Classic options/standard features.

[Ubendum]

One for the PH collective.

Can anyone think of an option or standard feature that is found on a car of today, but could have been fitted to a pre-1975 car or other vehicle but never was?

I've been racking my brain over this, and cannot come up with an answer...there must be at least one. Ideas anyone?

[TooMany2cvs]

By "could have been", do you mean "the technology was available"?

There's a whole raft of common stuff today that first popped up back in the '50s, '60s and '70s, then languished forgotten for a decade or three. Everything from cornering headlights to automatic headlights to ABS.

[Ubendum]

Exactly. For example, CD players are available now, but were not back then. So thats out.

I've been looking at all kinds of things. Disc brakes, anti lock brakes, air conditioning, inertia reel seat belts, even cruise control as quick examples. All those were fitted to pre-75's...Surely there has to be something?

[LotusOmega375D]

What about cup holders? Where would civilization be if we hadn't invented those?

Even airbags were being developed ca. 1975.

[//j17]

There's very little that's actually new - just generally smaller and more reliable.

Even stuff like central locking and remote boot release were available on US cars like the Ford Thunderbird in the 60's.

[ChasW]

Xenon lights?

[TooMany2cvs]

ChasW said:

Xenon lights?

Yep, gas-discharge lights were invented in the 17th century, and were very common as far back as the 1950s or before for adverts on buildings. Neon tubes are exactly the same tech...

[Shezbo]

Turbo chargers?

Turbo's have been about since the 1920's (maybe before) but did not make into car production until circa 1975 (Porsche/BMW/Saab).

[alvis]

Wrong, Turbochargers were on Chevrolet Corsair in the early 60's

[Keep it stiff]

How about electric driven cars? According to Google the earliest was in 1828, I think it would be fair to say that the automotive industry sat on that innovation for 150 years or so!

[dryden]

.........Mud flaps.

[lowdrag]

Going the other way, can you order a flower vase for the dashboard of a modern?

Adjustable steering columns were on all Jaguars post war, disc brakes not too long after, record players I saw in 1961, but I really can't think of anything that was available then that isn't standard today. Fly deflectors on the bonnet? Don't see those on the options list. Internal pump for greasing the chassis? Roller blind for the rear operated by a chord? Opening windscreen?

[TooMany2cvs]

lowdrag said:

Going the other way, can you order a flower vase for the dashboard of a modern?

VW Beetle?

lowdrag said:

Roller blind for the rear operated by a chord?

Triggered by the in-car record player, presumably?

[LeoSayer]

TooMany2cvs said:

lowdrag said:

Roller blind for the rear operated by a chord?

Triggered by the in-car record player, presumably?

On a Morris A Minor

[//j17]

alvis said:

Wrong, Turbochargers were on Chevrolet Corsair in the early 60's

Actually the Corsair was just beaten to first production car (1962) by the Oldsmobile F85/Cutlass if you picked the Jetfire option.

[TooMany2cvs]

The Corsair was a Ford, and was never turbocharged.

The CorVair, otoh...

[alvis]

Woops------close though!

[Ubendum]

I do like the answers so far. Especially the one by lowdrag "reversing" the question.

Quarter lights used to be standard, now a thing of the past...

[lowdrag]

Adding to the list, are heaters, fog lights, dipping mirrors and screen washers still options? The radio perhaps? Heated rear windows? Radial tyres? And are these prices still the same?

[jith]

lowdrag said:

Adding to the list, are heaters, fog lights, dipping mirrors and screen washers still options? The radio perhaps? Heated rear windows? Radial tyres? And are these prices still the same?

I used to service a retired squadron leader's 2.4 Mk1 Standard Saloon. No heater, no rev counter, no overdrive, no radio or windscreen washers.

He kept an old army blanket on the back seat for driving on cold days and a chamois to demist the screen when it rained!!

J