jesus Christ “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17 NIV
F
My first car was a 1972 Ford LTD Country Squire station wagon given to me by my grandmother. It was dark green with wood paneling. The car also had a pair of "jump seats" in the back that flipped up to face each other. This was yet another feature that no longer exists thanks to safety regulations. Thanks for the video. You brought back lots of memories.
I'm old enough to remember the actual Woody cars. Actual wood panels on the sides of the cars. They were primarily in the 30s and 40s and a couple in the early 50s.
Don’t forget the high beam switch in the floorboard.
I agree. Too much on the steering wheel.
Still have it. Install it on all my cars. It does not control headlights anymore though.
@tradde11 Now you're really going back :) I think my '63 Ford pickup had that wonderful feature.
@tradde11 I do believe you are right. Seems like the bag was always a yellowish color and kind of brittle. Good time good times...thanks for the flashback.
@tradde11 I WAS that guy in my teen years🙂 I think the bag was yellowish because of age, heat, and chemical reaction to the washer fluid, which had more alcohol in it back then. Thanks for the replies, it's been fun looking back (sort of).
The only thing that stands out that you missed was the demise of the Station Wagon itself! I loved Station Wagons.. In the 70s we had an Olds Vista Cruiser and nothing was cooler as a kid than laying in back looking at all the stars in the sky on a long drive home with my parents and brothers!!
When the station wagon appeared in the video that's what I thought he was going to say, but instead he talked about the faux wood sides.
I'm 60 & well past needing to cart kids & grandkids & I still prefer a station wagon. They're getting harder to find in the used car market, seems like there are lots of "sport" length but not as many full length wagons. Just love the carrying capacity when you don't have access to a truck. And I still love the wood paneling on wagons, one of my cars did have that.
Is that the wagon that had windows down the back sides? Loved being a kid and watching the moon hop from side to side
@@tisenhow If I understand what you're describing, yes. We enjoyed a few camping trips in that one! Good memories. God bless.
@@tisenhow Yep..had all those windows on the top!!
Does anybody remember the automatic headlight dimmer sensor? They were originally mounted on the upper dash, then moved to the back of the rear view mirror. Also manual dimmer switches used to be mounted in the floor on the upper left side, so you could press it with your left foot.
Damn, those velour seats look amazingly comfortable. And AC is standard now, who cares if they get hot. I'd love to see a big velour bench seat. You (and a friend) could probably have a good nap on one of those. I can live without the center console.
The wing windows were great and hopefully will make a comeback. It was just the right amount of cooling and the larger window could stay put. Good video.
Right, I've always known them as wing windows..
One thing I don't miss are the vinyl (?) seats. Don't know how many times I almost got burned from them when I was wearing shorts. We'd try to remember to put a towel on the seat to prevent that.
And most of the Eastern Bloc cars had them. That's why Polish, Russian and Hungarian drivers were always sewing their own seat covers or even using blankets🙂
Lol. Totally forgot about putting towels on seats. Barbecued thighs are no bueno.
Leather is still hot….
You had to bring a towel to put down over those vinyl seats. Horrific.
@@michaelwerbick But at least it's natural. It "breathes" like leather shoes. Vinyl seats are like wearing some rubber boots. Maybe American drivers didn't really give a shit, they had an AC, but in Europe? Yeah, right. It's 2 PM, 35 degrees C outside and in your "Wartburg"? Like in a toaster 🙂Drive home from work for 10-15 minutes and you're wet like you just got out of the shower. If you take your shirt off, you'll stick to that plastic backrest. Of course, you don't want to roll down all the windows and make a draft so you don't get sick. I did that once during some longer trip, and then the same thing as if after riding a motorcycle in a tank top 😀My ribs and spine were hurting, I couldn't get myself together.
Great video. A ride down memory lane.
And thank you for jumping right into the video, and not spending five minutes on a pointless introduction. 10/10 for that!
Thanks. That was a nice trip down memory lane. I saw the high beam switch operated by your left foot in one of the photos.
The air coming in through the vent windows seemed to feel cooler than when you had the whole window rolled down.
Yeah it's cause it was driected at you.
@@shrimpfleaPossibly because the air compressed as it entered that snall vent window opening then expanded quickly as it entered the inside of the car; as air expands it cools a little.
Had a '91 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Avenue.
Everytime, every single time anyone got in that car it was the same reaction, "These are the most comfortable seats I've ever been in."
