What Automotive Advances From 40/50 Years' Ago Now Routine?
Discussion
Back in the '70's I worked at a local petrol station, that was back in the day before self-service, it got me thinking that many drivers will have never known anything other than self-service for fuel.
The same garage also fitted tyres, I remember how we all very impressed when the Dunlop Denovo was introduced, this run-flat tyre used a number of small cylinders strapped around the inside of the wheel that would dispense lubricant if the tyre was flat. The Denovo never really caught on, run-flats are still available of course, although not as common as they might have been, I guess mostly superseded by road-side assistance.
I recall the 1st time I drove a car with ABS, a Granada in the '80's. I could not believe the stopping power, we take now take ABS for granted.
My final example is heated rear screens, the Smiths after-marked stick-on is now consigned to the history books, I doubt you can buy a new car now without one.
The same garage also fitted tyres, I remember how we all very impressed when the Dunlop Denovo was introduced, this run-flat tyre used a number of small cylinders strapped around the inside of the wheel that would dispense lubricant if the tyre was flat. The Denovo never really caught on, run-flats are still available of course, although not as common as they might have been, I guess mostly superseded by road-side assistance.
I recall the 1st time I drove a car with ABS, a Granada in the '80's. I could not believe the stopping power, we take now take ABS for granted.
My final example is heated rear screens, the Smiths after-marked stick-on is now consigned to the history books, I doubt you can buy a new car now without one.
I was a child in the 80's and I remember my Dad spec'ing rear seat belts on his (1982?) Cavalier SRi! Things like head restraints/rests, power steering, electric windows, central locking, rev-counter, trip computer, etc were all luxury items at the time too on "average" cars and have now filtered down so even our back-to-basics supermini has them.
ScoobyChris said:
I was a child in the 80's and I remember my Dad spec'ing rear seat belts on his (1982?) Cavalier SRi! Things like head restraints/rests, power steering, electric windows, central locking, rev-counter, trip computer, etc were all luxury items at the time too on "average" cars and have now filtered down so even our back-to-basics supermini has them.
Around the same time, if I remember correctly, the difference in spec for the Cortina in L or GL spec was getting one door mirror or two!I was born in 1947 and brought up a passenger in 1948 Ford Anglia. I passed the driving test in 1964, my first car was a 1937 Rover with ROD BRAKES. So you can imagine I could post pages on then and now.
My first thoughts are that cars in those days, compared with now, were death traps.
So I will start off with auto seat belt pretensioner and airbags.
My first thoughts are that cars in those days, compared with now, were death traps.
So I will start off with auto seat belt pretensioner and airbags.
Keep it stiff said:
The same garage also fitted tyres, I remember how we all very impressed when the Dunlop Denovo was introduced, this run-flat tyre used a number of small cylinders strapped around the inside of the wheel that would dispense lubricant if the tyre was flat. The Denovo never really caught on, run-flats are still available of course, although not as common as they might have been, I guess mostly superseded by road-side assistance.
Funnily enough I was just having a similar conversation on another forum, around the same time there was also the Avon Safety Wheel, which featured a removable band to cover the well in the wheel that's used to remove the tyre. It didn't stop the tyre from deflating, but it did prevent it from coming off the rim. I was told a few years ago that this method is still commonly used on caravans. There was at least one aftermarket safety wheel design, but of course I know them from being standard fitment on my Vauxhalls.I think I've got a Denovo brochure somewhere, from a BL dealer as it was introduced with the 18/22 series, later called the Princess, or maybe there's some detail in the range brochure - I remember the little diagram showing how the inside of the tyre knocked the tops off the canisters.
Disc brakes. They seem routine now, but I still have drum brakes front and back on my 1969 Dodge Challenger. Chrysler couldn't get them to work properly, as they kept warping, so they continued with drums. Even though other manufactures like Jaguar had successfully fitted them to the XK150 and E type as standard.
My 2009 Hyundai i10 that I got under the scrappage scheme was the base model 'classic.' It didn't have intermittent wipe, penny pinching in the extreme! It was fitted as standard to many 1990s cars, and likely earlier.
A car radio and built in navigation seems completely accepted, hardly anybody reads a map.
A car radio and built in navigation seems completely accepted, hardly anybody reads a map.
Four wheel drive.
Until 1980 it was just off-road type things and (apart from a handful of Jensens) the Range Rover.
The system that Audi launched then was in many ways superior to what they flog now.
Turbochargers.
Forty years ago still quite exotic, now even my wife's 'Mini' has one.
Until 1980 it was just off-road type things and (apart from a handful of Jensens) the Range Rover.
The system that Audi launched then was in many ways superior to what they flog now.
Turbochargers.
Forty years ago still quite exotic, now even my wife's 'Mini' has one.
not routine but
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2...
not me in picture but that is similar to my car seat as a child
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2...
not me in picture but that is similar to my car seat as a child
ScoobyChris is spot on about reliability and lack of rust. 
My first car was an early Cortina MK2 and only had a dynamo so if I had the lights, heater fan and Smiths stuck on heating element all on at once the battery would go flat, the car would splutter and I've have to turn something off sharpish. So having an alternator seemed like a great step forward!
My first car was an early Cortina MK2 and only had a dynamo so if I had the lights, heater fan and Smiths stuck on heating element all on at once the battery would go flat, the car would splutter and I've have to turn something off sharpish. So having an alternator seemed like a great step forward!
Owning and driving vehicles ageing between 8 and 46 years old gives me frequent reminders of just how things have come along.
My Mk2 Escort (1100L) is quite sprightly for all of its 41bhp but heck the brakes are shocking despite working correctly. Its ability to corrode even in a dry garage is impressive too. As is its ability to go sideways at 20mph on a damp roundabout.
I'm not suggesting modern cars don't corrode (they do, just less evident cosmetically). But I'd vote for advamces in braking technology and suspension +/- tyre technology.
My Mk2 Escort (1100L) is quite sprightly for all of its 41bhp but heck the brakes are shocking despite working correctly. Its ability to corrode even in a dry garage is impressive too. As is its ability to go sideways at 20mph on a damp roundabout.
I'm not suggesting modern cars don't corrode (they do, just less evident cosmetically). But I'd vote for advamces in braking technology and suspension +/- tyre technology.
M138 said:
I remember serving shots of Redex, which was mostly requested by Rover drivers, and people would bring gallon cans with long spouts to be filled from the paraffin pump. This was in the '70's.
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