Miss those Old Man Barcaloungers
I had a white 91 with burgundy interior and got the same reaction!
The old caddy brougham had some great seats as well... Yeah those are like a comfy nap chair
My first car was an 86 Oldsmobile Delta 88, the seats were like couch levels of size and comfort.
We had an 86 & same, never a problem with the seats unlike the junk we have today.
i had an '85 Chrysler 5th ave! had a 360 and the interior was unbeatable! power everything with landau roof ..# 1 on my list of luxury . those amazing burgundy seats oh i miss that car!
In the 70’s/early 80’s, my Mom’s arm was the seatbelt…..miss you momma❤
I can definitely see the advantage of an antenna buried in the window glass (or a roof-mounted "shark fin" antenna), but there was just something REALLY awesome about watching and hearing an antenna rise from, then retract into the fender. Yeah, they could be a pain to service or replace, but I sure do miss the automatic rear-fender antenna I had on my Nissan Maxima and the various Buicks I owned over the years.
Vent windows and bench seats are still missed by many drivers. It would be nice if they offered them as a option.
Bench seats were great when dating.
Yes, always to options.
Bench seats are awesome. Makes your car into a camper. I lived on a bench seat in a truck for 2 years with my dog.
@John Wilkes ...also dimmer switch on floor and turn lights in front.
Turn right ... everyone slide left!
Let's not forget about the rain gutters that have been obsolete for decades as well. Primarily because of drag efficiency and weight.
That's the feature that I miss the most. It allowed me to transport my canoe easily on every vehicle I owned. I had a pair of 2X4s and 4 aluminum feet that clamped onto the drip rail. By boring properly soaced holes, it would fit any vehicle. My wife and I often formed our own shuttle service. We could leave a car at the pickup point, drive to the drop-off point, stow the racks in the canoe, and paddle down the river. The sight of a 17' canoe going down the road with VW under it did get some stares.
great video 👍 alotta nostalgia with this list
I had a 1966 Ford Galaxie. It had the bench seat, the vent windows, and a vent that brought in air from below the dash. The vent windows did not need to be pushed open, they had a hand crank for that. There was a cigarette lighter and ash trays too that I never used since I don't smoke.
How did ash trays and cigarette lighters not make it into this list?
You can still get them in some cars I believe.
No one here knows "why." "Why" bother asking.
Lighters are still standard because people use them to charge their phones, but ashtrays are an option you have to ask for. None unless you specify and pay up.
I wasn't a smoker, so I lined my front ashtray with felt and kept my coins in it. The felt kept the coins from rattling.
Ashtrays disappeared after the anti smokers made a BFD about smoking
Bench seats made it possible to carry a family of 6 in an average car. That was my family in the 60s and 70s, my three older brothers in back and me sitting between my parents up front. I can't imagine riding that way now.
Bench seats were more convenient for many things, wink, wink.
Bench seats also make it easier to get a little nap.
This is why my parents started buying station wagons! Because in a regular car got too crowded in a regular family size vehicle, not many females on my dad’s side of the family could drive, my mom could. But, my mom also had a lot of sisters and, both grandmas never drove. Sometimes, my mom would take several relatives with her shopping on either side on weekends if dad had to work. A lot of us kids would get stuck sitting on laps, it simply got quite uncomfortable sitting on adult laps and, you hardly had any room to even move your arms and legs.
As the youngest, I always got stuck sitting over the big hump in the floor from the transmission. No leg room there whatsoever.
@@sonyafox3271 Probably hard to get that seatbelt over a kid on an adult lap!! I was at least in my 20s before I ever wore a seatbelt!
I wish many of those features were still here.
Thanks for showing!✌
I miss the vent window, bench seat. Good times
Aww man, this brings back memories. My first car had pop-up headlights, and my cousin's car at the time had automatic seatbelts that invariably attempted to strangle us before we could sit all the way down.
It did strangle some of us shorter people. I hated them
🤣🤣🤣
@@sublimnalphish7232 For real! My tall friends never had a problem with them!
Lol. My 5’2” mother used to complain that the automatic seatbelt was trying to kill her
I had two cars that had automatic shoulder belts with manual lap belts. They didn't engage until the key was turned on, NOT as you were getting in and sitting down in the seat.
One thing I bought in 1977 that was really fun was an FM converter box at Radio Shack. Most cars had AM radios. You would plug it in between your antenna and radio, tune the AM radio to some frequency, and get FM radio stations.
Good times, thanks for posting!
Vent windows were and are great. You don’t need to wind your window down, and if you want some fresh air, it’s perfectly placed.
I don’t know how much it affects drag, but I’ve often found myself wanting a vent window, and wonder why we have these large front quarter windows without a hinge to open them. They need to bring these back!
Wind your windows up and down...how funny is that..
Vent windows suck. STF up mtfr
@@fabianbauza4448you ok??
@@alanawolf1556 Yeah why ?
@@fabianbauza4448 If you don't like them just.... keep them shut?
There is another kind of headlight that has disappeared. Those were the hidden headlights. The lights didn't pop up, there were doors over the headlights that opened when the lights were turned on. The doors were designed to blend in with the front grill. The Mercury Cougar was one of the cars that had this feature.
I have a ‘67 Mercury Cougar Dan Gurney Special Coupe and ‘69 Mercury Cougar Convertible and do love my hidden headlights!
Amen Kat. I have a 68 XR7 with a big block and factory air. The hidden headlights make the car look menacing. I love it. And when they open it’s like the car says,”I’m ready for tonight”…
The 1973 Ford Country Squire LTD station wagon had them...vacuum operated; there was even a valve under the hood if you needed to open them without turning on the headlights.
My 94 Trans Am and my 86 Fiero have the pop up headlights, still working. Our 1969 Ford LTD has the vacuum headlight doors. We sold the cR in 1981, they were still working fine, never an issue with them . My brother had a 68 Cougar he had those lights as well..
They worked off of engine vacuum and they always leaked resulting in the doors to close by themselves
One thing not on the list that I sometimes miss are the floor dimmer switch for the headlights.
Those switches were great!
Definitely! Around the 5:00 mark, when he was talking about bench seating, the button pictured in the photo jumped right out at me.
Oh yeah! So cool
Manual controls for all the exterior and interior appliances were always best. Press a button, turn a dial, flick a switch. Much better than all the "smart" software-controlled automation they use these days. You shouldn't need smartphone apps to control your car.
High beam button on the floor!
Insanely comfortable pillowtop velour seats in my '84 Coupe Deville are one of the reasons I bought it. Vent windows and a full removable top in my mom's old Blazer were welcome additions in summer. Bench seats in a pickup are a must have, period. And T-tops are functional and cool at the same time, in ANY vehicle. Now let's get some jump seats in pickup beds ala the Subaru Brat and we'll be back in good shape again. And if you never rode in a full size station wagon on a road trip, you don't know what you're missing. Like a living room on wheels! And no, I don't own any newer vehicles, everything starts at '49 and stops at '96, I'm looking at a '38 Plymouth though, so things could change, lol.
That was really great, thank you.
My father was a heavy smoker and used the vent window to keep the smell and smoke out of the car.
That’s my memory of them. My uncle in his Impala
The pivoting vent windows were excellent for that. The up-down power vent windows of Lincoln-Mercury not so good as they did not create in-out circulation.
Those vent windows were used in my family for the smokers to hold cigarettes out the window while driving.
And other things! Like one person cooling system,lol . And not all that nasty road noise pollution.
Ash trays, 8 track players, cassette players, dashboard lights, foot activated wipers. We have 2 antique cars with AM radios and 1 dash speaker. Love it.
3:40 It wasn't "Smokey & The Bandit" that made CB radios popular in cars or lorries(we Aussies use proper terms for vehicles), it was an earlier movie called "Convoy", for which, singer C.W. McCall wrote the title song in 1975.
We all know this.............
Ashtrays and cigarette lighters are also a thing of the past as are dial radios. Talking cars were a flash in the pan also. My sister had a Datsun that talked(" Lights are on"). I think they were only around for a few years in the early 80's. I believe carburetors are also gone with the invention of fuel injection. And does anyone remember suicide doors?
The last car sold in the States with a carburetor was the 1994 Isuzu Pickup iirc; tho I think they survive on in some developing markets. Rolls-Royce continues to put sucide doors on everything they make, tho I can't think of anyone else who does.
@@germanidolgod8586
For just a couple of years, Lincoln was remaking the Continental, and a (very) expensive option was what they called the, “Coach Door Edition.” It has the suicide doors. Other than them, you are correct: Rolls-Royce is the only other company that still makes coach doors. 2019-2020 were the years for Lincoln’s coach doors.
@@TheUnsureFox Pretty much all the luxury vehicle makers still offers a suicide door option on their sedans. It's part of their limo & executive coachwork features.
What is a suicide door?
Toyota still have suicide doors on crew cab Hilux Ute aka pickups in Australia. The rear seat is short and has a vertical back for infrequent trade or farm worker use to travel short distances. Essentially a legal but uncomfortable bench seat.
Bench seats were handy to snuggle with your date at a drive in movie- lol!🙂
When I bought my 1966 t-bird, it had 4 power window switches, but only 2 windows. Here, the vent windows were powered too. Another thing that never caught on was the “Swing Away” steering wheel. Supposed to make it easier to get in and out of the driver’s seat. It would lock in place when shifted to reverse or drive.
In the early 2000's I had a Honda FRV - not a bench seat, but 3-seats in the front. ... it honestly transformed some long trips into the most social, together family moments. I almost feel sorry for people who have missed out on that experience.
Also , with the middle seat "down" , it turned into the most comfy armrest .... I would buy another tomorrow, if they still made them ..... !
The two things I miss most, vent windows and bench seats.
And reliable, albeit gas guzzling, engines.
Don't forget the GM ball cooler vents.
omg i miss the velour seats. my mom's old car had it. in the winter, i love the extra warmth it gives. and summer, it didn't get hot like vinyl or leather seats. i just loved it's softness
... I always HATED velour.... 'cause it 'grabbed' my pants when trying to get in!
I still have my Dad's 1992 Olds Cutlass Ciera...it has the velour seats (no tears - in good condition!)
It gets 30 mpg - V6 engine. It's a front wheel drive car tho...which I hate.
@@JusticeAlways and those two ton doors 😄
The only 2 things mentioned here that I personally miss are the wood paneling and wing/vent window. My Dad used to have a CB Radio, but I think he added it extra himself.
The song “Convoy” by CW McCall was as big of a influence on CB Radios.
We had and have SOOOOO MANY MEMORIES!!!!
I always loved the vent windows and bench seats. I also liked the push button gears and the high beam button on the floor.
Yea ~ my dad told me & my two brothers we had "magic", as we'd call out, "low/high beam", and they'd change! Took us awhile to discover that he was changing them with the foot button😆
In Poland we always thought that high beam button on the floor was some USSR thing 🙂Older Polish cars like Warszawa, Syrena, Żuk were using GAZ Pobieda parts and "modern" Fiat-based ones had it under the steering wheel. I was really surprised to find out that American cars also had that "Russian" button 😀Before the Internet we had some car magazines with articles about American car owners. Anytime I've seen that button I was like, yeah, right, he couldn't find any original parts so he took it from some "Warszawa" just like these Zelmot made in Poland headlamps and that Diesel engine from a farm tractor 🙂
They were great in my VW bug. We called it "240 AC" You opened both vent windows are drove as least 40 mph, to cool off... :)
This brings back memories of my parents' 1958 or 1959 Rambler station wagon (I still have a memory of lying on my back in the "way back" drinking orange juice out of a bottle, mesmerized by the the turning roof when my mom drove around corners when I was under two years old), my grandmother's 1966 Rambler ("three on the tree"!) and my own 1968 Plymouth Fury that I bought as my first car in 1983 for 500 bucks with 45k miles on it. I loved that boat! I miss wing windows and bench seats but the unusual car feature that nobody gets anymore (whether they want it or not) is... style!
Lol a lot of us back in the day where conceived in them back seats !!! 😂 my t tops on my 90 trans am and my 86 always where rattling in the back even if I put towels in between them , and of course it would rain !!! Many great memories of these cars !
Remember the old post door locks? Back when "To Serve" was still part of a cop's job description they could come with a Slim Jim and unlock you door if you locked your keys inside.
loved the vent window. Fresh air without blowing out the rear passengers or getting the wind ear vibrations
Yes, modern windows are really useless even at moderate speed
My 1987 Ford Escort had those automatic, retractable seat belts. The first time my buddy got in and I started the car, the retracting seat belt came at him and it startled him so much that as he tried to escape it, the seat belt pulled his glasses off of his face! I never laughed so hard!
Great video. The common threads are avoiding poor reliability, reducing superfluous costs, and improving overall safety ...mostly about what *car companies* don't want to make anymore.